Charity's comments

Charity's comments from the Banned Books group.

Note: Charity is no longer a member of this group.

Reasons/Documented Cases of Banned and Challenged Books

This may be old news but...

Have you heard the controversy about The Higher Power of Lucky (2007 Winner of the Newbery Medal)? Apparently a lot of parents and school administrators are all worked up over the word scrotum on the first page. How ridiculous! That is the proper term for that area of the male genitalia. I cannot believe people are censoring and banning books that use proper medical terminology!! Just crazy.

I'd just like to know what term the parents are teaching their kids to use for that body part!

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl- was challenged at the Deep Creek Elementary School in Charlotte Harbor, Florida (1991) because it is "not appropriate reading material for young children." It was challenged at the Pederson Elementary School in Altoona, Wisconsin (1991) and at the Morton Elementary School Library in Brooksville, Florida (1992) because the book contains the word "ass" and "promotes" the use of drugs and whiskey. Dahl's book was also removed from classrooms in Stafford County, Virginia schools (1995) and placed in restricted access in the library because the story contained "crude language" and "encourages children to disobey their parents and other adults."

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein- was challenged at the Cunningham Elementary School in Beloit, Wisconsin (1985) because the book "encourages children to break dishes so they won't have to dry them." Removed from Minot, North Dakota public school libraries when the superintendent found "suggestive illustrations." Challenged at the Big Bend Elementary School Library in Mukwonago, Wisconsin (1986) because some of Silverstein's poems "glorified Satan, suicide and cannibalism, and also encouraged children to be disobedient."

(Source: deletecensorship.org)

Sweet. I knew it! :-)

According to deletecensorship.org: Sleeping Beauty was challenged by a Tennessee school district on the grounds that it promotes magic and witchcraft.

Gotta love 'The Bible Belt.'

I still think the feminist theory is funnier. :-)

Nikki-

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein was challenged at the West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wisconsin school libraries (1986) because the book "suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for the truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents." It was challenged at the Central Columbia District in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania (1993) because a poem entitled "Dreadful" talks about how "someone ate a baby." (Source: deletecensorship.org)

Nated-

I have no idea. Maybe they weren't successful with the others? Poor Snow White...staying home to clean up after all those men while they are at work. For shame. :-) Don't forget about the spindle in Sleeping Beauty. Maybe it is a further symbol of female oppression?

There are so many crazy ways to read into these stories/books that the rational mind just hates to go there...

Maybe the ban comes from the feminist vote? Submissive, helpless women relying on a man to 'save them'....meanwhile all the 'women of power' (i.e. the witch, stepmother, fairy/sorcerer) are portrayed as evil. Hmmmm.

Definitely two unconscious ladies. :-) But, knowing how some people think (by taking giant leaps), your theories might contain some truths.

Good theory....EXCEPT...there is no apple in Sleeping Beauty. That would be Snow White. However, there is a witch/fairy/magic person (whatever) in the story which could be the reason for the ban...all the sorcery??

Check out this site: Delete Censorship

It has documented censorship/banned books cases, polls to vote for your favorite banned books, links to the American Library Association lists, information about Banned Book Week, and a lot more. A good reference site overall. :-)

This is a very useful site:

Delete Censorship

I don't think that Sean actually bought the B&N copy of The Count of Monte Cristo (which, you are right, is abridged). The copy he has listed on his profile is the Penguin Classics version, which seems to be an unabridged version...so that might have been the one he bought at B&N.

Modern Library also has the unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo in both hardcover and paperback. You'll know if you have the unabridged version if it heavy enough to break your toe. :-)

I know what you mean about the abridged B&N versions. I actually bought the B&N copy of The Count of Monte Cristo on impulse one day (they were having a classics sale) and didn't notice that it was abridged until I got home and saw the title page. Some of their classics are unabridged, but I will always be checking from here on out.

I wanted to point out that some authors actually give permission for abridgments (authors that are still alive, obviously), especially for audio books. This will be printed somewhere on the book/CD case/tape box, etc.

I also wanted to point out that there is a big difference between abridgment and censorship. Abridgment is simply a condensing of the text. Censorship is the removal or suppression of objectionable content.

I'm not 100% sure how I feel about abridgments. I certainly don't have a problem with abridged versions of books for young children, like illustrated classics, etc. I know a lot of elderly people enjoy condensed books, too. I suppose they do have an audience among people who just want the story without all the extra details. I guess as long as the overall story and outcome aren't changed, I don't have any major problems with abridgments. Kind of like movie adaptations...if they stick to the original plot and ending (only taking out the details that don't pertain to the storyline), then I enjoy the movie...if they go in a completely different direction than the book or change the ending, then I typically don't enjoy the movie.

Any thoughts? This is an interesting topic. :-)

An excellent resource for reading up about banned books is 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature. When I worked at Half Price Books, we used it as a great reference book during Banned Book Week.

One year for BBW, we decided to show all the customers how many books have actually been banned over the years. We decided to use The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein as the basis for our project (which was banned for being 'sexist'....okay, sure).

We made a huge tree in the center of the store and hung paper apples from the ceiling with the titles of the banned books on one side of the apple and the reasons why it was banned on the other side.

People were amazed at how many books had been banned and at the absurd reasons listed. We also had a display that showed how easy it was for a book to become banned and we gave out bookmarks that said: 'WARNING: Banned Books Are Everywhere! READ ONE!!' (The back said: Side Effects of Reading Banned Books may include laughing, crying, questioning, anger, gratitude, and learning. *Build a library, not a bonfire!*)

I always thought that this would make a great project for a school or library to recreate.