If your books are being banned, it is a sign that you are saying something important, uncomfortable enough for those bothered by it to respond in the only way they know how: undercutting truth. Im sorry your books are being banned but grateful that you write words that rankle people enough to attempt to ban them.
This pissed me off so much that I ordered the novel by way of protest. And even though I’m not a young adult, I’ll definitely read it because I was blown away by “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.”
These eager book burners might feel more threatened by Junior embracing knowledge and the mysteries found in books, and his boner is the excitement at the discovery that "every book is a mystery". As for the actual eroticism in these stories, there is eroticism in real life, and no amount of empty shelves will hide this fact from naturally sex-obsessed teenage readers. As for what these book banners are afraid of, few things are as difficult to control as a thinking, knowledge-thirsty person. When the apple is forbidden, whom does the taboo protect? May they read your books.
Yes, it’s so odd how book banners freak out about the sex in the book—except nobody has sex. It’s all sex jokes and metaphors. And only about eight or ten jokes of that nature.
Around 2014-17 I taught your book to my ninth graders. (I’m a special education/ELA teacher.) I want to say I taught it two or three years in a row. What an incredibly important story and perspective for teenagers. It’s an essential read, in my mind.
Since that time, I’ve changed school districts, but Part-Time Indian will always hold a special place in my heart. Every time I think of it, I’m reminded of some wonderful students.
Thanks for passing this along, Sherman--much appreciated. When I was 10, 11, 12 I was urged into the children's section of the library but managed to check out adult nonfiction. NO WAY the aged librarian in Cocoa, Florida, of 1952+ was going to let a kid into adult fiction! (Wrote a poem on the subject ages ago entitled "Town Librarian."
My good friend taught English in So California in Ventura County a few years ago. I don't think the book was banned exactly but the district just kept not getting around to ordering it for some reason though she ordered it every year. So, she read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian out loud to her seniors. There's a lot of ways to ban books and a lot of ways to get around bans.
“In their vision of childhood—a green, sweet-smelling land invented by Victorians and untouched by violence, or discrimination, or death—white, straight, and cisgender characters are G-rated. All other characters, meanwhile, come with warning labels. When childhood is racialized, cisgendered, and de-queered, insisting on “age-appropriate material” becomes a way to instill doctrine and foreclose options for some readers, and to evict other readers from childhood entirely.”
Horse. Shit. The New Yorker writer conveniently and completely ignores the book banning coming from the left side of the political isle. This is the worst kind of gaslighting: the bold denial of any wrongdoing on the leftist side. This strand of contemporary book banning started on the left. The Right is being equally stupid by reacting the way they have. Both are engaging in tactical Orwellian horse poop. When the left does it = good; when the right does it = bad. 2020 riots = good; January 6 = bad. No! Both bad!!!
The right have been the overwhelming force in banning and challenging books during my 30-year career. That’s why the left’s recent illiberal move toward book banning is so heartbreaking.
Yeah. But I don’t remember hearing any serious banning going on--at least not in the form we tend to discuss now--until roughly a decade or so ago. And it was always coming from the left. I know you’re right: Christian conservatives especially have often been the aggressors here for decades. But it seems to me that somewhere around 2010/11 a New Left Normal began in this area of censorship and banning. It looks to be generational: This is when my generation (Elder Millennials) started becoming vocally censorious. It’s when 1984 became ironic. Ya know?
Joe Macarthy, The Catholic League, The Christian Coalition, The Moral Majority—those are conservative groups who organized movements in the effort to censor and ban art. And those are just the ones I can think of right now. Conservatives mobilized in the 1990s in the attempt to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts. In the 70s, organized book and record burning was rampant. This was the era when conservatives claimed that rock bands were back masking Satanic messages onto their albums and that heavy metal was causing suicides. And how about the informal/formal banning of the Dixie Chicks? Country music fans and country music stations worked together to seriously damage their career (and they've never again reached the same heights). My True Diary was the most banned book in the United States from 2010-2019 and there only a handful of times it was censored by the left. My book's most passionate detractors have been Christian conservatives. And I just remembered the silliness of John Ashcroft, who had statues of Lady Justice covered because of their bare chests: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cover-up-at-justice-department/
One more interesting graph from the Newsweek article: “Governor of California Gavin Newsom inadvertently if rather hilariously made this point when he posted a picture of himself "reading some banned books to figure out" what Republican states "are so afraid of." Apparently no one told him that the stack of books in the photo included one banned in the state he leads, To Kill a Mockingbird, which was banned from California schools on the grounds that it contained racism.”
Good points all. But still. It sure feels like the mid-2000s onward banning/censorship have belonged more to the woke identity-obsessed left than the Right...though I cede to your historical point on this.
From the article: “Today, the Left wages its own crusade against authors, publishers, and teachers. Moms for Liberty has a Left-wing mirror image in We Need Diverse Books and Disrupt Texts, groups at the forefront of movements trying to cancel, rewrite, and otherwise censor picture books, young adult novels, and American classics taught in K-12 schools.”
Yes, this is my point. The left's recent move toward literary illiberalism is heartbreaking because they're replicating the longterm behavior of the right.
I can't count the number of times I've read your book aloud to my students. I teach in a reengagement program for teens who have dropped out and want to try high school again (In good ol' Spokane, by the way). The universal response is, first, incredulously, "this book is *actually* good." Second, usually a few chapters in, "this is the first book I've ever *actually* liked," and then, third, at the end, "did that guy write any other books?" (No *actually* on that last one; it's immediately on to Lone Ranger or Flight, same day) It never fails, and it's never happened as consistently as it does with Absolute True Diary. It is their gateway book! I'd challenge anyone who wants teach/reach teens disengaged with reading/school to find me something better. Thank you for this book; I'm thrilled to read this write up in the Times.
Loved "Diary of a Part-Time Indian". Banning Schmanning...let our children make up their own minds about what they like to read, not politicians or extremist groups.
You know your words are hitting a nerve when they make it onto the banned books list. Sincere Congratulations! I hope everyone so singled out will make a ton of extra sales. :-)
Don't have a subscription to the New Yorker so I can't read the article.
Would rather subscibe to your newsletter and hear it directly from the horse's mouth.
If your books are being banned, it is a sign that you are saying something important, uncomfortable enough for those bothered by it to respond in the only way they know how: undercutting truth. Im sorry your books are being banned but grateful that you write words that rankle people enough to attempt to ban them.
Thanks!
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill
That Little Red Riding Hood with wine that Waldman mentions is by Trina Schart Hyman. https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Little-Red-Riding-Hood-Anniversary/Trina-Schart-Hyman/9780823456437
This pissed me off so much that I ordered the novel by way of protest. And even though I’m not a young adult, I’ll definitely read it because I was blown away by “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.”
Thank you, Daniel!
These eager book burners might feel more threatened by Junior embracing knowledge and the mysteries found in books, and his boner is the excitement at the discovery that "every book is a mystery". As for the actual eroticism in these stories, there is eroticism in real life, and no amount of empty shelves will hide this fact from naturally sex-obsessed teenage readers. As for what these book banners are afraid of, few things are as difficult to control as a thinking, knowledge-thirsty person. When the apple is forbidden, whom does the taboo protect? May they read your books.
Yes, it’s so odd how book banners freak out about the sex in the book—except nobody has sex. It’s all sex jokes and metaphors. And only about eight or ten jokes of that nature.
Beautiful article.
Around 2014-17 I taught your book to my ninth graders. (I’m a special education/ELA teacher.) I want to say I taught it two or three years in a row. What an incredibly important story and perspective for teenagers. It’s an essential read, in my mind.
Since that time, I’ve changed school districts, but Part-Time Indian will always hold a special place in my heart. Every time I think of it, I’m reminded of some wonderful students.
Thanks, Sherman!
Thank you, Justin.
Thanks for passing this along, Sherman--much appreciated. When I was 10, 11, 12 I was urged into the children's section of the library but managed to check out adult nonfiction. NO WAY the aged librarian in Cocoa, Florida, of 1952+ was going to let a kid into adult fiction! (Wrote a poem on the subject ages ago entitled "Town Librarian."
Oh, ps, and to pass on to my grandchildren.
Great article and gonna order another Diary tomorrow to reread since I gave my old one away.
Thank you, Diana.
My good friend taught English in So California in Ventura County a few years ago. I don't think the book was banned exactly but the district just kept not getting around to ordering it for some reason though she ordered it every year. So, she read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian out loud to her seniors. There's a lot of ways to ban books and a lot of ways to get around bans.
I grew up in Ventura County: Ojai!!!
Clever teacher!
I read the article earlier and bought a copy of your book because of it. Can’t wait to start reading.
Thank you, Mainer.
“In their vision of childhood—a green, sweet-smelling land invented by Victorians and untouched by violence, or discrimination, or death—white, straight, and cisgender characters are G-rated. All other characters, meanwhile, come with warning labels. When childhood is racialized, cisgendered, and de-queered, insisting on “age-appropriate material” becomes a way to instill doctrine and foreclose options for some readers, and to evict other readers from childhood entirely.”
Horse. Shit. The New Yorker writer conveniently and completely ignores the book banning coming from the left side of the political isle. This is the worst kind of gaslighting: the bold denial of any wrongdoing on the leftist side. This strand of contemporary book banning started on the left. The Right is being equally stupid by reacting the way they have. Both are engaging in tactical Orwellian horse poop. When the left does it = good; when the right does it = bad. 2020 riots = good; January 6 = bad. No! Both bad!!!
The right have been the overwhelming force in banning and challenging books during my 30-year career. That’s why the left’s recent illiberal move toward book banning is so heartbreaking.
Yeah. But I don’t remember hearing any serious banning going on--at least not in the form we tend to discuss now--until roughly a decade or so ago. And it was always coming from the left. I know you’re right: Christian conservatives especially have often been the aggressors here for decades. But it seems to me that somewhere around 2010/11 a New Left Normal began in this area of censorship and banning. It looks to be generational: This is when my generation (Elder Millennials) started becoming vocally censorious. It’s when 1984 became ironic. Ya know?
Joe Macarthy, The Catholic League, The Christian Coalition, The Moral Majority—those are conservative groups who organized movements in the effort to censor and ban art. And those are just the ones I can think of right now. Conservatives mobilized in the 1990s in the attempt to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts. In the 70s, organized book and record burning was rampant. This was the era when conservatives claimed that rock bands were back masking Satanic messages onto their albums and that heavy metal was causing suicides. And how about the informal/formal banning of the Dixie Chicks? Country music fans and country music stations worked together to seriously damage their career (and they've never again reached the same heights). My True Diary was the most banned book in the United States from 2010-2019 and there only a handful of times it was censored by the left. My book's most passionate detractors have been Christian conservatives. And I just remembered the silliness of John Ashcroft, who had statues of Lady Justice covered because of their bare chests: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cover-up-at-justice-department/
One more interesting graph from the Newsweek article: “Governor of California Gavin Newsom inadvertently if rather hilariously made this point when he posted a picture of himself "reading some banned books to figure out" what Republican states "are so afraid of." Apparently no one told him that the stack of books in the photo included one banned in the state he leads, To Kill a Mockingbird, which was banned from California schools on the grounds that it contained racism.”
Good points all. But still. It sure feels like the mid-2000s onward banning/censorship have belonged more to the woke identity-obsessed left than the Right...though I cede to your historical point on this.
But the last decade? All the antiracism and trans excuses for book banning etc. Identity politics seems to have shifted the once-tolerant left to the other side on this issue. Here’s an interesting article on this: https://www.newsweek.com/when-it-comes-banning-books-both-right-left-are-guilty-opinion-1696045
From the article: “Today, the Left wages its own crusade against authors, publishers, and teachers. Moms for Liberty has a Left-wing mirror image in We Need Diverse Books and Disrupt Texts, groups at the forefront of movements trying to cancel, rewrite, and otherwise censor picture books, young adult novels, and American classics taught in K-12 schools.”
Yes, this is my point. The left's recent move toward literary illiberalism is heartbreaking because they're replicating the longterm behavior of the right.
I enjoy ‘debating’ with you because it’s always honest and in good faith 😎
Touché. ❤️
She did a great job, Sherman! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the "best review"... Linda
Thank you, Linda!
I can't count the number of times I've read your book aloud to my students. I teach in a reengagement program for teens who have dropped out and want to try high school again (In good ol' Spokane, by the way). The universal response is, first, incredulously, "this book is *actually* good." Second, usually a few chapters in, "this is the first book I've ever *actually* liked," and then, third, at the end, "did that guy write any other books?" (No *actually* on that last one; it's immediately on to Lone Ranger or Flight, same day) It never fails, and it's never happened as consistently as it does with Absolute True Diary. It is their gateway book! I'd challenge anyone who wants teach/reach teens disengaged with reading/school to find me something better. Thank you for this book; I'm thrilled to read this write up in the Times.
There is a sequel on the way. No pub date yet. But we're writing and editing. Its title is The Magic and Tragic Year of My Broken Thumb.
Can't wait. And what a great title!
I love that True Diary has been a big hit with reluctant readers. I love that it's a gateway book.
Loved "Diary of a Part-Time Indian". Banning Schmanning...let our children make up their own minds about what they like to read, not politicians or extremist groups.
Thank you, Suson.
You know your words are hitting a nerve when they make it onto the banned books list. Sincere Congratulations! I hope everyone so singled out will make a ton of extra sales. :-)
I've sold millions of copies of True Diary and I some of that is due to all the publicity around the years of attempted and successful bannings.