FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON

Join us for our next book in the Rubber Banned Book Club!

Flowers for Algernon was an award-winning short story that was first published in “The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction” in April 1959. It was expanded into a novel in 1966. The sci-fi story explores topics such as human intelligence, intellectual disabilities, and romance. The novel is written exclusively as a series of diary entries from the protagonist, Charlie Gordon.

It tells the story of an intellectually disabled man who is chosen to undergo an experiment that would dramatically increase his IQ of 68. Although Charlie is the first human patient to undergo the procedure, a laboratory mouse named Algernon had previously undergone the procedure successfully. To test his progress, medical staff have Charlie compete with Algernon to solve various mazes. Charlie dutifully journals about his experiences before and after the procedure. His intelligence increases, as does his awareness of the world around him. [Encyclopedia Britannica]

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WHY WAS THIS BOOK BANNED IN SOME SCHOOLS & STATES?

This book was recently banned in Escambia County schools for profanity and sexually explicit descriptions. PEN America, Penguin Random House, and a diverse group of authors joined with parents and students in Escambia County for a first of its kind federal lawsuit alleging that an earlier set of book bans and restrictions violate their rights to free speech and equal protection under the law. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2026. [PEN America]

ABOUT DANIEL KEYES

Daniel Keyes was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1927. Although he grew up dreaming of becoming a writer, he instead entered New York University’s premedical program. After leaving college at 17 to serve in the U.S. Maritime Service, he eventually enrolled in New York’s Brooklyn College, receiving a degree in psychology in 1950 and a master’s degree in English Literature in 1961.

Keyes’s other books include The Touch, The Fifth Sally, and The Minds of Billy Milligan, which was based on a true story. He died of pneumonia complications in his South Florida home in 2014 at the age of 86.  [Encyclopedia Britannica]

ABOUT THE READERS

IAN PAUL CUSTER is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater. He’s a Chicago-based actor and musician. American Blues credits include: It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (Jeff Award nomination for Ensemble, Production-midsize, & Short Run); Buddy – The Buddy Holly (Jeff Awards for Ensemble & Musical-midsize); Spitfire Grill; The Columnist (Jeff Award nomination for Production-midsize); Little Shop of Horrors (Jeff Award nomination for Musical-midsize); Yankee Tavern. Additional Chicago credits:  Waitress, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Paramount Theatre); Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812 (Writers Theatre); 33 Variations (Jeff Award– Best Production, Midsize), and To Master the Art (TimeLine Theatre), Annie Bosh is Missing (Steppenwolf Theatre), High Holidays (Goodman Theatre). Ian has also had the pleasure of working with Porchlight Music Theatre, Marriott Theatre, The Lyric Opera, Theatre Wit, A Red Orchid Theatre, MPAACT, and Court Theatre. Regional credits: Hero: The Musical (Asolo Rep Theatre), Cymbeline (Notre Dame Shakespeare), Romeo and Juliet (Cardinal Stage), Peter Pan  (360 Entertainment – London, England). Television credits: Somebody Somewhere, APB, Empire, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD. Ian received his BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

MANNY BUCKLEY is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater. He is a Chicago-based actor, director, and writer. Manny has numerous credits with American Blues Theater, where he turned in his critically-acclaimed, award-winning solo performance in Looking Over the President’s Shoulder. Recently he directed August Wilson’s Seven Guitars (Best Production Jeff Award) at City Lit Theatre. Other directing credits include The Bad Seed (Jedlicka Performing Arts), Kingdom, an audio play (Broken Nose Theatre), Origin Story, Mother of Pearl and The Reapers On Woodbrook Avenue (Blue Ink Festival), multiple short plays in the Ripped: The Living Newspaper, #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence, and The One Minute Play Festival. Acting credits include work with Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Court, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Next Theater, House Theatre, Shattered Globe Theater, Cincinnati Children’s Theatre, and Studio Theatre.  Film credits: Proven Innocent, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, The US Navy, Northwestern University, and The Onion. He has received nominations for the Joseph Jefferson Award, the Helen Hayes Award, and the 3Arts Award; he is the recipient of both a Black Theater Alliance Award and Black Excellence Award. Mr. Buckley’s work was last seen in It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! here at Blues.