Same sex parents under fire in children's book

October 29, 10:01 AMChildren's Books ExaminerLori Calabrese

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Children's Books Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

      Cover of Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle

Banned Books Week has past, but the controversy over censorship and banning books has not. School Library Journal had reported on October 21st that Luv Ya Bunches: Book One (Luv YA Bunches (Hardback)) (Abrams/Amulet, 2009) by Lauren Myracle would not be at Scholastic school book fairs this year because of its language and homesexual content.

Luv Ya Bunches, about four elementary school girls who have little in common, but bond over the fact that they’re all named after flowers, is the first installment of a four-book series. School Library Journal reported that Scholastic sent a letter to Myracle's editor asking the author to omit certain words such as "geez," "crap," "sucks," and "God" (as in, "oh my God") and to alter its plotline to include a heterosexual couple. Myracle agreed to omit certain words, but stood firm on not changing Milla's two moms.

Many parents and educators were up in arms about Scholastic's reasons for not including Luv Ya Bunches in their school fairs, blogging about it and writing letters to the company, expressing their disgust.

Recently, Scholastic came back and stated the following on their blog:
"Scholastic does not censor books. We review thousands of titles each year for our book clubs and book fairs, and we are committed to a review process that considers all books equally regardless of their inclusion of LGBT characters and same sex parents. In an interview with School Library Journal, Scholastic stated that we are currently carrying Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle in our school book clubs. We also said we were still reviewing the book for possible inclusion in our book fairs. Having completed our review of Luv Ya Bunches, Scholastic Book Fairs will carry the title in our spring fairs for middle school. Scholastic is proud of our long history of providing books that will appeal to the wide range of interests and reading abilities of children in the many diverse cultures and communities we serve. Luv Ya Bunches is just one example."

Related Articles:
School Library Journal original report, "Scholastic Censors Myracles 'Luv Ya Bunches' from book fairs" Blog report: I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell Do I Read? Statement regarding Luv Ya Bunches by On Our Minds at Scholastic
Update on Lauren Myracle's Luv Ya Bunches by On Our Minds at Scholastic
News: regarding Lauren Myracle's Luv Ya Bunches by On Our Minds at Scholastic