You guys, I almost kerplotzed when I saw that Katherine Paterson was signing right.across.the.aisle. from me at ALA Chicago! It was like a surreal moment in life when you are chatting happily with co-workers and then turn around and are faced with a childhood icon…what?!?
Anyway, I slunk across the aisle with hopes that I could con, beg, steal appeal to the Children's marketers to let me snag a copy of The Great Gilly Hopkins and have it signed. They are angels, and therefore let me. Now it lives in a place of honor on my bookshelf. I also was privy to a wonderfully naughty bit of Paterson humor which made me swoon a bit harder. She really is amazing.
Anyway, this book is #20 on the ALA's list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books for 1990-2000. Read it!
Reason for challenge: subject matter, language and conduct of Gilly.
– Annie