New York Times’ bestselling author Nic Stonewill be at theUnitarian Universalist Church of Augusta at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 as part of the League of Women Voters of the CSRA’s ongoing Banned Book Club series.
Stone is the author of “Dear Martin,” which was removed from the Columbia County School District recommended reading list in 2019 and has been banned in other areas of the country.
“Access to information is foundational to democracy,” said Gayla Keesee, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of the CSRA. “When books are removed from libraries or schools without transparency or due process, communities lose trust and people lose access to stories that reflect their lived experiences.”
The organization has partnered with the Freedom to Read Coalition of Columbia County to push back against restrictions affecting access to books in both local schools and the public library system,” the release said.
“Dear Martin” is about Justyce McAllister who “is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates,” according to the book synopsis at the Penguin Random House website.
“Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.”
The book is often challenged because of adult language, sexuality and depictions of racial tendencies as a negative attribute of society, according to the Boston Public Library banned book blog.
The author talk is part of the League’s Banned Book Club and the work of our Censorship & Misinformation Task Force, and it also serves as a bridge between MLK Day and Black History Month. It is meant to be a thoughtful, welcoming space for conversation, listening, and connection, according to the news release.
During the evening, Stone will share her perspective and field questions
The Book Tavern will be onsite with signed copies available for purchase, along with other frequently challenged and banned titles. Attendees may also enter a raffle to win a book signed by the author.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
