Reception Annie on My Mind

1 reception

1.1 praise
1.2 criticism

1.2.1 kansas city controversy

reception
praise

the american library association designated book best of best books young adults . school library journal included book in list of 100 influential books of 20th century. selected 1982 booklist reviewer s choice, 1982 american library association best books, , ala best of best lists (1970–1983). young adult library services association, division of american library association, gave nancy garden margaret a. edwards award lifetime achievement annie on mind in 2003.

criticism

the book #48 on 100 challenged books during period 1990 2000, according american library association. ranked no. 44 on ala s 1990 1999 list.

kansas city controversy

in 1993, lgbt organization project 21 donated annie on mind, along frank mosca s all-american boys, 42 high schools in kansas city area. because both books included homosexual themes, parents objected books made available high school students.

during controversy, copies of book burned.

around time incident happened, author nancy garden @ writers conference. when asked if had had trouble annie on mind said no. after, learned of burning when received call stephen friedman, asked, did know book has been burned in kansas city?

garden commented on incident,

on december 13, 1993, superintendent ron wimmer, of olathe (kansas) school district, ordered book removed high school library. wimmer said made decision in order avoid controversy , such public book burning.

the olathe school district refused accept copies of book, removing copy had sat on shelf on ten years. in response, american civil liberties union joined several families , teacher , sued school district removing book.

two years later in september 1995, case went trial. in november 1995, district court justice thomas van bebber ruled while school district not obligated purchase book, cannot remove book library shelves unless book deemed educationally unsuitable. ruled annie on mind educationally suitable, , called removal unconstitutional attempt prescribe shall orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion .

on december 29, 1999, school district announced not appeal court s decision, , restored annie on mind library shelves. entire proceeding had cost district on $160,000.

after banning controversy, author nancy garden became spokesperson on behalf of children s intellectual freedom readers. earned robert b. downs intellectual freedom award in 2000.