Jodie Picoult: 'It's not a badge of honour to have books banned'

The author discusses free speech, her latest novel and Shakespeare theories at the Hay Festival.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchRegisterSign InHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUK General ElectionIndia ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessFuture of BusinessTechnology of BusinessWork CultureInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherJodi Picoult: ‘It’s not a badge of honour to be banned’2 days agoEmma Saunders,Culture reporter at the Hay FestivalShareGetty ImagesJodi Picoult has seen several of her books adapted for the big screenBestselling American author Jodi Picoult has said “the loss of free speech is a very, very slippery slope” and that having two of her books banned in school districts in some US states is “not a badge of honour".

Speaking at the Hay Festival, Picoult said she was “very fortunate because I’m at a point in my career where people who are going to be buying my books are not in school libraries”.

But the author, who has written 30 books and sold around 40 million copies, said this wasn’t the case for younger authors, LGBTQ writers or people of colour, “whose livelihood is writing for middle grade and young adult readers. They are suffering greatly”.

Picoult said her books My Sister’s Keeper and Nineteen Minutes were affected by the bans.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0vv17r20lro

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