Fighters Against Censorship

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-There are a number of books about censorship available for this audience, but few focus entirely on the people who have fought to sustain the free speech granted by the U.S. Constitution. Though this volume is dull in appearance and written to formula, each entry is concise and divided by topic so that readers can quickly find the information needed. The introduction gives a brief historical and contemporary overview of free-speech issues and raises the question of balance between freedom and regulation in our society. Six chapters feature people who have, in various ways, been advocates for free speech. James Madison, the most well known, is the focus of the first chapter. Theodore Schroeder, Emma Goldman, Tommy Smothers, Larry Flynt, and Mitchell Kapor are featured in the subsequent chapters. Poorly reproduced black-and-white photographs are sprinkled throughout. Libraries with large collections may be interested in this book, but the focus is so limited that smaller libraries may do better buying books with a broader focus such as Derek Jones's Censorship: A World Encyclopedia (Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001), which includes references to free-speech advocates.-Pat Scales, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.