Guernica magazine featured a great interview with frequently challenged and banned author, Sherman Alexie. Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has appeared on the ALA’s most challenged list in both 2010 and 2011; the Kids’ Right to Read Project has defended the book in Missouri, Oregon and Washington state, to name just a few.
In the interview, Alexie answers questions about the censoring impulse, what it feels like to be a banned author and the drawbacks to keeping books out of the hands of kids.
I believe in any kid’s ability to read any book and form their own judgements. It’s the job of a parent to guide his/her child through the reading of every book imaginable. Censorship of any form punishes curiosity.