Banned Books Week is coming to an end. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than a thousand books have been challenged since 1982. Think it doesn't happen where you live? Think again! Check out this map of challenges in the US from 2007-2010.
Out of 460 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2009 the 10 most challenged titles were:
ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: nudity, sexually explicit, offensive language, drugs, and unsuited to age group
And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: racism, offensive language, unsuited to age group
Twilight (series), by Stephanie Meyer
Reasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: sexaully explicit, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: sexism, homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group, drugs, suicide, violence
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: nudity, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
How many have you read? Have you celebrated your freedom to read this and every other week?
Showing posts with label Banned Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Banned Books. Show all posts
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friday, October 3, 2008
1,000 (or less) Things To Do (in Oconto) Before You Rest (or Crash)
This weekend will be the weekend of all weekends in Oconto! 
Today we start out with the homecoming parade and then the game against Mishicot – Go Blue Devils!! Tonight is also opening night for The Machickanee Players in which my husband plays the part of our eldest son. His character bears a strong resemblance to my son anyway.
Saturday, after wrapping up Banned Book Week by testing your knowledge , it’s
time for the Harvest Festival and Balloons Across America Celebration. Food, arts and crafts, children’s activities, what more could you ask for? The Business Scavenger Hunt, of course! This gives everyone a chance to check out all the local businesses and win great prizes. During the scavenger hunt, stop in to meet Margaret W. Jones, Ph.D. visiting all the way from Massachusetts to discuss bullying and sign copies of her new release, Not of My Making . This will give you a chance to warm up with a coffee or cocoa! The second Machickanee Players show and the homecoming dance wrap up Saturday’s events.
Sunday while the teens are sleeping off the excitement of the night before, this gives you the opportunity to see the matinee of God’s Favorite by Neil Simon and curl up with a good book. The Lucky One is my book of choice this week, how about you?
Saturday, after wrapping up Banned Book Week by testing your knowledge , it’s
time for the Harvest Festival and Balloons Across America Celebration. Food, arts and crafts, children’s activities, what more could you ask for? The Business Scavenger Hunt, of course! This gives everyone a chance to check out all the local businesses and win great prizes. During the scavenger hunt, stop in to meet Margaret W. Jones, Ph.D. visiting all the way from Massachusetts to discuss bullying and sign copies of her new release, Not of My Making . This will give you a chance to warm up with a coffee or cocoa! The second Machickanee Players show and the homecoming dance wrap up Saturday’s events.
Sunday while the teens are sleeping off the excitement of the night before, this gives you the opportunity to see the matinee of God’s Favorite by Neil Simon and curl up with a good book. The Lucky One is my book of choice this week, how about you?
Friday, September 26, 2008
No, You Can't Read That!
Not long ago a mother and daughter were browsing through the teen book club shelf where the daughter, who must have been 15 or 16, found something that caught her interest. After reading the back of Story of a Girl she handed it to her mother who promptly said "No!" and placed it back on the shelf.
Tomorrow begins Banned Books Week and my opinion on banning books has always been that only a parent has the right to decide what their children may read – not teachers or librarians, booksellers or other parents. I have heard many stories from fellow booksellers about irate parents who marched their teenager back into the bookstore to return a recently purchased book they didn’t approve of. The booksellers got an earful for selling such a book to the impressionable angel they view their child to be. If a child is old enough to walk into a bookstore alone, choose a book, pay for it and leave, the parent obviously feels he/she is old enough to make her/his own decisions. How can that parent honestly be upset at the bookseller for not doing the parent’s job for them? Who are we to decide what your child is capable of handling?
Back to the parent that wouldn’t allow her high school student read Story of a Girl, which is about a thirteen year old who was caught having sex with an older boy by her father and how that affected her life. This parent has every right to make this decision for her daughter. Obviously I believe this story is suitable for someone of her age since I allowed our teen book club to choose it. In fact, they choose many books this particular parent does not approve of. However, I think they make wonderful choices. After reading Crank a long discussion ensued about teen drug use and these kids were very open and honest. Not a discussion most would have with their parents or teachers.
There was a conversation between booksellers about which books to recommend to boys to get them to read more. One bookseller stated she simply has to place a book into his hands and whisper, “your mother wouldn’t approve”. Of course, the comment was made in jest, but it does prove a point.
Tomorrow begins Banned Books Week and my opinion on banning books has always been that only a parent has the right to decide what their children may read – not teachers or librarians, booksellers or other parents. I have heard many stories from fellow booksellers about irate parents who marched their teenager back into the bookstore to return a recently purchased book they didn’t approve of. The booksellers got an earful for selling such a book to the impressionable angel they view their child to be. If a child is old enough to walk into a bookstore alone, choose a book, pay for it and leave, the parent obviously feels he/she is old enough to make her/his own decisions. How can that parent honestly be upset at the bookseller for not doing the parent’s job for them? Who are we to decide what your child is capable of handling?
Back to the parent that wouldn’t allow her high school student read Story of a Girl, which is about a thirteen year old who was caught having sex with an older boy by her father and how that affected her life. This parent has every right to make this decision for her daughter. Obviously I believe this story is suitable for someone of her age since I allowed our teen book club to choose it. In fact, they choose many books this particular parent does not approve of. However, I think they make wonderful choices. After reading Crank a long discussion ensued about teen drug use and these kids were very open and honest. Not a discussion most would have with their parents or teachers.
There was a conversation between booksellers about which books to recommend to boys to get them to read more. One bookseller stated she simply has to place a book into his hands and whisper, “your mother wouldn’t approve”. Of course, the comment was made in jest, but it does prove a point.
Celebrate your freedom to read this week by picking up one of the
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