Christine Kallner

“In this age of censorship I mourn the loss of books that will never be written, I mourn the voices that will be silenced--writers' voices, teachers' voices, students' voices--all because of fear. How many have resorted to self-censorship? How many are saying to themselves, "Nope ... can't write about that. Can't teach that book. Can't have that book in our collection. Can't let my student write that editorial in the school paper.”
― Judy Blume, Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers

“Self-censorship can be very damaging to a story. When our chief goal is not to offend someone, we are not likely to write a book that will deeply affect someone.”
― Katherine Paterson, Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers

“Parents and other who complain often do so out of deep beliefs or convictions, and often in an effort to "protect" young people from influences they believe are harmful. Of course, no one wants to subject students to harmful influences. But given the wide range of opinion, if everyone had the right to veto what he or she didn't like, nothing much would be left.”
― Joan Bertin, Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers

“Some of the choices teenagers make are morally and practically wrong. Some of my characters do things I hope my child won't. There are occasionally words my characters choose that I wouldn't utter in my mother's presence. But when I was sixteen, or twelve, hanging out with my friends? That was different. For a story to feel real, I have to respect what a character would really do or say.”
― Rachel Vail, Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers