‘Festival of Books’ in Talkeetna is Sept. 21-22

TALKEETNA — The theme for the 2012 Festival of Books here Sept. 21-22 is “Heroes and Villains.”

Festival of Books begins at 3 p.m., Sept. 8 with the annual Banned Book Poster Contest during the Second Saturday Art Display at the Flying Squirrel Bakery Café. Voting continues through 8 p.m., Sept. 22.

Sarah Hurst will host a free graphic novel all-ages workshop titled “Turning Real Life into a Graphic Novel” at the Talkeetna Library from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Sept. 21.

Based on the annual Alaska Battle of the Books program for third- through 12th-grade students, the first Battle of the Banned Books, Adults Edition begins at 6 p.m., Sept. 21 at the Denali Arts Hangar.

Donation of $5 to $10 is suggested. The adult battle features books that have been banned or challenged somewhere in the country at some point in time.

To sign up, contact 354-3184, or, holli.papasodora@matsugov.us, or, the Talkeetna Library, at 733-2359.

On Sept. 22, the festival moves to the Northern Susitna Institute Building on the Talkeetna Spur Road where graphic novelist Lee Post will host two workshops titled “Drawing Makes You Awesome” (for ages 10 to 14) and “Putting Words and Pictures Together” (for ages 14 to adult).

There also will be author signings by Sarah Post and Mike Dillingham, and Krista Gray will release her new book, “Awakening.”

The Festival of Books wraps up Sept. 22 with a showing of “The Hunger Games” at the Hangar Door Cinema’s annual Banned Book Movie event. Tickets are available at the door.

For more information, contact aksunmama@gmail.com.

2012 Battle of the Banned Books list — Adults Edition

• “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” by John Irving

• “The Tenth Circle,” by Jodi Picoult

• “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” by Mark Haddon

• “The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins

• “Making of Dr. Truelove,” by Derrick Barnes

• “Crank,” by Ellen Hopkins

• “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck

• “Bless Me, Ultima,” by Rudolfo Anaya