Since we will be focusing on challenges to books in relationship to Chris Crutcher’s work both as author and advocate (have you “found” the “Extras” section at the end of SLEDDING HILL?) I wanted to share this latest challenge (Buffalo Schools) with you.
John Green’s LOOKING FOR ALASKA is one of my favorite YA titles. It won the Printz 2 years ago. Green addresses the latest challenge to his novel in a video, “I am Not a Pornographer,” posted on his blog. Do take a look. And read ALASKA. I know several of you already have! I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it next week. KES
Young Adult Lit/Crit 
Great video. Funny, smart, articulate… Did you notice that the first comment on that post refers to SLEDDING HILL. I’ve got to read LOOKING FOR ALASKA. Can someone figure out how to add more hours to the day, please?
-Sarah
Comment by sostrom — February 23, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
Just spent a little more time on Green’s website. Check out this post about a Australian teenager who had a party while his parents were out of town: http://www.sparksflyup.com/2008/01/corey-worthington-is-australian-boy-and.php
So, what book would you recommend for this student?
Comment by sostrom — February 23, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
I saw that interview before, Sarah, but only clips of it– not the whole thing. Corey (somehow) came out of the interview looking smarter than the interviewer, albeit famously bespectacled and shirtless. How would we have approached this interview, as teachers?
This is what we call a news interview?
Incredulously,
Joyce
Comment by joycehansen — February 23, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
I just watched both of those videos. The first one was great. I think Green makes some great points and having read and loved LOOKING FOR ALASKA, I can see why he is angry about it being called pornography. That’s just ridiculous as is the fact that people are trying to ban it from 11th grade classrooms. I have a copy for my classroom library for 7th graders. While I don’t think all of my students are really ready to read it, there is nothing in there that I would find inappropriate for them and trying to ban it from kids that are 4 years older than mine? Crazy!
Thanks for directing us to the video with the partying teenage, Sarah. I don’t think I would classify it as a news interview either, Joyce!
Kate
Comment by katefrazer — February 26, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
[…] remember this was one that was being contested in Buffalo. Mentioned in an earlier blog post from […]
Pingback by Looking for Alaska « Young Adult Lit/Crit — April 13, 2008 @ 2:16 pm