The Chicago Banned Books Week Read-Out on Saturday attracted some 150 people to historic Bughouse Square across from the magnificent Newberry Library. Lots of folks brought their kids, apparently unafraid that they might hear something "age inappropriate" read aloud.
Frequently censored author Chris Crutcher emceed the program and began with a tale of his earliest brush with censorship in his own home town of Cascade, Idaho (watch video). Age inappropriateness is one of the most common reasons Crutcher's books and many others are challenged, banned, or removed from libraries.
This year marks the 29th observance of Banned Books Week, an celebration of the freedoms to read, publish, and express ideas and opinions of all kinds. The Read-Out featured selections from the top ten most frequently challenged books of 2009. Among the readers was Lauren Myracle, author of #1 on the list, ttyl; ttfn; 18r, g8r (series). Other readers included Elizabeth Taylor, Chicago Tribune literary editor; Chicago journalist and author Rick Kogan; Brad Lash of the McCormick Foundation, a cosponsor; Gerald Hankerson of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who read from the Qur'an; and the CityLit Theatre Company.
"It's easy for me to stand up for my books or for the books that are on this list today. I love these books," Crutcher said, "but you gotta be willing to stand up for the books that you don't like. Once one book gets into the cross hairs, they are all in the cross hairs," he concluded, "putting it in Palinese."
ALA President Roberta Stevens (video below) told the crowd, "If you think book bannings don't happen in America, think again. The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association has recorded more than 11,800 book challenges since 1990, including 460 last year."