Artist: Judy Blume
Confronting Bodies: Literary critics, schools and libraries across the United States
Date of Action: 1970-present
Specific Location: United States
Description of Artwork: Judy Blume is a reknown adolescent book writer. Her first controversial novel, "Are you there, God" It's Me, Margaret" (1970), is a reflection by a 12-year-old girl on subjects like large breasts and menstruation. Her novel "Deenie" (1973) includes female masturbation, "Blubber" (1974)has a bullying heroine and "Forever" (1975) includes adolescent sexual intercourse.
Description of Incident: "Are you there..." was banned by Blume's children's elementary school principal. Around the country, critics called her work, "anti-Christian and against parental and school authority." In 1983, schools in Leesburg, Florida and Peoria, Illinois, removed her books from their school libraries.
Results of Incident: The ACLU has challenged much of the censorship against Blume's books. Many of her titles are still on the American Library Association's banned books list.
Source: Censorship, A World Encyclopedia, ed. D. Jones
Submitted By: NCAC