...rather significantly (the bold is as it was in the post):
A couple of us at the office read and re-read Sisters Red, Tender Morsels and Living Dead Girl this weekend. We've decided to remove these books from the list -- Sisters Red because of the victim-blaming scene that was discussed earlier in this post, Tender Morsels because of the way that the book validates (by failing to critique or discuss) characters who use rape as an act of vengeance, and Living Dead Girl because of its triggering nature. We still feel that these books have merit and would not hesitate to recommend them in certain instances, but we don't feel comfortable keeping them on this particular list.
We've replaced these books with Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley and Tomorrow, When the War Beganby John Marsden. Thanks to several commenters who pointed out the need to include these excellent books on our list. I'm excited to add a few more rad girls to our list and I can't say how happy I am to know that there are WAY more than 100 young adult books out there that tackle sexism, racism, homophobia, etc... while presenting us with amazing young adult characters. Young adult lit has come a long way. We're really excited to keep talking about feminist-friendly YA books on the blog.
Huh. I... weird.
ETA: Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Maureen Johnson and Ellen Klages have all asked to be removed from the list.
ETA2: Diana Peterfreund has asked to be removed as well.
ETA3: Next morning (for me), and the comments are still going. Now people are taking issue with the YA authors who asked for their books to be removed from the list. And more. Wheeeeee!
ETA4: And another response from Bitch Magazine. (There are a few other short ones in there, but this one is from the list creator.)
ETA5: In a note from the Executive Director, Bitch Magazine refuses to remove the books by Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Maureen Johnson, Ellen Klages and Diana Peterfreund. (That link doesn't seem to be working correctly, but it's currently on the second page of comments, time-stamped February 2, 2011 - 11:25am, and titled Response from the Executive Director.)
ETA6: Because of problems with the above link, I posted the comment in its entirety here.
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More:
The Portland Mercury blog.
Smart Bitches weighs in. (And the comments are definitely worth reading, as the conversation there also gets heated, but is still thoughtful.)
SurLaLune Fairy Tales.
Tea Cozy.
Chasing Ray.
Bookalicio.us.
Scalzi.
Gwenda.
Margo Lanagan.
Abigail Nussbaum.
Kirstyn McDermott.
Scott Westerfeld.
Tansy Rayner Roberts.
Holly Black.
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Previously:
I hopped over to the actual list, but didn't have enough alcohol to make it through all the comments. It's turning into one big mess very fast. Would hate to be the ones who put together this list right now, and more, would hate to be the ones who are amending it.
Posted by: Maureen | 01 February 2011 at 10:56 PM
E. Lockhart is not thrilled either. This is turning into a lovely collection of blurbs from ALL MY FAVORITE WRITERS, more interesting than the list was in the first place! :)
Posted by: grrlpup | 01 February 2011 at 11:06 PM
I was super excited when I originally saw that list, because I love YA books that have empowering female characters. I had no idea that the comments section became such a mess!
That being said, not being on a list (or being taken off of one you were previously on) is not necessarily censorship. It could very well just be improvement. They should have researched the books more thoroughly before putting the list up, regardless, so everyone could stand firmly behind their picks.
Posted by: Sealz | 02 February 2011 at 07:32 AM
I feel a lot of dismay about this -- I'm not very political so I don't feel like I can safely even comment on this, but it is a shame that they a.) didn't read all the books listed on their own "best" list [why did it have to be 100? Could it not have been "20 We Actually Read"???], b.) made amendments without reading, c.) allowed the critiques of others to push them toward amendments, only reading AFTER that...
It really is a hot vitriolic mess.
Posted by: tanita | 02 February 2011 at 07:45 AM
I agree that the situation isn't the same as a book being pulled from a library shelf, of course, but the mentality behind the removal was very similar to the mentality behind most of the book challenges I've read about. As I see it, this is the sequence of events for Most Book Challenges That Get Really Ugly:
1. Book is assigned for class or put on a library shelf.
2. Someone objects to that book, usually on the basis of protecting readers from it in some way. (It is said to be offensive because of language, sexual content, violence, racism, political stance, etc.)
3. School or library attempts to quickly and easily Placate Upset Person by removing book, thus beginning controversy.
Pulling titles from a list because a few people (one per book in the comments section originally, though I gather that Bitch Magazine received some emails as well) complained that some people might find the subject matter disturbing/upsetting sounds eerily familiar to me. But people certainly disagree with my reading of the situation -- although much of the conversation over there has been heated and, in cases, unproductive, some of it has been very thoughtful and interesting.
Posted by: Leila | 02 February 2011 at 07:58 AM
Good point!
I think that it would have been much more valuable as a list if they had included reasons each book had been included, rather than just listing them one after another. And if there was a situation that was triggering, it would come up in the "reasons this book was included on the list" and people could go from there.
Posted by: Sealz | 02 February 2011 at 03:32 PM
The list is good. These books for young adults are nice. Some objects to the book, usually on the basis of protecting readers from it in some way. It is said to be offensive because of language, sexual content, violence, racism, political stance, etc.
Posted by: books for young adults | 27 August 2012 at 05:09 AM