Booktalk on Fallen Angels  Fallen Angels is a young adult novel about the Vietnam War  Genre: coming of age story, historical fiction, war fiction  Recommended for ages  MLA Citation: Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels. New York: Scholastic Inc., Print.  Please view this video to hear a summary of the book, important themes of the book, background information on the author, and a critical analysis of the book.

Why has Fallen Angels been banned?  A history of Challenges and bannings  Challenged on the accelerated reading list at Chinquapin Elementary in Duplin County, North Carolina, for profanity, racial epithets, and slang terms for homosexuals.  2008 Challenged in the Coeur d’ Alene School District in India. Parents claim students need parental permission to read the book.  2007 Retained on Northwest Suburban High School District list in Arlington Heights, Illinois, by a school board member after she read experts from the book on the internet and found the language and content offensive.  2007 Banned from the Blue Valley District's high school curriculum in Overland Park, Kansas.

Why has Fallen Angels been banned?  2004 Banned at Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, for profanity after being protested by parents. The book was assigned in sophomore English classes.  2003 Challenged in Fairfax, Virginia, by a group of parents who called themselves the Parents Against Bad Books in Schools. The group objected to the profanity, descriptions of drug abuse, sexually explicit conduct, and torture.  2003 Also banned from George County Schools, Mississippi, for profanity

Why has Fallen Angels been banned?  Challenged but retained in Arlington Texas at Boles Junior High School after parents complained that the content was too strong for younger students. The review committee and eventually board members decided that they understood parental concerns, but a recent district court ruling prevented them from removing the book.  1999 Banned from the curriculum in Livonia, Michigan, public school ager parents complained about the profanity in the novel. The book was allowed to remain in the library, but could no longer be taught in the classroom or as a part of the curriculum.  1999 Banned from eleventh and twelfth grade English classes by the Laton School Board, California, for profanity.

Why has Fallen Angels been banned?  Summarization opponents of the book complain about :  Sexual explicitness  The violence portrayed in the novel  The use of profanity  Slang terms for homosexuals  Racial epithets  Drug abuse  Unsuitable for age group

Why include in my collection?  The book is interesting, emotional, and, at times, humorous, so it is likely to capture and maintain the attention of young adults.  The book addresses various serious themes important for young adults to learn about:  The loss of innocence of the youth  The brutality of war  The fragility of life  Racism  Prejudice based on religion and sexual orientation  Acceptance and friendship overcome feelings of prejudice and racism  The power of friendship and comradery

Why include in my collection continued...  The novel is a realistic portrayal of war and can educate young adults about what war is really like.  The language used in the book is clear and easy to understand.  The main characters are well-developed and the reader can sympathize with them and their situation.  Walter Dean Myers is a highly acclaimed author of children’s and young adult literature.  He has won two life time achievement awards, the Newberry Honor Award, and has won and been honored numerous times by the Coretta Scott King Award.  Fallen Angels itself is a winner of the Coretta Scott King Award

What to do if a book is challenged  Prepare  First, be prepared for a book to be challenged by knowing the library’s selection.  Know the procedure of how a book can be challenged, and what happens next. Be prepared to explain this procedure.  Anticipate the types of questions that will be presented and prepare and practice answers.  Be friendly and open  Greet the person with a smile. Use your body language and eye contact to communicate openness.  Use “active listening.” Express that you care about their concerns and feelings, and listen more than you talk.

What to do if a book is challenged continued...  Do not use library jargon. People may feel you are being pretentious. Instead explain the importance of the freedom to choose and the responsibility of the library to represent all points of view.  Explain that parents have the right to review books selected by their children. Just because the library has the book, does not mean parents have to allow their child to check out that book.  Stay positive and calm. Avoid any negative remarks or reactions.  Distribute facts, policies, and any other materials to anyone interested.  Calmly explain the library’s procedure for filing complaints and when they can expect a decision.

What to do if a book is challenged continued...  Be prepared to defend the book  Gather resources on the novel  Find reviews  Find any articles praising the book  Find awards or any lists honoring the title  Notify others  Follow your library’s proper procedures and notify the appropriate authorities.  For example, school libraries should discuss the complaint with you administrator and contact the Board of Education or Library Board.

Works Cited "Authors: Walter Dean Myers." AALBC.com. AALBC, Web. 15 Jul "Banned Books Image: Fallen Angels." Banned Books Week. Web. 15 Jul "Censorship." Word of Morgan. Web. 15 Jul Forestel, Herbert N. Banned in the USA: A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Revised and Expanded. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, Print. Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels. New York: Scholastic Inc., Print. "News: Press Release." American Library Association. ALA, 18 Jan Web. 15 Jul Titus, Ron. "Banned Books Week." Marshall University Libraries. Marshall University, 03 Oct Web. 15 Jul "Walter Dean Myers Biography." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Advameg, Inc., Web..