We Read Banned Books: Margaret Smitherman

Welcome to Banned Books Week 2022. Every year for the past forty years, the book community has joined together to celebrate the freedom to read. We focus on free and open access to information and promote and support those books that have been challenged or banned, even those that we personally don't like or agree with. We've seen an unprecedented amount of challenges in 2022, many of them challenging multiple books instead of just one title. If you are a teacher or librarian and know of a book that has been challenged or banned in your area, you can report it to the Mississippi Challenged Book Index here and the American Library Association here.

We're sharing a staff member's views on a banned book every day this week and urge you to check them out, to read them, and to stand up against book challenges and bans in your local communities, schools, and libraries.

Our Patron Services Librarian Margaret Smitherman chose the book A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Published in 1962, it won the Newbery Medal the following year. It follows the story of a young girl, her brother, neighbor, and three witchy guides who take to the stars on a journey to find the children's scientist father. The novel has been challenged numerous times for promoting the occult and undermining religious beliefs. Margaret says,

"Reading A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite childhood memories. This book is the first volume in a series with great lessons in values and moral behavior, and a great suspenseful plot. What’s not to like?"

Censorship divides us. Books unite us. Celebrate the freedom to read.

Sources:

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/03/192818/a-wrinkle-in-time-religious-themes-christian-banned
https://www.britannica.com/topic/A-Wrinkle-in-Time
https://bannedbooksweek.org/about/
https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/09/ala-releases-preliminary-data-2022-book-bans
https://www.mlc.lib.ms.us/ms-libraries/mcbi/