Readings to Mark Banned Book Week, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2

As part of Banned Books Week, Illinois State University's Milner Library and Barnes & Noble College Book Store will host readings from banned and challenged books on Tuesday, Sept. 30 and Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1 & 2, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  All readings will be done in front of the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore in the Bone Student Center.

Author Marilyn Reynolds will be the lead off speaker at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 30.   She will give a second public presentation in Milner Library at 2 p.m. that day.   Reynolds will discuss the challenges of tackling subjects such as sexual abuse and teen pregnancy in books geared toward young readers.  She is the author of a popular series of books about high school students who must face up to their fears or accept responsibility for their actions in the face of painful life situations.  She will also discuss the censorship that authors encounter when writing about such subjects. 

Excerpts from banned and challenged books will be read by Illinois State faculty and staff and students.  A brief introduction of the selected books will cover the reasons why they have been banned or challenged. 

Tuesday, Sept. 30

11:30 - 12 Marilyn Reynolds

12-12:15 Jeff Wood reading from The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

12:15 - 12:30 Jenna Self reading from Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Wednesday, Oct. 1

11:30 - 11:45 Kevin Parkinson reading from James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

11:45 - 12 Jan Susina reading from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

12 - 12:15 Stephanie Epp reading from The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

12:15 - 12:30 Leanna Bordner reading from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Enlge

Thursday, Oct. 2

11:30 - 11:45 Sheri Everts reading from And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

11:45 - 12 Brain Beam reading from Little Red Riding Hood

12-12:15 Ted Schwitzner reading from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck