Banned Books Week: Annie on My Mind

Fifth day of Banned Books Week and I'm featuring Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden. I actually had this book, given to me as a prize during Banned Books Week some years back, but I donated it to Iceland's LGBT center a month ago. I did make an honest attempt to read it, I just didn't like the literal style of it, so I didn't get past the first couple of chapters. However, this week isn't about which style you like. This book has been through some serious hardships.

But first, a little bit about the book. It was first published in 1982, so it's an oldie written in a time where there was even less tolerance toward homosexuality. Here's one of the blurbs on Goodreads:

This groundbreaking book is the story of two teenage girls whose friendship blossoms into love and who, despite pressures from family and school that threaten their relationship, promise to be true to each other and their feelings. This book is so truthful and honest, it has been banned from many school libraries and even publicly burned in Kansas City.

I did not see it on the list of top ten reported books of the 21st century, however, it is number 44 on ALA's list of 100 most frequently challenged books 's 1990-1999. Naturally, this book was on West Bend's list of books-to-challenge. This book was also burned in Kansas in 1993 and there was a court case in regards to another big banning incident (you can read about this on Wiki).

Charming...

In 1994 (still citing Wiki here), a play was written based on this novel. Our old buddy Fred Phelps and his followers picketed the production. I wonder if they had little kids hold up those colorful "Got Hates Fags" and "Fags Die. God Laughs" signs back then (yeah, that latter one sounds so grade school - couldn't they come up with a better one?). If you ask me, though, Fred Phelps seems to hate God! Or at least his God is way more hateful than mine.

Corrupted Innocence 

You can buy Annie on My Mind from Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and other retailers.

Giveaway: I'm offering a copy of Geography Club - the book I featured in my first post of this themed week - to a person who leaves a comment and email address on any of the banned books posts this week (only one entry though and one prize for the whole week). If you don't want your email address posted here, feel free to send me mail at eripike at gmail dot com. I will also make this contest open in the YA LGBT Books group on Goodreads, for those who aren't old enough to enter this site.

The winner will be randomly drawn, contacted and announced on October 6th - the last day of this awareness week.

If this was in Iceland, child services would be involved already.
Hate is taught.

Love this one ^.^