Comments on: Hush by Jacqueline Woodson

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:49:26 +0000

Wow, that book sounds wonderful. I’m adding it to my wish list.

By: Alison

Alison — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:44:07 +0000

Great review!

I just tried to do a search to find out why this book was challenged. Some of the books on the children’s banned/challenged list seem obvious of reasons — sexually explicit, vulgar language, etc. I’m not saying these are reasons to BAN a book, but most of these books have more or less obvious reasons why *some* people have a problem with them. It’s interesting that even after you read Hush, you weren’t sure!

I’m embarassed to admit, I’ve never heard of this author before. I’m going to have to add Hush to my TBR list! Thanks!

By: Amy @ My Friend Amy

Amy @ My Friend Amy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:42:04 +0000

Sounds like another great one! I’ve turned into a total fangirl.

By: Natasha Maw

Natasha Maw — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:26:47 +0000

Keren – Oh do read this one. Woodson is a Newbery author, so I think she’s pretty popular over here. And yes, having banned books week in the first place is sad. Honestly, I wouldn’t trust all children to be able to judge for themselves but I think that from a young age that parents need to help them make those judgements so they can then make them on their own later. But having somebody else’s parent saying that my child can’t read a book, is something else entirely.

Sandy – Seriously. I had to think long and hard to just come up with that one example.

Janssen – You want to NBF too!!!!!! Sigh . . . So sad, I wasn’t there. I met Woodson at LA Festival of Books and she was simply amazing. Feathers was the first book that I ever read from Woodson and my review says that I didn’t love it either. Fortunately, she’s only gone up from there and she’s officially an author to geek out over.

Kathleen – Exactly! It’s a fantastic book and definitely a good read.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:09:13 +0000

I can’t imagine having to reinvent yourself at 12 when you haven’t even become who you are going to be. This sounds like a good read!

By: Janssen

Janssen — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:53:55 +0000

I just saw her at the National Book Festival yesterday. I only caught the end of her speech because we were coming over from Kadir Nelson’s presentation, but man, her tent was JAMMED!

I’ve only read Feathers by her and didn’t LOVE it, but I’ll try something else by her.

By: Nan

Nan — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:50:59 +0000

I love this author. I read a couple of her books in a multicultural children’s lit class a few years ago. I loved them! I’ll have to check out this book.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:33:50 +0000

Of all things to ban, I don’t understand why this one would be on the list! Thanks to you, I just checked out “I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This”, which I will read soon. I’ll be interested if this one is as easy to find.

By: Keren David

Keren David — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:48:31 +0000

I’m so interested to read this review because my book When I Was Joe (due to be published in the UK January 2010 and the US autumn 2010) is also about witness protection. As far as I know witness protection is much better organised in the US then in Britain, here it’s a relatively new concept and only a few police forces have dedicated witness protection units. But it is becoming more common as, sadly, witness intimidation grows.
I thought taking on a new identity was an interesitng metaphor for being a teenager – when your identity changes and is challenged all the time anyway. I’m going to have to try and get my hands on Jacqueline Woodson’s book – she’s not a name I’ve heard of in the UK.
I love the idea of the banned books week, what a great idea and how sad that books are being banned from schools and libraries. Why don’t people trust children to read and judge and discuss books?