Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers [Hardcover]

Judy Blume (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1999

Judy Blume asked prominent authors whose writing has been censored or challenged to contribute an original story to a collection that will benefit the National Coalition Against Censorship. The response was overwhelming and the results are simply extraordinary. The main characters of these stories find themselves in places they never meant to be: trapped in a basement with a vengeful cheerleader; transfixed by a fire that may have been lit by a teenager; terrified on the baseball field by a sadistic coach.

Featuring stories by David Mass, the late Norma Klein, Julius Lester, Chris Lynch, Harry Mazer, Norma Fox Mazer, Walter Dean Myers, Katherine Paterson, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Rachel Vail, Jacqueline Woodson, and Paul Zindel, Places I Never Meant To Be is a stunning literary achievement as well as a battle cry against censorship.

All royalties generated from the sale of this book are being donated to the National Coalition Against Censorship, an alliance of over forty national nonprofit organizations united by a conviction that freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression must be defended.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this provocative collection, Judy Blume, the censors' favorite target, assembles an all-star cast of young adult writers who have themselves felt the pain of censorship. Each contributes an original short story and some highly quotable observations on their own experiences and feelings when under attack. "Where once I went to my writing without a backward glance," writes Norma Fox Mazer, "now I sometimes have to consciously clear my mind of those shadowy censorious presences." The entries range from Jacqueline Woodson's ironic story of a neighborhood's casual acceptance of arson, to Harry Mazer's touching tale of a tough kid redeemed by a little boy's adoration. Two stories are especially intriguing to connoisseurs of teen fiction: Chris Lynch's "Lie, No Lie"--a selection that appears not to have made the cut for his novel Whitechurch--in which Pauly sets his friend up for embarrassment in a gay bath house; and the late Norma Klein's "Something Which Is Non-Existent," a previously unpublished story written in 1959 when this much-censored author was in college. Other stories by Katherine Paterson, Rachel Vail, Julius Lester, Walter Dean Myers, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Paul Zindel, Norma Fox Mazer, and David Klass contribute to this showcase of stellar talent. (Ages 11 to 16) --Patty Campbell

From Publishers Weekly

Blume's introduction, explaining her battles with would-be censors and the risks taken by librarians and teachers who stand by books that arouse an outcry, may be the most involving element of this collection of 12 short stories by acclaimed authors. Julius Lester's protagonist risks his popularity by befriending the only white girl in his English class. Susan Beth Pfeffer shows how a girl's loyalty and morality are challenged when her father asks her to steal money from his ex-wife's secret cache. Paul Zindel conjures revenge against a high school cheerleader in a tale almost as gruesome as Stephen King's Carrie. Also included are works by Katherine Paterson, Walter Dean Myers, Rachel VailAeven the late Norma Klein (with a story originally published in a Barnard literary journal in 1959). In putting together this collection, Blume constructs a platform for writers to speak freely and honestly, not only through their fiction but with brief essays on censorship. Few of these stories represent the very best work of the contributors, but their commitment to their audience shines through, and readers will likely be inspired to seek out their other titles. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) FYI: All royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689820348
• ISBN-13: 978-0689820342
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,169,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From a "grown up" point of view, June 2, 2001

By 

S. Budiansky (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers (Hardcover)

I am 26 years old, but I love kids books still and an old favorite is Judy Blume. I have read every word that she has ever printed that I can get my hands on. So when I came across this book, I bought it immediately, especially when I saw names like Norma Klein, another favorite of mine, Julius Lester, a professor of mine at the University of Massachusetts, Walter Dean Myers, Katherine Paterson and others that I used to love to read. All of these stories are engaging and thought provoking and I really believe any lover of fiction, who believes in educating children and not sheltering them, should read this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Startling Wakeup Call, August 3, 2000

By 

"rookie2k" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers (Hardcover)

Censorship has been plaguing our society for years. I haven't been ignorant to it, but some of the issues that the authors of the stories in this book discussed hit very close to home with me. They help reinforce that censorship can be a very ugly thing that, in some cases, is a worse fate than silencing an author altogether, for it often attacks their judgment and self-esteem. A wonderful read, it's also important to note that all royalties produced from the sale of this book go straight to the National Coalition Against Censorship.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, June 13, 2002

By 

John Gallagher (Amesbury, Ma. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers (Paperback)

I could not put this book down! This kept me up and reading threw the night. Within this book, authors tell their stories, of why there book was banned, what their thoughts were, and it makes you ask yourself, "Was it necessary for this book to have been banned"? Authors like Judy Blume, David Klass, and Norma Klein all join together to express their feelings in the fight against National Censorship. These authors are all apart of the National Coalition Against Censorship. In this book, it gives you a brief summary of their thoughts and experiences with censorship. Then there is a chapter or two, on one of their own books. It really opens your eyes to the world of censorship.