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Censorship of Sexuality in YA Literature

and Author Judy Blume
a !J~enlatUm foJi ~ fuJ elvti6tie ~fU

Summory of Presentation
This presentation takes a glimpse
Censor:
at the history of censorship as far
back as the 5th Century B.C., -vt: to forbid the publication of -n. a person author-
when Plato argued for censor- ized to examine publications, theatrical presentations,
ship. Despite the freedom of films, letters, etc., in order to suppress in whole or part
speech clause in the First Amend- those considered obscene, politically unacceptable,
etc.
ment, censorship continues, and
this presentation addresses the
firsl (1rnendmenl:
censorship of sexuality in young
adult literature with a focus on "Gngress sholl make no lo.w resped-
www.blcgcritics.crg author Judy Blume.
1nS lUl eslabltshmenl of rehgton. or
Before Judy Blume, books like Seventeenth Summer, Catcher in the prohib1hns lhe free exercl.se lhereof;
Rye, Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones, and My Darling, My Hamburger ad-
dressed teen romance and sexuality. They were all controversial for or abrtdgtns lhe freedom of speech.
their time. One of America's most popular authors, Judy Blume, con-
or of lhe press; or !he rtShl of lhe
tinues to experience attacks from censors for frankly writing about
adolescent issues. Today, Judy Blume works closely with the Na- people peaceabl9 lo assemble, lUld lo
tional Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)and advocates for writ-
pehhon !he gouernrnenl for a redress
ers and readers. Judy Blume's writing and advocacy created a path
for today's authors who address sexuality in young adult literature. of grievances."

Judy Blume, Biography
Judy Blume grew up in Elizabeth,
New Jersey with an imagination for
stories. The stories she invented as a
child turned into stories she wrote as
an adult. She has written 25 books
for children and young adults and 3
books for adults. All three of her
books for young adults became New
York Times bestsellers. Her books
have sold more than 80million cop-
ies and been translated into 31 lan-
guages. Upon graduating from New
York University in 1961,Blume got
married, moved to the suburbs and
started a family, just as her mother
expected of her. She published her jokes that to this day she cannot
first book in 1969, "The One in the
Middle is the Green Kangaroo." Judy
figure out if the caller associates
religion or menstruation with com-
Blume has a total of 3 novels on the munism (Blume). Insults and accu-
ALAlist of Top 50 most challenged sations like this turned Blume into
and banned books in Amer- a spokesperson for the anti-
ica" (Small), including Are You there censorship movement. Judy Blume
God? It's Me, and Forever. not only
speaks up
In the 1980's Blume found herself un- for her own
der the attack of censors for her rights as a
frankness about teen issues. Her writer but
books have been criticized as being passionately
obscene and inappropriate. She advocates
writes about a phone call she re- for the rights
ceived when a woman asked her if of readers.
she wrote Are You there God? It's Me,
Margaret. When Judy Blume replied,
yes, the woman called her a commu- Judy Blume
wwwjudyblume.corn
nist and hung up the phone. Judy
 •••• •• ••• •••
Books About Censorship for Kids
http://www.a1a.orgialalmgrpsldivs'alsclis5uesadvlintdlectuallTeedomlkidskno\\yourrights.pdf
Nonfiction
A Kid's Guide to America's Bill of Rights: Cur-
fews, Censorship, and the 100-pound Giant by
Kathleen Krull; illustrated by Anna Divito. New
York: Avon Books, 1999. Examines the 10
amendments that make up the Bill of Rights,
what they mean, how they have been applied,
and the rights they guarantee. (Grades 5-8)
The Right to Free Speech by Claudia Isler. New
York: Rosen, 2001. Provides information about
freedom of speech and discusses the application
of the First Amendment in cases of sedition,
protest, obscenity, hate speech, and symbolic
speech. Includes a copy of the Bill of Rights.
(Grades 6 up)
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YA Books Featured in Presentation
Alpha by title:
Are You There God? It's Me, Marga-
ret. By Judy Blume. New York: Simon
& Schuster, 1970.
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Craw-
ford. New York: Hyperion Books,
2009.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
New York: Little, Brown, and Com-
pany, 1991.
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Resources
Websites
Read more about Judy Blume, her books,
and her actions against censorship. Her
website is personal and informative with
an updated blog. www.judyblume.com
The Duluth Public Library provides a list
of favorite teen reads from the 1930's to
the 1990's. www.duluth.lib.mn.us/
YouthServices/Booklists/PastF av.html
The group Freedom to Read provides
time line about major events
of book banning and burning.
www.freedomtoread.callinks
nnings and burnings.asp
Censorship of Sexuality in YA Literature
Fiction
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. New York: Knopf,
"Ilbreries have a 2006. A young girl living in Nazi Germany discovers the
joy of reading and develops such a love for books that
special responsibility to she steals them from Nazi book bumings. (Grades 7
up)
uphold the Rrst
The Landry News by Andrew Clements; illustrated by
Amendment __. Salvatore Murdocca. New York: Simon & Schuster
Books for Young Readers, 1999. A fifth-grader starts a
Censorship is a very
newspaper with an editorial that prompts her bumt-out
serious issue for classroom teacher to really begin teaching again, but
he is later threatened wijh disciplinary adion when he
libraries because it allows a very personal story on divorce to be printed.
(Grades 4-6)
reduces everyone's
The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher. New York:
First Amendment
Greenwillow Books, 2005. Billy, recently deceased,
keeps an eye on his best friend, fourteen-year-old
rights/J
Eddie, and helps him stand up to adults who are or-
chestrating a censorship challenge. (Grades 7 up)
Deenie by Judy Blume. New York: Seventeenth Summer by Maureen
Bradbury Press, 1973. Daly. New York: Simon Pulse, 1942.
Forever by Judy Blume. New York: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York: Puffin, 1999.
1999. Twilight Series by Stepha-
Mr. and Mrs. Bo [o Jones by Ann nie Myer. New York: Little,
I
Head. New York: Harper Trophy, Brown, and Company,
2005. 2005-2008.
My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul
Zindel. New York: Putnam, 1967.
www.romsteady.ne
Online Articles Read more about the event the hosted by
Read about the contributing factors to the the NCAC in honor of Judy Blume.
rise in censorship during the 1980's. www.publishersweekly.com/article/405127Natio
www.encyciopedia.com/docl1G2-
nal Coalition Against Censorship Salutes Jud
3468303012.html
y Blume.php
This publication provides honest information
for kids about censorship. Students under-
Books in Print
stand what censorship is and how to deal
Censored Books: Critical Viewpoints. Ed.
with it if they see it happening to them Nicholas J. Karolides, Lee Buress, John
a
or around them. M. Kean. New York: Rowman & littlefield
in the history
www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsdissuesadv/intell Publishers, Inc., 1993
ectualfreedom/kid sknowyourrights. pdf Donelson, Kenneth L., and Aileen Pace
and resources/ba Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults.
7th. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2005.