Welcome to Litsy!

This was cute. I quite enjoyed, it enough to read more, but enough to feel like I‘m on the right track with some palate cleaning graphic novels.

For some reason I‘m very much in a slump. Eye racing more so than audio, though that‘s affected too. Going to try some print graphic novels to break the spell lol.

Pen America “Banned In the USA“

Just looked through Pen America‘s “Banned in the USA” report and it's astounding how many books are being pulled, without any real process. Of course, many of the titles deal with identity, race, and queerness. It's not just bans but the quiet removals too. Makes you think about who gets to decide what stories are appropriate and what voices do or don't matter in schools.

“‘While the meaning of a book may be informed by the author‘s intentions, it isn‘t defined by them” (of 67).
This is a wow statement that I think is important to remember as readers take on a book. It‘s how we interpret and understand books that make them what they are to us, the author does not define everything in it so that the reader is left to their own devices. Students should know and learn that early in their learning journey.

“You learn more about the story and you also learn more about yourself as a reader…” (pg 32).
This is the part where the students are told they‘re going to read Harriet the Spy, some of them had already read it and this is what the teacher had to say about reading books over again. I thought it was such a good takeaway to remember even for us in college, reading books over again can be important and teach you even more than you can imagine

I really loved Answers in the Pages and how it addresses book banning in a way that feels authentic and relatable for middle school ages. Levithan shows how assumptions about a story can cause issues, especially when it involves characters of different identity groups. It‘s a perfect reminder of why it‘s so important for kids to see themselves in books and have the freedom to read what matters to them. This helps them really grow as individuals.

I really felt for Donovan. He didn‘t think twice about the book until his mom freaked out, and suddenly he‘s in the middle of this huge mess. I loved most how the book had three different stories: Donovan, The Adventurers, and then the one about Gideon and Roberto. At first it was a little confusing, but once I saw how they all came together, it hit harder. I liked the subtle way the book talks about romantic and friends' love.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I was able to pick it up and not put it down until it was over. I can see myself recommending it to students in the future so they can see that everyone, no matter the age, has a voice to use and can speak up. I also think this gave a good inside look on how book bans and challenges go about getting solved, something students may not know too much about!