April 2009
Banned Books Club wins library award
photo by Julie Wiatt
12-year-old Alanna Natanson, founder of a Banned Books Club for middle-schoolers, with children’s librarian Karen McPherson
Alanna Natanson says, “I wanted to start a book club because I love to read.” But reading the likes of Diary of Anne Frank, Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders and To Kill a Mockingbird meant that Alanna had started the “Banned Book Club.” With help and encouragement from Karen MacPherson, children’s librarian at the Takoma Park Library, Alanna recruited other young students for monthly readings of books that have occupied a spot on lists of censored writings.
Recently the Banned Book Club came to the attention of the American Library Association, which awarded Alanna and Karen the 2009 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award in recognition of their stand in favor of intellectual freedom.
