Max Schlenker is an 11th grader currently attending the North Carolina School of Science and Math. His essay describes his experience becoming an advocate for a students’ right to read when the award-winning novel The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende was petitioned to be removed from his sophomore English Honors class.
“My entire experience defending The House of the Spirits and fighting censorship taught me that the world is such an immensely larger place than we imagine, and that literature is one of the most precious insights into this world that we have.”
Max Schlenker, from Deep Gap North Carolina, is an active member of his high school. He is involved in student government and several clubs including Model UN, Key Club, Spectrum and Mock Trial. He also attended the UNC Chapel Hill Catalyst Conference for Social Justice and participated in the NC Youth Legislation Assembly. Max is a musician at heart and is a member of the NCSSM Wind Ensemble, Chorus, and Orchestra.
North Carolina Library Advocacy 