The BookKids Blog!

Acclaimed author Maureen Johnson is one of BookPeople’s top-sellers.  Suite Scarlett, the latest from MJ, was recently released in paperback and so vividly captures the ambition and heartache of teenhood.  Her books are witty, hilarious, and heartfelt, and teens flock to them – and her blog – always hungry for more MJ goodness.  When recently her name came up on a list of challenged books, I knew I had to find out how she reacted.  Here is what Ms. Johnson has to say:

BookPeople: What book(s) of yours have been banned or challenged and what were the reasons given?
Maureen Johnson: Only one: The Bermudez Triangle. It’s been challenged twice.
The objection to Bermudez was, I think, that it showed young lesbians in a positive light. Some people are going to object to homosexuality no matter what. It’s their hobby horse, and they have to ride it. In Florida, there were objections to the sex scenes in the book, which was a bit baffling because there aren’t any. (Not that I object to those anyway. They just weren’t there.) I genuinely have no idea what those people were talking about, but they made a big deal about it, whatever it was. My suspicion is that they wanted to get on TV. They succeeded.

BP: What was your reaction when you first heard your book(s) were being challenged?
MJ: I always knew it could happen, but when it ACTUALLY happens, it’s just very bizarre. For a minute, I just sat there and thought, “Really?” Then for another few minutes, it was actually kind of exciting that someone cared enough to actually try to get me thrown out. That had a certain charm.
But it didn’t last that long, because when I actually listen to banners, it makes me queasy, then angry. The self-important bigotry or homophobia (as in my case) is hard to take. I realize that people have different views and beliefs . . . but bigots and homophobes make hate part of their moral spectrum. And that’s sick.

BP: How do you feel knowing there are people out there who don’t want young readers to have access to your books?
MJ: When you actually hear their cases and reasons, you veer off into the world of the absurd. I got to watch two women in Florida read from my book on the local news, and the way they read it, they made it sound RIDICULOUSLY FILTHY. It was like they did voice overs for porn. I wanted them to do the audiobook – it was that exciting.
Then they managed to get on to Fox & Friends, the morning show. I got to hear them talk about how triple-x rated my book was. (Which, again, it isn’t.) It didn’t help that in the case of Fox & Friends, the presenters hadn’t read the books either, and so just blindly agreed with their assessment of all these things I’d never even written.
So mostly, you’re left wondering why these crazy people have singled out your book. It seems like the process is always pretty random: Your book happens to be around. Your book ends up in a class. Your book gets passed along by a friend. There are a lot of potential book banners out there. Sometimes, you fall into their sights.

BP: Has having your work banned or challenged changed the way you write?
MJ: Not in the slightest. You can’t predict what will set book banners off, and you definitely can’t cater to them. They have zero impact on my writing.

BP: Sexuality, magic, expletives, race, and LGBT themes (among other topics) are often the reasons people challenge books. Why do you write about these topics, and why do you think it’s important that they are included in young people’s literature?
MJ: It’s bizarre to exclude things or avoid them out of fear. Every story should be judged by its own merits. I don’t even bother trying to get my head around classifying books by topic as a means of censoring them.
That being said . . . I am thrilled to pieces to see so much great LGBT lit. It’s a sign of sanity and good health.

BP: Has your status as the author of banned books affected your career as a writer?
MJ: I’m not sure, honestly. I know that my responses to both cases brought me some attention. Almost all of it was positive.

BP: What are your favorite banned books, and why?
MJ: It’s hard to say, because SO MANY books have been challenged. Whole reading lists. It’s astonishing what people will object to.

BP: What advice would you give a student (or parent, or concerned citizen) whose school or library is facing a book challenge?
MJ: I’m sort of torn on how to react. On one hand, I feel like you have to shine a huge light on the problem. On the other, I think these people just desperately want attention, and I hate giving it to them. Book banners are crackpots who long to be seen as leading a cause.
In the end, I usually land on the side of shining a light and drumming up support. In the communities where this is happening, the people are usually only getting one, very warped side of the story. It’s important to provide a voice – or a chorus of voices – of reason. I also think it’s important, whenever and however possible, not to make these lunatics into local heroes.
I’d say, reach out to the author. We will talk about it. We will spread the word.

BP: Since burning books is tragic, but bonfires can be fun, what should we burn instead?
MJ: I guess all those petitions and leaflets that banners use might be a good substitute. But you know . . . I’m not really into burning anything, even figuratively.

Thanks so much to Maureen Johnson! For more MJ, check out this video she made on the recent challenges to her books!