Billings Reads Banned Books Club, Featuring Traffick by Ellen Hopkins

Book discussion: Traffick, by Ellen Hopkins
Location: Billings Public Library, Community Room

Questions? Please contact Mary Beth Beaulieu at marybethcoach@gmail.com

Twenty-four community members attended the first BillingsReads Banned Books Club on a (hot, summer) Tuesday night at Billings Public Library. All indications are it was a successful meeting discussing the book TRICKS by Ellen Hoffman.

Our experience was significantly enhanced as Penny Ronning, Co-Founder, Co-Chair, Board President, and Steering Committee Member of the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force shared a presentation that brought home the grim reality of Human Trafficking as she illustrated ways the author truly captured the voice and experience of victims. If you were unable to attend, I offer this link to the Yellowstone County Human Trafficking Task Force to learn more. Who We Are – YHTTF

As many attendees are interested in what’s happening locally with book challenges, particularly in SD2, Cici Kelling gave an update; and participants indicated if they want to be notified of upcoming School Board meetings where library policy and procedures will be discussed.

We asked for feedback on our group guidelines, which were included in the email invitation for the meeting. One important change was made because we had a couple people join us who had not had a chance to read the book. Also, a few did not join because they had not finished the book. We want all who are interested to attend. The new guidance will be:

We recommend reading the entire book. The content in these books will likely challenge our thinking and any controversial passages should be considered in full context of the story.

Several participants noted they read the second book in the series, TRAFFIK and found it be an important part of the story. It was suggested and agreed that this will be the book we will read in August.