Judy Blume Awarded National Book Foundation Medal

It's ironic that just before Banned Books Week, which is September 25 - October 2 this year, the announcement was made that children's author Judy Blume has been awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contributions to American Letters. It's ironic because five of her children's books, including "Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret," are on the American Library Association's 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2001 list. An article on USA Today.com made the following points about Blume and her work:

Blume's works have sold more than 75 million copies and have been translated into more than 20 languages.

Blume is known for dealing explicitly with sex, religion and divorce and her books often have been placed in restricted sections of libraries or pulled altogether.

"She has convinced millions of young people that truth can be found in a book and that reading is fun," Faith McNulty once wrote in The New Yorker.

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