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Susan Patron c/o Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 18 February 2007 Dear Susan Patron, As the controversy swirls around The Higher Power of Lucky, I would like you to know that I am grateful to you for having written this book. Lucky is the kind of character who can spark a child's interest in reading and help him/her experience the lived-through life that quality literature offers. Lucky is spunky and smart, resilient and resourceful. And you have shared her story with humor and compassion. Your use of the proper and biologically-correct term scrotum is not and should not be cause for alarm. I served for twelve years as a school librarian, ten years at the elementary level. I would not have hesitated to include The Higher Power of Lucky in any of the four elementary school library collections for which I selected books. (Those libraries spanned the socioeconomic and demographic spectrum.) I would not have found it difficult to defend the selection of this title. I supposed if you had thought about it you could have chosen to "play it safe" and have the adult character use the word crouch. Or, you could have chosen to take a confrontational stance and had him use words likes nuts or balls. But as the New York Times article quotes you, scrotum is a more interesting word, one that would make a character like Lucky (or any ten-year-old kid) wonder what it means (if he/she didn't already know) or believe she/he had overheard something particularly adult (and as you say "delicious"). As a librarian yourself, you know that selection should not be confused for censorship. School librarians should not be in the business of banning books. Some will choose not to select this book because they fear parent, teacher, principal, or community reprisals. Most, however, will read the book cover-to-cover, fall in love with Lucky, and refuse to accept that s-c-r-o-t-u-m is a four-letter word that ruins the entire book by appearing twice in 134 pages of a well-written and engaging story. Please do not lose heart. When the media frenzy subsides, your readers will find Lucky and be the better for having read her story. Sincerely, Judi Moreillon Judi Moreillon, M.L.S., Ph.D. Literacies and Libraries Consultant Author: <http://tinyurl.com/yzvy5g> Collaborative Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension: Maximizing Your Impact <http://storytrail.com/> http://storytrail.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------