November 1997

Staff -- School Library Journal, 11/1/1997

Making Adoption Easier

I read with interest your article on books concerning adoption (Up for Discussion, July 1997, pp. 32D33). As the mother of six adopted children, all now grown, I have read many, many stories and articles on aspects of adoption. Our six came to us in various ways, starting with the Boston Children's Friend Society for the first two and concluding with the last two who were more or less left on the doorstep.

You did indeed "cover the waterfront," except for the aspect of friends and relations welcoming the adopted child home, which is depicted so charmingly in words and pictures in When Joel Comes Home written by Susi Gregg Fowler and illustrated by Jim Fowler (Greenwillow, 1993).

Meanwhile, let's hope adoptions worldwide become easier and simpler for both child and parent.

Caywood Is Right

I do not know what Caroline Caywood's personal beliefs are concerning God or religion, but as a born-again Christian of Baptist persuasion, I find myself on common ground with her reasoning for religious freedom ("Teens and Libraries," July 1997, p. 40). Jefferson was right: truth will prevail if debate and free expression is allowed.

Debate is not dangerous, nor intolerant. Terrorism and restricting religious freedom is the enemy of truth. Such efforts of control and coercion, ironically, are typical cult tactics. The problem is not a lack of truth available in our society to deter people from cults, but a denial that there is any ultimate, absolute truth. Without a firm biblical foundation, the appeal of cults will continue to draw people in from all ages and walks of life.

Kudos for Paulsen Interview

I wanted to commend you on the feature article you folks did on Gary Paulsen ("The Maximum Expression of Being Human," June 1997, pp. 24D²9). My students really love his books, and some of our teachers featured him for class reading in the month of May and June this past school year.

I, myself, really enjoy the personal touch that Paulsen is able to make between his readers and his main characters. Thanks for a great publication for so many years.

Corrections

The August 1997 Editorial ("Overheard at ALA," p. 5) misstated the sponsorship of a 1996 Benton Foundation study on public attitudes toward libraries (News, November 1996, p. 17-18) The study was sponsored not by ALA but by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, with the purpose of helping foundation grantees, including ALA, understand how the public views libraries.

The 1997 September "Up for Discussion" ("It's Hip! It's Contemporary! It's Literature!" p. 128) mistakenly referred to author Patricia Lothrop-Green as a former librarian. She currently teaches at St. George's School in Newport, RI.