Banned Books Week! Sept. 24-Oct. 1...

Banned Books Week is here!

Isn't it exciting? I think it is. It's the first time I've been able to really participate in it. Since I became a book blogger I've gotten more "in the know" about upcoming book related anyeverythings.

What is Banned Books Week? Well, I am glad you asked! Here's a quote from the American Library Association's website:

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

~ALA on Banned Books

In honor of Banned Books Week, I've got a few fun articles prepared for my blog AND I'm going to read and review a banned book. My banned book of choice is Sarah Ockler’s Twenty Boy Summer. I'm also attending Banned Books Week on Facebook.

What are you doing for Banned Books Week? Are you planning on reading a banned book? If not, why don't you join me now?

Here are some links I've found with information and discussions on banned books and BBW:

* Banned Books Week Website
* Book banning, coming to a library near you?
* Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read

Want to WIN a banned book? Check out this link and discover 256 blogs hosting a Banned Books Week Giveaway! (Including us here at Thoughts At One In The Morning ^_^)

Anyways, Happy Banned Books Week! Let's all join together in bringing attention to the importance of banned books in our lives.


~Jessica