What I did over Banned Books Week

October 1-7 was Banned Books Week. In addition to reading a book about an attempted book banning (Answers in the Pages) I was busy educating my community about recent book banning efforts, as well as historical book bans. On Tuesday I began teaching a six-week session at Bridgewater State University's Senior College called Off the Shelves: A History of Book Banning. On Wednesday I led a discussion on campus about banned books with students, faculty, and staff in attendance. The highlight of my week was on Wednesday evening when I participated in a panel discussion at Bridgewater Public Library. The recording is available here:

Bridgewater Book Banning Forum 

It was also covered in the local newspaper.

Answers in the Pages - by David Levithan

Donovan Johnson's mother likes to read the end of books first, so she isn't surprised when she finishes the story. When she reads the last sentence of The Adventurers (the book assigned to her son's fifth grade class) she is sure the two main characters  (Rick and Oliver) are gay. The sentence reads:

At that moment Rick knew just how deeply he loved Oliver, and Oliver knew just how deeply he loved Rick, and the understanding of this moment would lead them to much of the happiness and adventure that came next.

Taking this single sentence out of context she begins calling other parents to express her concern. She takes Donovan's copy from him and issues a formal challenge to the book. All the students in Mr. Howe's class have to turn in their copies while a decision is being made. Fortunately Donovan had the forethought to check out the school library copy so he could finish the story for himself.

Donovan describes the scene in his classroom when the parents come to turn in their students' copies  of the book

There were other parents, like Mr. and Mrs. Fitzhugh (Allison's mom and dad) and Mrs. and Mrs. Pausacker (Kira's moms), who were explaining that they were not turning in their child's copy of the book, because they didn't believe that parents like my mom should have the power to choose what their own children read or didn't read.

Donovan uses the school library computer to send an email to the author of the book in the hope that the question of Rick and Oliver's sexuality will be settled. Donovan also lets the author know that the book would be on the agenda of an upcoming school board meeting.

There are three parallel stories being told in the book. In addition to Donovan's, we see some of Rick and Oliver's story in The Adventurers, and finally we see Roberto and Gideon, two fifth graders who discover their romantic attraction to each other without concern about what others are fighting about. 

The question of Rick and Oliver's romantic proclivities is never settled. And we are left with the question - Does it even really matter if Rick and Oliver are gay?