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Some parents seek to ban The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Group calls book vulgar; administrator says character's experience are the same challenges facing incoming freshmen
By Ruth Fuller | Special to the Tribune
June 22, 2009

Some parents of incoming freshmen at Antioch High School want an assigned summer reading book pulled from the school's shelves and the curriculum because it uses foul, racist language and describes sexual acts.

The book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," by Sherman Alexie, is an award-winning story of a 14-year-old American Indian who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. The main character faces many of the same challenges the incoming freshmen will face when they start school in the fall, said John Whitehurst, chairman of the English department at Antioch High School.

Jennifer Anderson said she was one of seven parents who attended the Community High School District 117 School Board meeting Thursday to ask that the book be banned from the curriculum, or at the very least be accompanied with a warning about the content.

"I can't imagine anyone finding this book appropriate for a 13- or 14-year-old," said Anderson, whose 14-year-old son will be a freshman this fall. "I have not met a single parent who is not shocked by this. This is not appropriate for our community."

District 117 Supt. Jay Sabatino said he has not read the book but planned to do so over the weekend and asked two school board members to do the same. On Monday, the group will reconvene to discuss the appropriate action to take, he said.

Anderson said she read the book because she wanted to be able to help her son understand it.

"I began reading, and I started to cross out sections that I didn't want him to read," she said. "Soon I thought, 'Wait, this is not appropriate; he is not reading this.' "

There is an alternative book that students can read, "Down River," if parents do not approve of the selected title, Sabatino said.

Teachers create a list of possible titles, read the books and consult experts and organizations for their recommendations before assigning them, Whitehurst said. The English department did a survey last year and determined many boys at this age do not like to read, he said. Because the protagonist in the story is a boy who is quite engaging, it would appeal particularly to those reluctant readers, Whitehurst said.

"While there is graphic language, keep in mind that Arnold [the main character:] uses this language to express his own feelings to himself or to exchange taunts with his best friend," he said. "He never uses this language in front of girls, to his family or to other adults, and he doesn't act on such thoughts. He is consistently polite."

Whitehurst said the book is filled with positive, life-affirming messages and has an especially strong anti-alcohol message.

Anderson said she understands kids use profanity, but if it is part of the curriculum, the students will believe the school condones it.

"That is like saying that because Romeo and Juliet committed teen suicide, we condone teen suicide," Whitehurst said. "Kids know the difference. Like it or not, that is the way 14-year-old boys talk to each other."

Anderson said she would like to make this a national conversation about placing warning labels on books.

"We rate movies and put warnings on music and TV," she said. "What about books? There is no warning whatsoever if there is vulgar language in a book."

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" has won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was named one of the Los Angeles Times' Favorite Children's Books of 2007 and New York Times' Notable Children's Books of 2007.

Actually I'm not suprised that this one is up for banning. I read it myself when it come into the children's department. We ended up sending it to the YA department. It is an important book and says a lot. It made me think a lot about the Inidans and how little I truly know about them.

That said the book does have a lot of things that would raise eyebrowns especially with consertative parnets. That is why we decieded we couldn't keep it in the children's section. I'm not saying I agree that the book should be banned. Just saying some banning catches you by surprise (The Outsiders, Harry Potter) and other books you just know they are going to banned. (And Tango Makes Three, The Chocolate War) This book it was only a matter of time. I'm suprised the English department didn't see this one coming.

As for finding a book boys would read there are a lot of choices. Walter Dean Myers also writes for boys, The Outiders is a fairly safe choice nowadays, and there is always White Fang or Call of the Wild to fall back on. Being Jack London you can always defend it by being a classic.

As for the labeling idea that is completely nuts and unworkable. As it is now we still have it is hard enough rating movies. A independent horror movie will have a much harder time than say a Spielberg movie which is why we are stuck now with PG-13. Rating books could be a nightmare. Besides hasn't they ever heard of the sugar and ants idea. Slap a R on a book and you will make it a bestseller.

Update:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local...

Controversial book to stay on reading list

Some parents seek to ban 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian'
By Lisa Black, Tribune staff reporter, and Ruth Fuller, special correspondent
4:09 PM CDT, June 22, 2009

Antioch High School has agreed to form a committee that includes parents to review books after an assigned summer reading book drew protests because of its language and description of sexual acts.

Community High School District 117 Supt. Jay Sabatino said this afternoon that after reading the book, he and two school board members decided to keep it on the summer reading list.

"The consensus is we feel it is a valuable read, a good read… . We will continue to offer an alternative if someone wants one," Sabatino said.

Earlier today, school board President Wayne Sobczak said he doubted the book -- "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie -- would be pulled from shelves as some parents wanted.

"I am sensing the book is going to stay because it is age-appropriate," said Sobczak, who said he had also received positive input from parents who read the book.

"I appreciate the parents who came and had concerns," he added. "But the tone and flavor of the book is positive for children this age, and shows someone trying to do the right thing."

He noted that the 400 incoming freshmen already have an alternate book that they may choose to read.

The book is an award-winning story of a 14-year-old American Indian who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. The main character faces many of the same challenges the incoming freshmen will face when they start school in the fall, said John Whitehurst, chairman of the English department at Antioch High School.

Sobczak and two board members who read the book are scheduled to discuss their thoughts at a meeting tonight.

Sobczak said the committee being formed could issue warnings about future book assignments.

"If they believe a book needs a warning for parents, that it contains something that might be objectionable, they will have warning and an alternate book," Sobczak said. "Something like, "We find the content and the theme of it is very appropriate for our children. However you may find some of the language inappropriate."

Jennifer Andersen said she was one of seven parents who attended a District 117 school board meeting Thursday to ask that the book be banned from the curriculum, or at the very least be accompanied with a warning about the content.

"I can't imagine anyone finding this book appropriate for a 13- or 14-year-old," said Andersen, whose 14-year-old son will be a freshman this fall. "I have not met a single parent who is not shocked by this. This is not appropriate for our community."

Andersen said this afternoon she was pleased to learn that a committee would begin reviewing books and warning parents, if necessary.

"I think that's a great idea," said Andersen, who has a teaching degree.

"Ideally, I would love them to say, 'We don't condone this language in the schools and we feel this book … does not meet our standards."

She said that she is not promoting censorship. While the book has a good storyline, she said, she questioned why the author felt it was necessary to include language that "would not be allowed in school hallways."

"It saddens me. I understand they think this is a great book about overcoming difficult situations in a child's life," she said. "How can we look past the vulgarity?"

Andersen said she read the book because she wanted to be able to help her son understand it.

"I began reading, and I started to cross out sections that I didn't want him to read," she said. "Soon I thought, 'Wait, this is not appropriate; he is not reading this.' "

There is an alternative book that students can read, "Down River," if parents do not approve of the selected title, Sabatino said.

Teachers create a list of possible titles, read the books and consult experts and organizations for their recommendations before assigning them, Whitehurst said. The English department did a survey last year and determined many boys at this age do not like to read, he said. Because the protagonist in the story is a boy who is quite engaging, it would appeal particularly to those reluctant readers, Whitehurst said.

"While there is graphic language, keep in mind that Arnold [the main character:] uses this language to express his own feelings to himself or to exchange taunts with his best friend," he said. "He never uses this language in front of girls, to his family or to other adults, and he doesn't act on such thoughts. He is consistently polite."

Whitehurst said the book is filled with positive, life-affirming messages and has an especially strong anti-alcohol message.

Andersen said she understands kids use profanity, but if it is part of the curriculum, the students will believe the school condones it.

"That is like saying that because Romeo and Juliet committed teen suicide, we condone teen suicide," Whitehurst said. "Kids know the difference. Like it or not, that is the way 14-year-old boys talk to each other."

Andersen said she would like to make this a national conversation about placing warning labels on books.

"We rate movies and put warnings on music and TV," she said. "What about books? There is no warning whatsoever if there is vulgar language in a book."

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" has won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was named one of the Los Angeles Times' Favorite Children's Books of 2007 and New York Times' Notable Children's Books of 2007.

You basically reposted what you had posted in your first post. I'm glad that the book is staying on the list. To me even more important then the message was the fact the book give insight on a culturally group that people don't think about a lot - at least on the East Coast. It has been awhile since I read and i'm not up on the details. Still I do remember that the book did have material that an overly consertative parnet wouldn't like. That being said were you suprised that parents objected to it?

What really saddens me is that some parnets will rant and rave over sex and then have no problems with their kids watching a super violent movie.

See, I would *teach* _The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian_ in a second, but not put it on a summer reading list. Same with Alexie's also amazing YA book _Flight_. IMO, these are better, richer, with teacher- guidance and student discussion, or flip that. But how much do you suppose that other book is/ was being read with parents objecting to this one?!

A long time ago Pandora Kat you recommened Walter Dean Myers' books instead. His books are often on banned/ challenged lists...

I suppose you can never find the totally safe book. Though I was thinking of his less explosive books like Me, Mop, and the Moondance Kid and Won't Know Till I Get There. I work in the Children's department so I don't know a lot of his YA material.

I agreed that the book would be a great one to use in a class. It has been awhile since I read this book. I'm going to reread it for the book disscussion.

What I was trying to say is that I don't agree with the objections I could see one coming with this book at least for the age group I deal with which is under twelve.