Told about Freeman's experience, several experts on children's literature and libraries were astonished. If someone objects to a book, they said, that doesn't give them the right to impose their views on others who want to read it.
"When you take books off the shelf for these reasons, that's censorship," said Beverly Becker, associate director of the American Library Assn.'s Office of Intellectual Freedom. "It has a damaging impact on the community at large, which includes a lot of different voices, and it also has a chilling effect on an author."
Librarian as Censor
Ultimately, experts note, the economy may have the biggest chilling effect of all. At a time of funding cuts, public and school libraries have less money to buy new books. In such an environment, it is tempting for librarians to pass on books like "The Trouble With Babies" that might trigger controversies, in favor of less controversial titles, the California School Library Assn.'s Kastanis noted.
"No librarian wants to be a censor," she said. "But these pressures make it easier for them to say, 'Why should I buy this book? Who needs the trouble?' And that's how some deal with these tough issues, under the cover of a larger concern over funding."
So what is an author to do?
Fellow writers offered a range of advice. Newman, author of "Heather Has Two Mommies," said: "If anyone ever says I can't write something, then that's what I write about. But it's a real struggle, because I don't have a kid to send to college. Martha should follow her heart on this issue."
Alex Sanchez, who has written several gay-themed novels for teenagers, including the just-published "Rainbow High," said he has encountered similar problems when deciding how to balance the content -- and commercial viability -- of his books.
"I struggle with how to write the story I want and at the same time make it most probable that a book will wind up in libraries," he said. "My editor and I are mindful of this. We proceed very carefully with the kind of language and scenes we portray."
Freeman, 47, lives with her husband and three children in this small, central Pennsylvania town that seems light-years from New York, Los Angeles and other big cities where battles over gay and lesbian rights surface more frequently.
She remains torn about the plot for her third episode, but refuses to blame librarians for her troubles, saying they are on the front line of a tough battle and deserve more public support for their efforts on behalf of freedom of speech.
"I don't write books as a public service," Freeman said with irritation, "and it's stupid for me to produce things that won't be read because kids can't get at them. I didn't get into this [writing] to become a spokesperson for any point of view.
"But on the other hand, I should be able to write what I want, without fear of censorship. That's my version of America, for me and other writers."
"The Trouble With Babies" may be a lost cause commercially, but there could be smaller victories for Freeman. Cauvel, the librarian who pulled the book, said she recently put it back in circulation. Several children checked it out; others are waiting for it, and no one's complained.
"I take the long view," she said. "If you call me 10 years from now, we'll probably laugh about this. The world changes, and you can't keep books from kids forever."
