When I heard last fall that Metro Theater Company would be putting on a performance of The Giver, one of my favorite books growing up, I was thrilled.
It had been several years since I had read the book, and I wasted no time in revisiting it (again). I was a bit surprised to find that my perspective had shifted a little bit, with a more muddled mixture of hope and despair carrying me through the book than I remembered. It is a quickly engrossing novel, and I am excited for the day when I can share it with my own kids.
Lois Lowry’s book The Giver, which won the Newberry Medal in 1994, is a science fiction novel for children ages 10 and up. Set in a futuristic (though familiar) world, it is the story of a boy named Jonas who lives in a safe and seemingly perfect Community. Everything in it is well-controlled, from the climate to the genetics of the individuals to the very language they use with one another. They value sameness above all else.
While Harry Potter is not banned at our house, I have told our 6-year-old that she will have to wait until she is a little older before reading The Goblet of Fire and the three books that follow (never mind the movies, which we see after reading the books). And some books (Barbie’s Cinderella, l
et’s say, or Disney’s Winnie the Pooh) do not live on our bookshelves – though Yo Gabba Gabba is welcome. Does this make me a hypocrite? Perhaps. Though I am adamantly opposed to censorship on principle, I struggle with how far to stretch that freedom for my own children. I want them to read everything... that is not too commercial... and when they are ready, of course.
This week at our house we are celebrating Banned Books Week. The American Library Association and others have annually dedicated the last week of September to “celebrate the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.” And though I joke about some of the hypocrisies inherent in parenting, the reasons for this week are no joke.
Fazio’s Rock Academy is the summer destination for the aspiring rock star in your life! Campers attend one-week or two-week sessions (8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. daily) where they form a real band, choose a band name, write their own music, pose for a photo shoot and conclude with a live concert with special guest appearances by professional rock artists! Fazio's Rock Academy is for Guitarists, Vocalists, Bassists and Keyboardists between the ages of 9-17 years.
Two sessions are offered: July 15-19; and July 22-26. Each session is $399, which includes print music and a t-shirt. Ask about a discounted rate for two-week enrollment.
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