ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r
(series), by Lauren MyracleReasons: nudity, sexually explicit, offensive language, drugs,
and unsuited to age group
And Tango Makes Three
, by Peter Parnell and Justin RichardsonReasons: homosexuality
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
, by Stephen ChboskyReasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually
explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
To Kill a Mockingbird
, by Harper LeeReasons: racism, offensive language, unsuited to age group
Twilight
(series), by Stephanie MeyerReasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
Catcher in the Rye
, by J.D. SalingerReasons: sexaully explicit, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
My Sister's Keeper
, by Jodi PicoultReasons: sexism, homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group, drugs, suicide, violence
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things
, by Carolyn MacklerReasons: sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
The Color Purple
, by Alice WalkerReasons: sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
The Chocolate War
, by Robert CormierReasons: nudity, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
Happily, I've read just over half of them. I'd like to read more. I'll be doing my special Banned Books Edition of Retro Friday this week and, in the meantime, why don't you check out this map and see which books are being challenged in your state and what you can do about it. And here is my favorite post on the subject so far this week, from Greenwillow editor Martha Mihalick.
Last of all--two of my favorite quotes on censorship, by men who would know. Chris Crutcher had this to say to the question, "What would you like youth to know about books that have been challenged or banned?":
That they aren't really banned. They can get them at the library or the bookstore or Amazon.com. This is America.
And Stephen King:
Speaking personally, you can have my gun, but you'll take my book when you pry my cold, dead fingers off of the binding.
As my six-year-old boy would say, "Haroo-ya!"
Some of the banned books are just absurd...Twilight is sexually explicit? Now, I dislike the series, but I thought I preached abstinence...colour me crazy. So strange!
ReplyDeleteI like that quote too.. "they aren't really banned"... it's very comforting.
ReplyDeleteThe banner up there is pretty. All in red. I like that.
I've read 7 of them. YAY! Also, Stephen King, how I want to make out with you for that statement even though he's old. Le sigh.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I would trade a gun for some books.
Those are great quotes.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm always surprised by some of the books that get banned - they'd probably fade into obscurity if people didn't insist on challenging them.
To Kill A Mockingbird and The Perks of Being A Wallflower are two of my all time favorite books!
ReplyDeleteTwilight is sexually explicit and has a religious viewpoint? Did they read the book? They must be thinking of a different Twilight. That's the only way that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteOh, I LOVE the Stephen King quote. Mind if I borrow it?
ReplyDeleteMelissa, lol. I thought so, too.
ReplyDeleteJanice, it is comforting, isn't it? Made me happy.
April, well done you! And I know how you feel re: King and that comment. So great.
Livi, yeah, it's amazing how long some of them have consistently made the top ten.
Caitlin, oh yeah. CATCHER is one of mine a well.
Tiah, truly. I honestly don't think many of the challengers actually read the books at all. Losers.
Melissa, borrow away! It is awesome and it should be shared. :)
It makes me so sad that To Kill a Mockingbird is so consistently challenged. It is a classic example of a book being looked at in tiny, fragmented pieces rather than as a beatiful whole.
ReplyDeleteAnd I must say, if my 10th grade students can understand why Lee does what she does and why she uses the language she does, then why can't the adults challenging the novel?