23rd Annual Reading of Banned and Challenged Books

On Thursday, September 26, eight brave readers risked incarceration for reading forbidden books out loud in public. In recognition of American Library Association Banned Books Week, the 23rd annual reading at Missouri Western celebrated books challenged in the United States.  As usual, estimates of the attendance vary wildly. "I think 350 were in attendance," Dawn Terrick offered. "Clearly we had in excess of 700," C.J. Jeney opined. "We had fifty. I counted them," Susan Martens speculated wildly and irresponsibly.  

Readers & Books

Ms. Ingrid Woodbury, President, St. Joseph Public Library Board

• A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving

Lt. Col. U.S. Army (ret.) Drew Brown, MWSU Foundation Board and Arts Society Council  

• The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas

Ms. Brooke Anderson, KQ2 News Anchor

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J. K. Rowling

Dr. Gaywyn Moore, Assistant Professor of English, MWSU

• The Tempest, William Shakespeare

Ms. Stephanie Spratt, Asst. Director for Technical Services, MWSU Library

• Brave New World, Aldous Huxley

Ms. Alexis Buczek, MWSU Elementary Education major 

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum

Ms. Elizabeth Hoskins, Library Media Specialist, Bode Middle School and Prairie Lands Writing Project Teacher Consultant

• A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, Jill Twiss

 

Mr. Brian Myers, St. Joseph City Council

• Johnny Got His Gun, Dalton Trumbo