Sept. 2, 2026
VIROQUA, Wis. –– McIntosh Memorial Library of Viroqua will host a community conversation on Monday, Oct. 5 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the library lobby about author Ellen Hopkins’ book Crank, a story about a teenager dealing with the impacts of methamphetamine addiction, as part of their yearlong national Books Unbanned campaign.
Beginning September 1, the library will be giving away 40 new copies of the book. Anyone over age 13 is welcome to stop by the library and request a copy of the book to keep. In return anyone receiving a copy of the book is asked to participate in the community conversation.
Ellen Hopkins is a poet, former journalist, and the award-winning author of twenty nonfiction books for young readers, two middle grade novels-in-verse, fourteen NY Times bestselling young adult novels-in-verse, and four novels for adult readers. After six decades in California and Nevada, Ellen moved with her extended family and two problematic German shepherds to a sweet log cabin in the Missouri woods.
Hopkins has had several of her titles challenged, including the book Crank.
The Books UnBanned campaign, founded by the Brooklyn Public Library, champions access to challenged books and promotes education and advocacy around intellectual freedom. Through a grant awarded by the Brooklyn Public Library, McIntosh Memorial Library formed a team of five local teenagers who serve as Books UnBanned Teen Ambassadors, working to promote the freedom to read and raise awareness in their community.
The McIntosh Memorial library will end their yearlong campaign with a robust schedule of programs during Banned Books Week which will be celebrated nationally October 4-10, 2026. Hopkins will speak at the Westby Area Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 10 at 2:30 p.m. as part of an afternoon program series on Intellectual Freedom.
Funding for the program is provided by grant funding from the Vernon County Opioid Prevention and Abatement Steering Committee and the Brooklyn Public Library.
To register for a free book from Ellen Hopkins visit www.mcintoshmemoriallibrary.org Further information can be found on the “Viroqua library” Facebook page or by calling the library at 608-637-7151 x 5.
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