Banned Books Week 2010: A Response to Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins so titled "Manifesto" is really journey of self discovery into the deep dark world of others minds and others opinions. She begins by talking about a book talk she had given in Columbus, Georgia and when she was done and the room had emptied a young women had come forward a told her story about how Ellen Hopkins first book, Crank, a book about meth addiction saved her from her own downward spiral into addiction and helped her save her life. She then talks about how it hurts her when she is dis-invited from speaking engagements because a small short sighted minority is too afraid to talk to their own children that they stop everyone else from having a chance to read, learn, and grow. Ellen Hopkins the talks about other times she was dis-invited and how when she was dis-invited from the Teen Literature festival 5 of the 7 other authors left in protest. She concludes by saying that one size, one world view does not work for everyone.

I definitely agree with Ellen Hopkins on this one. Both my parents work full time jobs but when ever I need to talk they are there for me. They also let me read just about what ever I want to and I think that reading a wide variety of things has given me a better understanding of the world. Now of course every one is different and has a different set of circumstances. But even if someones parent doesn't want them to read a book that doesn't mean that they can decide for everyone. Censorship and misunderstanding are a real danger; ignoring a problem won't make it go away. The only way to fix a problem is to face it whether it is censorship or substance abuse and knowledge is always a good way to face something. That is why reading is such a important privilege and cannot be decided by the few for the many.