Just in time for the American Library Association's Banned Books Week, Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak (FSG, 1999) is under attack once again. This time, Wesley Scroggins, an associate professor of management at Missouri State University, is cautioning parents of the Republic School District against what he refers to as "soft porn" books used in the curriculum, including Speak, which is about rape.
Scroggins's op-ed piece in Missouri's News-Leaderhas generated more than 300 comments on the newspaper's website, is the topic of several blog posts, and prompted its own Twitter feed (#SpeakLoudly).
School Library Journal spoke to Anderson about the controversy.
Last Sunday at 6:39 a.m. you first tweeted about Wesley Scroggins's article, in which he calls Speak, immoral, filthy, and soft pornography. What's been the reaction to that tweet and your blog post about it?
The reaction has been astounding. As of right now, more than 25,000 people have read the blog on my website. Another 15,000 have read it on Jezebel.com. Hundreds and hundreds of people have commented and posted their own stories about speaking up about being raped or sexual abused. A Twitter feed #speakloudly was set up by an English teacher and the subject became one of the most heavily tweeted on Sunday. Someone created a Twibbon campaign. Another person made a blog button. I am suddenly fielding requests for interviews and commentary. Countless people have established giveaways and donations of Speak and the other two books under fire: Slaughterhouse Five (Random, 1969) by Kurt Vonnegut, and Twenty Boy Summer (Little Brown, 2009) by a new YA author, Sarah Ockler.
It must feel good to have so much support in such a short period of time.
I keep needing to stop and breathe deeply so I can take it all in. When Speak was published, there was some whispering that this was not an appropriate topic for teens. I knew from my personal experience that it was. This notion was validated by thousands and thousands of readers who connected with me to thank me for the book. They said it made them feel less alone and gave them the strength to speak up about being sexually assaulted and other painful secrets.
Those readers and their parents, teachers, and librarians changed the world [with their support]. I wrote the book. I wrote the blog post. My readers took up the challenge and are now speaking very loudly. They have slammed Scroggins's comparison of rape to pornography and are demanding that school boards everywhere follow the letter and the spirit of the First Amendment of our Constitution.
These readers have changed the world by declaring that rape victims have nothing to be ashamed of, but that book banners like Scroggins do.
Can you share an example of how Speak has made a difference in someone's life?
I have heard from many survivors of sexual assault who told me that they didn't dare tell anyone about being attacked. They held in the physical and emotional trauma, sometimes for decades. Often they turned to drugs, alcohol, or cutting to cope with the emotional pain. Then they read Speak. Melinda gave them the courage to speak up for the first time, to tell what happened, and to get the help they deserved. I have heard from even more people who were not raped, but who found a piece of themselves in Melinda. Her story strengthened them, too.
How'd you find out about his op-ed?
Someone tweeted about it on Saturday and my daughter, Stephanie, blogged about it Saturday night.
Is this a part of a movement in Missouri against YA literature?
That is an excellent question. A few days ago Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Little, Brown, 2007) was banned in a high school very close to the one in question. That makes me suspicious, but I don't want to characterize this as a movement until we have more information from people in these communities.
The primary purpose of Banned Books Week is to make people aware of the freedom to read, but do you think it also encourages censorship by conservative groups?
Absolutely not! I think that Banned Books Week creates a forum for us to discuss what intellectual freedom means in America. It injects life and real meaning into the teaching of the Constitution.
Do you get tired of having to defend your writing against those who have objections to your books?
It's time-consuming to respond to these outbreaks of censorship. I would rather be working on a new book, but we can't allow our precious intellectual freedoms to be stolen by thugs. And so, I speak. Loudly.
Got any advice for your supporters?
I hope that they can find a constructive way to use their voices. The blogosphere activity surrounding this controversy is wonderful, but I hope that my readers will talk to people who aren't on Twitter. Engage in civil conversation with people who might not yet understand the value of realistic YA literature. Share their experiences of how a book can save a life or breathe hope into a broken soul. That is the point of stories; they bring us together.
This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.
Definitely not everyone in Missouri is for banning. Hearing that people are saying there is a movement is a cause for concern for those of us who are against censorship, especially in the case of books like Speak. There are plenty of Missourians who support the authors who are being challenged and do not want people like Scroggins speaking for us!
Posted by Kim on September 23, 2010 04:42:39PM
For examples of how Speak has made a difference, one need only read through the many inspiring blogs and comments this issue has brought forth. I’ve never seen such eloquence from so many who’ve been kept silent for so long.
Posted by Mainer on September 23, 2010 04:04:14PM
I agree that it's unfortunate to speak of a "movement" in a whole state based on the actions of two people. But aren't we fortunate that we live in a time that an editorial like Scroggins' leads not to a ban, but to an overwhelming display of support for an important book? Ironically, just this week we wrote about the fact that Maya Angelou was raped at 8 and refused to speak for four years, until a teacher used poetry to get her to use her voice. It isn't hard to imagine a book like Speak having the same effect.
Posted by Mark Moran on September 23, 2010 07:24:27PM
Thank you, Laurie ... for standing strong and for speaking loudly.
Posted by Lisa on September 24, 2010 11:12:21AM
Laurie, beginning January 12, 2011, I will again be teaching "W4iting the Young Adult Novel" onlillne for UCLA Extension. I am the author of 79 published juvenile and young adult novels. In my class I assign three outstanding YA novels for students to analyze as they plan their own novels. your novel Speak will be one of them. Although there can be only 15 students in the class, hopefully their work will influence many, many future readers. Thanks for yor example of how powerful story really is. Betsy Haynes
Posted by Betsy Haynes on September 24, 2010 09:55:22AM
what baffles me the most is WHY do they focus on such specific titles - and often ones which have far from the most potentially offensive things in it.
i mean, think of 'mosh pit' or 'girl walking backwards' - strong drug use by all characters - violence - abuse - or even 'happy endings are all alike' which has a rape scene it it, and is from the early 80's. WHY do they target just one book here or there?
not that i think they should be targeted at all, mind you - it just baffles me. like judy bloom's 'forever' still causing controversy over 20 years since it was published.
Posted by elizabeth on September 27, 2010 03:30:21AM
Thank you for taking the time to stand up, Laurie. Your comments and thoughts (and books) are so important. I Stand Loudly with you! Thank you!
Posted by SaraMegibow on September 28, 2010 04:39:58PM
Laurie, I think that the book is amazing it really helps people that have gone through rape and all of its difficulties. I myself have been through this situation and i had a hard time speaking about it, i would often keep to myself because to me i felt worthless. The book helped me realize its not my fault and like i could relate to someone. I love the book its great thanks for standing up for it.
Posted by annonomys on February 25, 2011 08:01:09AM
i think all haters can hate but people that go for speak good job i tell this to non haters of the book this book should be read by schools letting them know about those older pervs
Posted by scott calvin on October 4, 2011 02:09:23PM
I love your book i went throough the same thing Melinda and it hurts i know thank you for writting this book.
Posted by Carellynn Thompson on January 13, 2012 03:09:10PM
this book is horrible...people need to think of better
books to write
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