May Banned Book Club

John Bowes
Mar 26
3 min read

The North Quincy Banned Book Club spring meeting is on May 27th at 7 PM at the North

Quincy Library. At the bi-monthly meeting, the group discusses the reasons for each book's challenges or bans, the history of each of the books, and the content of the book itself.

For May, the club will be discussing Toni Morrison's first novel, The Bluest Eye, published in 1970. The book vividly captures the anguish of a child's desire being fulfilled and the fear and loneliness that lie at its core. The book begins in the fall of 1941; America is still getting over the Great Depression and has not yet joined the Second World War. The book's story centers around the Breedlove family, and their two kids are named Sammy and Pecola. Pecola is the one who wishes she had blue eyes and wonders if her life would be less unpleasant if she could change their color and, by extension, how they look.

Thomas Crane Public Library (North Quincy Branch)

381 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02171

Tuesday, March 25th 7:00—8:00 PM

(Click here to RSVP)

The banning of The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison's book The Bluest Eye was one of the books that a school district in Arkansas had banned. The book now has to be returned to the shelves as part of settling a lawsuit. The Matanuska-Susitna school district unilaterally removed several books from school libraries. Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” was one of the 56 books that were removed from school libraries and must be reshelved, based on the District Court Judgment.

The Bluest Eye

by Toni Morrison

(Click here to learn about book)

Where to find the book

Find the book in your local library (click here)

Buy book locally at Button

Wood Books and Toys in Cohasset (Click here)
The Next Chapter-books and More in Quincy center (Click here) New bookstore

Virtual book club

A lot of people ask me if we can do a virtual band book club. Unfortunately, the logistics of this are too difficult, but the librarian at the North Quincy library has offered to provide the syllabus for anyone that wants to start a banned book club at their local library. This is a great act of defiance of the Trump administration's active campaign to target marginalized communities by banning books in public schools and libraries. Also, getting together with like-minded people to discuss incredibly talented artists and authors makes for a great therapy session and support network while letting marginalized communities know they have allies among their neighbors. If you can't join us in the city of presidents, please consider starting your own club. Message John Bowes if you're interested in the syllabus.

(Click here to email John Bowes)

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