Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Losing My Contest Virginity

In Honor of Banned Books Week (September 25, 2010-October 2, 2010) I am holding my very first blog contest! Are you shivering with anticipation or what?

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

I have three (count them, 3!) banned or challenged books to give away this week, but it only takes one entry to win.

The prizes:
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson


Well, we should all know why this one was challenged. If not, please see either of my blog posts (here and here) relating to the recent controversy.







LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green


Challenged in 2008 for sexually explicit situations. I've also heard complaints about the teenage characters' use of "bad" language, cigarettes and alcohol.






DEENIE by Judy Blume


Challenged in 2004 and 2005 for passages that deal frankly with masturbation.


(Note: My copy is NOT new. It's got the cover seen to the left and was already old when I obtained it lo those many years ago. Original copyright 1972)


The rules:
1. To enter, become a follower on the blog, and make a comment on this blog entry. Bonus points if you Tweet or Facebook about it. Just tell me in your comment.

Here's the twist: In the comments, please tell me if you plan to share this banned book with anyone. You could lend to a friend, donate to your library, leave it in the dressing room at a clothing store--the possibilities are endless. Be creative, and be sure to tell me about it.

You can still win, even if you plan to keep the book. Just lend it to a friend, okay?

2. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I will use go through the entries to look for the best ideas (Hey, it's my blog, I get to be the judge.) The top five will go into a randomizer and the winner will be notified.


3. Wednesday's winner gets to choose from the three books available, Thursday's chooses from the remaining two, and Friday's gets whatever is left.


4. Oh, and I'm not rich, so let's restrict winners to the U.S. and Canada, please!


Easy, right?

So, tweet it, blog it, Facebook it--spread the word. Books for free. All you need is a mailing address and some creativity.

Have fun. Even if you don't enter, please read a challenged book this week. It's good for the soul.


- Liz

8 comments:

Kristan said...

I watched SPEAK and it was great! I'd love to read it. Never heard of DEENIE, but who doesn't love Judy Blume?

I'll probably lend my copies around (particularly to my YA writing buddies - we already lend around) but if I really like them, keep them. I'm greedy that way. :P

Unknown said...

Hmmm......this is a tough call, because I have wanted to read Speak since I read your posts about it, but Deenie was my fave Judy Blume book. And the other one looks good too. Wow, I am such a book whore.
I would choose Speak. And I would pass it on to everyone out here in Portland that would read it. :)
Go Liz, go!! :) **choose me!**

Kate said...

Well, I've already read Speak, and really liked it, but my copy of it has long gone missing since my mother accidentally sold it to a used book store in a box of books years ago. I guess it's gone to another home since then, and has been spread around. =). I've been meaning to read Looking For Alaska.

I'd probably talk to the professor at my College that teaches Young Adult Writing and other Young Adult novel classes, and ask her about using one of the books as one of her readings for next semester. Having been in her class, I know that the teacher always has all of her classes read several Young Adult novels of varying genres, and doesn't censor. I'm sure she'd be more than willing to have her classes read one or any of these books, if she hasn't already. Or if she has!
I think I'll suggest it either way, now. =)

Liz Czukas said...

Thank you lovely ladies for your great ideas! I'm going to extend the contest through Thursday so there's still plenty of time to enter. Even if no one else enters, I'd be happy to name you three the winners!

- Liz

Unknown said...

I'm totally in favor of spreading banned books to all who will read them. Great idea for a contest! Should I win, I will read, share, and attempt to donate the book to our local library. I'm a new follower (nice place you have here!) and I'm off to tweet your contest (I'm @NicoleDwrites)

Thanks!!

Crystal said...

I'd deposit Speak with my daughter who is senior in high school and order her to deposit it in the hands of her bff, at school, and make sure it made the rounds.

No guarantees it would work, however.

Plan is flawed.

Liz Czukas said...

Nicole: Thank you coming to visit! Glad to have your entry.

Crystal: A flawed plan is still a plan! I like it.

Contest still open until tomorrow at 11:59pm!

- Liz

stephanie kuehn said...

Hooray for your first contest.

Hmm...I guess I'd give Looking For Alaska to my own boarding school when I go back for my TWENTIETH reunion this spring (tears).

I know the things that happen when a hundred and fifty teens live together 24/7. I would have loved that book twenty years ago, and the students there now would love it today.

(Deenie's kind of super, though. I'd probably save that one for my girlie who's six going on sixteen.)