The Owen Public Library and O-W Book Club are holding a Right to Read event during Banned Books Week. It will be held on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Owen Public Library.
At a time when books are being banned and challenged across the U.S., it is important to remember everyone’s right to read what they choose. Discussion will focus on Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson. In this book she shares what it was like to grow up as an African-American in the 1960s and 70s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Read the book if you can, but even if you can’t, come to the event as readings will be done from the book.
Books are challenged for any number of reasons, but there are currently more book bans/challenges than at any time in our history. The most banned book of all time is widely believed to be the Bible. Some of the others include the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl; The Call of the Wild; Cujo; Fahrenheit 451; the Harry Potter series; James and the Giant Peach; Lord of the Flies; 1984; The Outsiders; and A Wrinkle in Time. If you are a reader, you have probably read at least one of these books or one of the others on the list.
The First Amendment prohibits the removal of books from school and public libraries just because of the ideas they express. Books and the ideas they share have the power to change attitudes and the world we live in.
As part of the evening, there will be discussion about Banned Books Week as well as discussing Brown Girl Dreaming. The Owen Public Library and the O-W Book Club invite the community to this event to learn more about what is happening in regard to book bans/challenges.
Please RSVP to the Owen Public Library to help with knowing how many snacks are needed and to make sure there is adequate seating.