(pass it on).
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then watch the following video, or go here.
Basically, in a nutshell, some people in a community called Depew, outside of Buffalo, NY, where they’d like to teach John Green’s award-winning YA book, Looking for Alaska, to eleventh graders are objecting to the content, saying it’s pornographic (it’s not).
These people feel that parents should not be allowed to choose for themselves whether the book is appropriate in a high school English classroom (meanwhile, the students’ parents have already signed permission slips saying their kids could read the book in class).
There are many supporters of this book among teachers, administrators, librarians, and the school board in Depew (as well as authors, such as…me! Well, I don’t live in Depew…but you get what I mean). To help them, John is asking people to email letters of support for the book at sparksflyup@gmail.com.
So, if you’re a fan of the book, please send a thoughtful, non-hysterical email to let them know there are many, many people who loved the book.
Also, if you live near Depew, the book will be discussed at the Depew Board of Education meeting on February 5th at the Depew High School Auditorium at 7 PM.
Remember, being banned does make you look but a badass…but the dark side of it is that people don’t get to read your work in school, which sucks.
So, get to work, nerdfighters!
(Don’t worry, nerdfighters support nerds, they don’t fight them. Here is the Urban Dictionary definition. I was confused, too, at first, being a bit nerdy myself. But nerdfighters are pro-nerd. Now go write your email.)
More later.
Much love,
Meg
