This week (February 24-March 2, 2013) is Canada’s 29th Freedom to Read Week (a project of Canada’s Book and Periodical Council). At Freedom to Read you will find posters, kits and suggestions for activities in your communities and classrooms.

I particularly like the idea of starting a Banned Book Club. The list of “challenged” books on the site includes Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”, two of my favorite reads. Do you know what books have been “challenged” in the schools and libraries in your area?

Have you ever felt constrained when you’ve found issues and attitudes flowing from your pencil or keyboard into your fictional story that you think might be controversial when your writing is published? Or do you court these, knowing they will make readers blink twice and maybe bring your work more attention? Have you ever had a reader or editor tell you “you can’t/shouldn’t say that”? Did they give a reason? I’d love to hear your stories.

Freedom to Read 2013