In poking about my alma mater’s website, I noticed that they’re hosting an event for Banned Books Week on Thursday night. I have to check and see if it’s for current students only, but if it’s open to the public, I think I’m going to go.
Now’s a good time to take a look and see what’s going on near you. If there aren’t any readings to attend, check out your local bookstore and see what they have on display.
Via the ALA, these were the ten most challenged books of 2007:
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group - The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence - Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language - The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism - The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, - TTYL, by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit - It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit - The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
For an even more comprehensive selection, take a gander at the ABFFE’s Banned and Challenged Book List. If you’re between books and looking for something new to read, why not see if anything on there tickles your fancy?
8. Sexually Explicit and LIFE CHANGING. I wrote a research paper on this book my senior year at a Catholic high school. Maya Angelou is an inspiration.
The whole banning books thing really pisses me off.
I remember one of the pamphlets we had at the bookstore one year that went into a bit more depth about one of Angelou’s challengers. This person felt that her description of the rape made it sound “too comforting.”
I had just finished the book for a class (also in a Catholic high school!), and kind of sat there boggling at the list for a few minutes.