With Freedom to Read Week only a few days away (oops – we’re in the middle of it now!), it’s ironic that the York Region District School Board is pulling from its list of Silver Birch nominees, Three Wishes, by fellow CANSCAIPer, Deborah Ellis.
Here’s the reasons as listed in this article at Canadian Bookseller:
The book, which the school board has deemed “inappropriate” for grades 4 to 6, presents children’s perspectives on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The book remains on the Ontario Library Association’s list of Silver Birch Award nominees, although the Canadian Jewish Congress has been trying to persuade other school boards to remove it from their Silver Birch lists.
Ellis is one of Canada’s best kids writers who writes about issues that others are afraid to touch. Her first novel, Looking for X, won Governor General’s Award (first novel wins the GG – get it?) She followed that up with The Breadwinner, about an Afghani girl who disguises herself as a boy, so she can fend for her family under the oppressive rule of the Taliban. In addition to being a fantastic read, The Breadwinner, was an example of perfect publishing timing as it was released in 2000, only a year before the Taliban leapt into the consciousness of the world. The Breadwinner quickly became required reading for every student in schools across Canada and it’s Ellis’ insight to the troubles in Afghanistan that marks her as one of those writers who goes beyond mere storytelling.
Already the Writer’s Union has spoken out against removing the book:
“It is both sad and ironic that during Canada’s annual Freedom to Read Week, we are once more confronted with a challenge to a controversial book,” said Ron Brown, vice chair of the Union. “Books that deal with divisive issues should be allowed to encourage discussion, not choke it off,” he added. “We urge the York board to return Three Wishes to its nomination list.”
The Toronto Star had a good piece on this story on Feb 28th and apparently they’ll be discussing it today between 4:30-5:00 pm on The Stafford Show on Radio 640 – of all places (thanks Gillian for the tip!)
I’ll be listening.
Added Thoughts: I was just talking to fellow CANSCAIPer and kids writer, Linda Granfield who remarked that, in 2005, no one complained when her book I Remember Korea was nominated for one of the “tree awards.” I Remember Korea is a series of interviews with adult veterans of the Korean war. Three Wishes is a series of interviews with children living through the conflict in Isreal and Palistine. Granfield’s nomination went forward “with no complaints whatsoever about young readers learning the realities of war via veterans’ recollections.”
Interesting point and one that challenges the argument that the topic covered by Three Wishes is “inappropriate” for grades 4 to 6.
On an partially related note, Granfield also dropped this gem about books dealing with war:
Someone once asked me why I don’t write books about peace instead of war. There is no greater view or discussion of peace than a book about war. A war book is indeed a peace book.
Brilliant.
tagged: [writing] [censorship] [ellis]
