Speak Out About 'Speak'

Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel Speak, about a high school girl struggling to overcome rape trauma, has come under attack from a Wesley Scroggins of Missouri who wants it banned from local schools because he claims it is pornographic.

Fittingly enough, Banned Books Week begins this Saturday and I cannot think of a better example of an important book that deserves to be available to anyone who wants to read it. We are so fortunate to have the power of choice in this country, and that includes deciding for ourselves what we wish to read.

There are several blogs and web sites up supporting Anderson's book; I am going to link to her site here. You can also read more about book censorship and how to fight back at the National Coalition Against Censorship's website.