Author John Green highlights Freedom to Read Foundation Dallas fundraiser

CHICAGO - John Green, best-selling author and staunch defender of intellectual freedom principles, will be the featured speaker at the annual Freedom to Read Foundation fundraising author event on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 in Dallas. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and Green's talk will begin at 7 p.m., to be followed by a book signing. The event will take place at the Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young St.

Green's books include "Looking for Alaska," "Paper Towns," "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" (with David Levithan) and "An Abundance of Katherines."  His forthcoming novel, "The Fault in Our Stars," topped the Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble bestseller lists upon being made available for preorder.  Green has won multiple awards for his work, including the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award.  "Looking for Alaska" has been challenged in libraries and classrooms over concerns about its language and content.

Freedom to Read Foundation Executive Director Barbara Jones said, "John Green is not only a wonderful author, but he is an inspirational voice for defending the right to read.  He has a particular gift for connecting with young people, often giving voice to frustrations, fears and desires they are starting to come to terms with.  He has been forthright in his opposition to censorship, with his "I Am Not a Pornographer" video being a particularly strong rebuke to a challenge of 'Looking for Alaska' in a New York school."

The suggested donation to attend the event is $25 ($10 for students), and the event is open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. Copies of Green's books will be on sale at the event, with proceeds benefiting the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Space is limited:

• To reserve your space, make a donation via FTRF's secure online donation page at https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?Action=GC&CID=811 or call (312) 280-4226 to make a donation by phone.  The suggested donation is $25 per attendee ($10 for students).  Please enter "John Green event" and the names of the attendees in the comments section of the donation form.
• You also may make a donation at the door based on space availability.

Visit John Green's homepage at http://www.johngreenbooks.com/ to learn more about John's work and adventures. You also can follow his ongoing video project with his brother Hank, Vlogbrothers, at http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers/featured. Become one of John's million-plus Twitter followers at http://twitter.com/realjohngreen.  Visit him on Tumblr at http://fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com/.

The event will take place in conjunction with the 2012 American Library Association Midwinter Meeting. For more information, visit www.ftrf.org or contact Jonathan Kelley at jokelley@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, ext. 4226.  

John Green's appearance is made possible thanks to Penguin Young Readers.