Intellectual Freedom Letter

This week were were tasked with writing a letter response to a challenged book. I wrote from the perspective of a librarian responding the Drama by Raina Telgemeier, using the library in which I work. The purpose was to ensure we have a background to be able to defend any materials that may bring about an issue with a patron in the future.

To those interested my letter:

Intellectual Freedom Letter

Mister Orange Review

Matti, Truss. Mister Orange.Enchanted Lion Books, New York. [159 p]. [$16.95]. 9781592701230

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"Winning the war," said Mr. Orange, "means making sure that the imagination remains free. And that's the most important thing of all." (pg 123).

Translated by Laura Watkinson, this novel by Dutch author Truus Matti tells the story of Linus, a young boy in New York City during Word War II. When his brother Albie goes off to war, Linus takes over the delivery route for the family grocery store. One of his deliveries is to Mr. Orange - a nickname Linus gives the man after not understanding his real name, and because he has a box of oranges delivered every two weeks. Mr. Orange is an artist, and teaches Linus about art, and dancing, and life - questioning the meaning art and imagination can seriously have when something as hard as war rages on. As Linus ponders this questions, along with ones such as the reason that smells do not have names, he learns that life does not always turn out the way he wants it to. Being a fan of comics, he soon discovers that not all can be saved by a superhero, and as much as he would like it to be true, his brother is not a superhero just because he went off to war. A quick, yet insightful read, Mister Orange, is a sweet coming of age tale.

Ms. Marvel Review

Wilson, G. W. Ms. Marvel: No Normal. Solisco Printers, Canada. 978-7851-9121

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The new Ms. Marvel series tells the story of Kamala Khan, an average girl living in Jersey City. Coming from a Muslim family, with a brother she sees as being overly religious, especially in the years post 9-11, Kamala does her best to fit in with both her family (and what she believes to be their strict rules) and at school. A superhero fan, she frequently visits fan sites and writes her own fan fiction. After disobeying her parents to sneak out and drink with kids from school, Kamala gets caught up in a mysterious fog covering the city, during which she believes she is speaking with Captain Marvel and wishes to be her. When she comes to, her wish has been granted and she realizes, with some difficulty that she has turned into Ms. Marvel. A girl that believed she was too brown to fit in at school, but too modern to fit in at home, and now she's a superhero? How is she supposed to handle all of this? By becoming the best superhero she can be of course! Often jumping in head first without thinking her actions through Kamala, (or should I say Ms. Marvel) does her best to protect her city, her family, and her identity - only allowing her best friend Bruno (who secretly harbors a crush on her) to know the truth. Ms. Marvel is a fun comic series. Teens can relate to her struggle to fit in. Add some hero antics to the mix and you've got a winning combination. To find out all of the adventures Kamala gets into follow the Ms. Marvel series...

1: No Normal
2: Generation Why
3: Crushed
4: Last Days

Ms. Marvel - Thoughts

Ms. Marvel is where I started reading comics. I began working as a YA Librarian and had read graphic novels previously (Sandman, Watchmen) but I had never opened a comic (and by comic I'm loosely referring to one with Marvel or DC characters). Upon some prompting from my boyfriend I figured I should at least read something since a lot of the teens that come in take out the graphic novels more than the books. So I started with Ms. Marvel. And from it I kept going (gradually, as I have way too much to read already).

The previous librarian had only ordered volumes 1 and 2. So I finished that up by ordering 3 and 4. After accidentally leaving Volume 1: No Normal on a chair in the department when putting something else away, a 6th grade girl I had seen often but not spoken too grabbed it. And read the entire thing before she left. Taking volume 2 home with her. And then she came in looking for 3. And then 4 (which at the time I had at home and promised to read that night so she could have it the next day).

Now this girl comes in every time I work to ask what book I think she should read next, or to return the last one she took so I can read it. She's also begun to come to all the programs and situate herself in the core group of kids that are usually there. For one program she brought five friends with her. All because of Ms. Marvel.

Intellectual Freedom Exercise

This week in class we had to either defend or challenge one of the books assigned for reading. My group opted to defend the book How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon. I enjoyed this book, though it would not be one I would have picked up to read on my own accord. From this exercise I have learned several things.

• The first thing I've learned is that there are those that will challenge materials for what seems to be the tiniest or silliest reason. These are the people that do not follow the concept of not reading something if they do not like what it says. 
• As much as I understand some people's want to censor books, I also don't completely get it. Growing up my mom definitely monitored what I watched and there were a number of tv shows and movies that were off limits. However, the one things she never monitored or said I couldn't do was read. I was given free reign to read anything I wanted. Any topic, any intended age range - it did not matter. I don't know if she never thought she needed to monitor what I was reading or if she thought seeing something on tv/in movies was worse than reading about it. 
• There are resources that are made to help deal with challenged materials. ALA has a variety of useful pages and links that should be utilized upon this type of situation. 
• No matter what I think of a book, even if I hate the story, it has a right to be on the library shelf. I wouldn't let my own judgement cloud the ordering or censoring of materials and thus I cannot let other's judgments change that materials that are available. A polite and professional manner must be maintained throughout the challenge process. 

How it Went Down Review

Magoon, Kekla. How it Went Down. Henry Holt and Company, New York. [325 p]. [$17.99]. 978085098693

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How it Went Down is a book that reflects events of recent years. A well thought out portrayal of what it is like to witness or be a part of a shooting, this book delves into the thought of those who saw how it went down. When events like this happen in real life we only know what the media tells us. And as we can see from reading this novel, the media is not always interested in telling the truth. Instead they are interested in telling a story. But these types of events, are not just stories, they are a compilation of stories, that work together to maybe tell one cohesive story. Every witness can think they saw something different, or wants to believe that things occurred a certain way. But by telling each individual's narrative, Magoon is able to show those who have not had an event such as this touch their life, that there is not simply one story. How it Went Down is an accurate and thoughtful portrayal of the horrible shooting events we have unfortunately had to witness in recent years. Readers will gain insight to what occurs behind the scenes so to speak, as we are usually only privy to the information that the media feels the need to provide.