Thursday, October 4, 2012

I Read Banned Books


This week to show my support, I will be wearing my "I Read Banned Books" bracelet: 
Banned books week is a time to celebrate our freedom to be able to read whatever book we choose and to able to get access to these books. Many of the challenges/bans that happen in the US are on young adult books which are deemed "unsuitable to age group" and were probably challenged by a parent. As a teacher, I completely understand the right to protect your own child from whatever you want to protect them from and that some books are more appropriate for different ages; however, I will never understand the need to try to push these beliefs onto others by completely banning a book in a library, school or city. 

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite challenged books - some you will recognize and some may be new to you (click on the book cover to go to its Goodreads page), but they are all books that should be accessible to those who want to read them. 
  1. ttyl  (series) by Lauren Myracle
    Reasons for challenges: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
    ttyl (Internet Girls, #1)
  2. Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins
    Reasons for challenges: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence
    The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
  3. What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
    Reasons for challenges: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit
    What My Mother Doesn't Know (What My Mother Doesn't Know, #1)
  4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    Reasons for challenges: offensive language; racism
    To Kill a Mockingbird
  5. Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons for challenges: offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
    The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
  6. Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
    Reasons for challenges: Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
    Olive's Ocean
  7. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
    Reasons for challenges: homosexuality and offensive language
    Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
  8. Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
    Reasons for challenges: anti-family content, unsuited to age group, violence
    The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Captain Underpants, #1)
  9. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
    Reasons for challenges: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
    In the Night Kitchen
  10. Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling
    Reasons for challenges: occult/Satanism
    \Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)
  11. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
    Reasons for challenges: offensive language
    Of Mice and Men
  12. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
    Reasons for challenges: occult/Satanism, offensive language
    Bridge to Terabithia
  13. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
    Reasons for challenges: drugs
    Go Ask Alice
  14. Crank (series) by Ellen Hopkins
    Reasons for challenges: drugs, offensive language, and sexually explicit
    Crank (Crank, #1)
  15. Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry (series) by Mildred D. Taylor
    Reasons for challenges: offensive language
    Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
   Honorary (I haven't read it yet, but want to!). And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin
          Richardson
          Reasons for challenges: homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
And Tango Makes Three

Banned book week is celebrating its 30th birthday, 
so celebrate their birthday by not forgetting to speak up and read often!

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