Judy Blume Writes on Censorship

Judy Blume has just come out with a book titled Places I Never Meant to Be. It is a compilation of fictional literature written by authors who have been previously censored. After each author's work, she gives a personal explanation of censorship as well as how censorship has affected her. The introduction of the book is by Judy Blume and in it she writes about her long time battle with censors. She is one of the most censored authors right now, which is amazing to me because her work was always available when I was younger, yet it is not so easily found today.

Blume describes some of the people who attack books as parents who "need to feel in control of their children's lives" (5). She says that parents do not want their children reading books that force them to answer uncomfortable questions or that allow their children to read about views different from their parents. Blume also suggests that since schools had such a poor system for counteracting parental anger, superintendents simply appeased them and removed the books from school shelves. Blume dedicated her book to Leanne Katz, director of the NCAC (National Coalition Against Censorship). Katz committed herself to defending the First Amendment and worked with librarians, teachers, parents, and students.

" In this age of censorship I mourn the loss of books that will never be written, I mourn the voices that will be silenced--writers' voices, teachers' voices, students' voices--and all because of fear" (11).

Blume's book is an amazing read not just because of its goal to stop censorship, but also because so many people are joining in the crusade along with her and fighting for the right to be heard and express themselves without having to second-guess their intentions.Blume, Judy.

Places I Never Meant to Be. Simon & Schuster, New York. 1999.