Was Hopkins misquoted above? Why would she say these authors are "standing up for censorship"? I got confused there, but I admire her and the other authors for taking a stand against censorship.

What I find really sad here is that apparently a school librarian was the one who went to the superintendent with concerns about the presentation. I also feel sad about all the students and staff who will miss out on some wonderful author presentations - especially the kids who might have identified with the content.

Apparently it only takes one person in Texas to stop freedom of speech. So the topics in these books are 'uncomfortable' and confrontational. So? Isn't the point of reading to perhaps broaden your horizons and also learn about 'stuff' that happens - even if not in your direct world. And the school didn't 'have' to uninvite this author. They bowed to a minority pressure and chose to. Texas school systems at their best. Not.

Librarians are supposed to present as many different sides to important issues as can be found in quality sources. ..quality is what counts. If this is a quality author then this is a case of blatant censorship. Bravo for the authors who pulled out for next year it could be they

There are other places where this debate is going on as to whether this is a form of censorship. I believe unequivicably it is. When someone is INVITED and then told they can't speak at a public event, put on by public proxy entities, it DOES become a First Amendment issue. The sad part is the kids who won't have that vital interaction, ultimately though is it less to let slide the dulling of the Bill of Rights?

This is a continuing reflection of the sad state of public education in Texas. All one has to do is look to the State Board of Education for its "leadership" to understand how and why this kind of thing happens. Of course it was a librarian - I am just surprised it was not in East Texas ...

I fully support the stand of the Humble School parents to ban Ellen Hopkins and easily understand thier reasons for doing it. Kids are exposed to so much garbage; the kids don't need it. This kind of moral decay is so pervasive, most people think it is normal. Stick to your guns, Humble Texas. It is no loss that the Hopkins think-a-likes won't attend.

Note that is a "teen lit festival" held at a high school but some parents at a "middle-school" and their librarian felt an author wasn't appropriate. I am note sure what will happen but the school districts in Texas are typically cowardly.

Good writing is all that should matter here. The fact that Hopkins writes about difficult issues with eloquence and compassion should be applauded and supported. If someone doesn't write about them, where will young people go to read about these issues when they need to? I have a lot of respect for the authors who turned down their invitations to show support. And I know there are plenty of Texans who would not agree with what the conference organizers did.

Now I wish I had been invited to that festival so I could have withdrawn in support. Over my 45 years in children's and YA publishing, I have had some of my own books censored. And one--BRIAR ROSE--was burned on the steps of the Kansas City Board of Education. And I know that the only way to combat censorship is to stand up against it. Shoulder to shoulder, Ellen! Jane Yolen, author of OWL MOON, THE DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC, BRIAR ROSE, HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT and 300 other books

We Read Banned Books! I instantly ordered some titles by Ellen Hopkins to my high school library in Kungsbacka, Sweden. Well written stories on these subjects are what our students look for; they long to understand those issues of life, or they are themselves living those complicated lives.

Inviting, and then disinviting Ellen was wrong. Denying freedom of expression is wrong. Practicing any form of censorship is wrong. But it seems to me that boycotting the TLF in Humble, Texas is also wrong. Why? Because it’s exactly what those in Humble who practice censorship want. If they don’t want Ellen there, then it stands to reason that they don’t want anyone who supports Ellen, either. Isn’t any author who boycotts the festival essentially practicing self-censorship? Isn’t he or she basically saying, “You people seek to deny freedom of expression. Therefore I will not come to Humble and express myself.” The people in Humble who don’t want Ellen there are probably thinking, “Thank God.” That’s why I intent to go to the TLF, and express myself loudly and clearly – on the topic of censorship.

It is truly unfortunate that a librarian of all people was an instrument of censorship. However, I know from experience that all it takes is one person to get the ball rolling and a few parent to to complain and most superintendent will side with parents. I also feel sorry for the students in that middle school and the other teen readers in that community

It's admirable of the other authors to support Hopkins by declining to attend Humble in January. Too bad that writing about true subjects gets school librarian's worked up.

The schools can invite any authors they want, but they should know who they are inviting and what their subject matter is before the invitations go out. That way, when the schools get flak (as they always will, no matter who the author or subject matter, someone will take offense), they will be prepared to back them up and not bow under pressure. Dis-inviting is NOT cool. I'm amazed at the response of the other authors, not coming as well -- especially in this economic climate when I'm sure they could use all the promotion that they can get. Good for them, for standing up for what they believe in!

This depresses me as a middle school librarian...I only have Crank in the my library because, yes most of her books are for older readers but seriously I think parents can make the decision to leave the room if they don't approve of any topics. Arghh...Librarians are supposed to be crusaders of anti-censorship!

As a former Houston resident (Westchester HS, Rice University, and several years after graduation), I'm ashamed that this area should be so short-sighted as to believe that teen literature could be celebrated in a Teen Lit Festival that invites-only-to-uninvite such a noted writer as Ellen Hopkins. YA lit is not the root of all evil. If teen readers are only allowed to read pablum, they will either grow up to be bland, unquestioning, poorly- educated adults, or they will fiercely beat at the intellectual bars which confined their questions and end up experimenting in real life with the types of damaging behavior behavior that they might have explored vicariously in teen literature and discovered that they preferred other options. That any librarian could be so short-sighted as to not perceive this is an embarrassment to the profession and a disservice to teen readers. I applaud the authors who have chosen not to attend in support of Ellen Hopkins, but I also applaud those authors who have announced that they will attend so that they can speak out against this act. I hope that their determination will give Humble teens the chance to question the decisions of the Festival organizers, and will also give these teens the opportunity to choose to read Ellen Hopkins, and other honest (how did honesty in writing become elitist in the perception of some commenters, I wonder?) writers for today's teens.

I agree. I am a parent, and have also been working with "at risk youth" for over ten years now. These kids include the exact kids from Ellen's books. I have taken those kids to watch her speak, and many have read her books, and they have not become "poisened" as a result, but many have wisened up. In fact she is a wonderful speaker. As a parent though, who has the right to decide what my kids should be exposed to, and what they can read? Me, myself, and I. That is wrong for a few people to decide for everyone.

I agree that it was shortsighted to disinvite Hopkins from the festival, and the fact that it was a librarian who pushed for her to be disinvited really sticks in my craw. However, I also feel that Hopkins herself is a self-aggrandizing egotist who loves to play the victim, and has done so at every percieved slight for years. So they decided to go another way at a festival at which you were being paid to speak? That's their right! They can have or not have whoever they want and sorry to say they don't want you this time. That doesn't make them terrible people or censors or whatever other craziness you want to call them. Hopkins' books have not been censored - they're still available at the same libraries in TX where they've always been available. Sorry, Ellen, you need to get over yourself. Find another venue and go there, I'm sure there are tons of people who would love to have you!

One of the reasons I use YA Lit in my high school classroom is that it gives students a SAFE environment to understand and satiate their curiosity about things like drugs and sex. It doesn't encourage them to make poor choices, but rather gives them the opportunity NOT TO make those choices just to "see what it's like." I applaud the other authors for taking a stand and presenting a united front. And it saddens me that it was a librarian who instigated the chain of events....

Todd, you make a good point. Though I can almost guarantee that this would not have gotten much attention if it was only Ellen that wasn't going. I hope you speak out loudly against the disservice that has been done to the students in Humble. Make some Waves. ;-)

How sad. If there is a concern about hearing an author speak, don't go to her session. Don't ruin it for the rest of the attendees, they should have their own say about who they hear speak. To all of the authors who declined their invites: WAY TO GO!!! Thank you for standing up against censorship. Jane Yolan- Awesome words. I have used your books for literature units for years.

I personally love Ellen Hopkins and ive read basically all of her books. And if i could have her come to my school im pretty sure my principal would deffinatly let me, And i alos think that THIS RIGHT HERE ^^^ is probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I honestly thing thats rude not to mention dumb. So what if it has drugs and sex in it. Caus ehonestly most teenagers DO drugs and HAVE sex. its just the simple fact their parents dont know. Im a teenager myself. I would know.

So glad I left the Texas library world. Apparently even the librarians are becoming infected.

woooooooooow... thats effing gaaaaay!!!!! If I were Ellen Hopkins I would be like "eff you mofos you can't uninvite me... IM ELLEN FUCKING HOPKINS" lol but yeahhh def gay how they did thaat..

I loved Harold Robbins 30+ years ago and read everything he wrote. His books promoted a lifestyle that was suicidal for many, although I used the knowledge to protect myself from going to the dark side. Ell Hopkins has introduced my 16 year old to behavior I consider immoral. Hopefully she will learn to help people caught in the Ellen subculture? but not embrace it. Perhaps the government can keep bad things from happening to good people. More Social Services? Why do public schools and librarians have to show/protect the ugly to everyone?

you would think that a librarian of all people would understand that you have to get beyond the drugs, the sex, and whatever else is in the book to see the heart and soul of a book. that librarian just pissed me off to no end. gah! anyway, I just wish that people weren't so ignorant.