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ALA's 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books 1990-2000
I think that it is kind of funny that a lot of books of the list pertain to sex and sexuality issues. Such as Daddy's Roommate, which is a picture book about this kid whose dad is gay, my diversity in education professor read it to my class and made us discuss it. It's pretty interesting how some people can get so up in arms over a picture book.O and a sidenote, I love the Alice books, they were like a "realistic" introduction to the "bases" without the scary fallopian tube diagrams.
I dealt with a number of parents when the first Harry Potter came out. They objected to magic spells and witchcraft (it's been awhile, but I think those were the main objections). No one was willing to mount a formal challenge in my school or district, but our librarians' group was watching pretty closely. Most schools had at least some objections by parents and/or teachers.
Ah. It seems like a pretty insignificant objection.
I have read 21.I remember with the Harry Potter books it was the witchcraft thing that had my fundamentalist Christian father and stepmother up in arms. I remember getting lots of emails about "letting the devil into our children".
I can't believe Blubber and Are You There God? would be banned. I couldn't even imagine my childhood without Judy Blume books.
Speaking of which, I just mentioned the Chelsea Handler book "Are you There Vodka? It's me Chelsea" to my husband. I haven't read it, but the title is great!
Yes, it was pretty much always fundamentalist Christian folks who were unhappy with the HP books. In the cases I remember the people objecting weren't willing to actually read the book, but had been warned about it.
It would be interesting to know where the books were banned. If they were taken out of school libraries which levels were they removed from. Probably on ALA's website. In our school district a challenge was made against My Brother Sam is Dead, and it was decided that it could not appear in elementary libraries but was fine in junior and senior high schools.
Mod
Im not even sure why some are on this list!!
Wow... Off the top of my head, I think I have read about 20 of those. And quite a few of those were ones that were taught in school. Mark Twain banned? Judy Blume? It's madness! lol
Like many of you said, I don't know why some of these books would be banned (what the hell is the problem with James & the Giant Peach?). It's even more ironic that a bunch of them are "classics." Goes to show just how far ignorance can reach...maybe some of the yaboos who banned these books need to try reading them!!
Where's Waldo (or Wally if you're British!) is on there because apparently, hidden in one of the books was a drawing of a topless woman... still, most people wouldn't have seen it. This list is crazy! I've read 6 of them, but I'm guessing thats so low because I'm not from the US. Judy Blume (for instance) wasn't as popular over here as in the US.
I've only read 6 of them.Where would we be without Judy Blume?
I loved "Are you there God, it's me Margaret"
I've read 11 of these books.I still can't believe the HP serie was banned, I think it has a fundamental story of good verses evil and I'm going to say this, it reminds me of the bible story, David and Goliath(sp), Harry not yet a man but going up again Voldemort, who is a older, more powerful wizard.
I can't believe Stephen King is on the list, Carrie, Cujo and The Dead Zone, hardly controvisal books.
I've only read 29 of them but am shocked about some of the books listed. Why on earth would someone ban Isabel Allende? That just boggles my mind.Stacie, I've read Are you there Vodka? It's Me Chelsea. I love Chelsea Handler to no end. It's a hilarious read that I highly recommend if you're a fan of her show or stand-up. Coincidentally enough, I'm about to start her first book, My Horizontal Life, a little later today.
I think Twain is on there because of his use of the N-word. When taken out of context, his books seem awfully racist. Now, that doesn't exactly excuse it, but as you all know since we are enlightened people, things were way different back then.I know that Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on The Prarie was banned in some schools because of her portrayal of the Native American, some deemed it offensive. (This is coming from a NickNews Report with Linda Ellerbee, that I remember).
I think, like any other person, racism, is bad, but to ban books like Twain and Wilder because of their racism is much worse. Perhaps before children read them the books should be put into context. Some of America's history is unsavory, it would be a shame to sweep all that under the rug.
okay, off of my soapbox and back to other threads//my books.
Here is a list of some of the more frequently challenged books and the reasons given for banning and/or challenging specific books:Banned and Challenged Books
If you cannot access that link, you can find the information at deletecensorship.org
P.S. Here is an excellent resource on the how and why of book banning:(very interesting to see how these books have overcome so much scrutiny from the world and now live on as 'classics')
100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature
I have read 28 and taught 15 in public schools. Just a silly list made by silly people
Mod
No, no, no wait! ALA champions intellectual freedom. The fact that they compiled the list isn't an endorsement of it. How about saying it is a list of books banned by silly people? Although, each banned book scenario makes for a great history study. It's always fascinating to look at the prevalent mind set or the popular thought process of a time and place.
I've read about 20 of these, I think.I can't imagine what they objected to with James and the Giant Peach, though!
The link I posted above gives some reasons for the books being banned. You will be quite amused over the James and the Giant Peach reasoning, I'm sure, Susanna.
The ALA compiled this list, it is not books that the ALA banned, but books that were most frequently banned by other people during the 1990s. In fact, the ALA promotes reading of banned books and they celebrate this thing they call Banned Books Week. A lot of school libraries put up displays in honor of banned books week. For instance, my high school and middle school libraries would display the list and some of the books, and then have a poster where students could write their opinions of banned books. But as Lisa wrote, the ALA most definately champions intellectual freedom.
I haven't read too many from this list, but of the ones I have read, I'm amazed and cannot understand why they were banned. Especially when you consider all the crap they allow to be plastered all over TV, Magazines and Video Games. Anything that forces a person to think for themselves seems to be a reason to ban.
I've read 32 of these and there are 5 or 6 that I started but didn't finish (a bad habit in my younger days.) It's funny how some books seem to push people's buttons for whatever reason.My dad for whatever reason (I guess because he figured it contained sex-but he was oblivious to me reading "Forever" 75 times!) was always against me reading "The Summer of My German Soldier" which, in all honesty, I don't think would have really appealed to me anyway but because he brought it up I was suddenly intrigued-I never actually read it though, I guess it was too chicken.
What is the deal with "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak? Granted it's a little trippy but come on!
I'll repost this:Reasons/Documented Cases of Banned and Challenged Books
The reasons are quite hilarious!
God, those are too funny! I had forgotten that the boy is nude in "In the Night Kitchen" I think if you're paying that much attention to a kid's book then you've got problems yourself! The stuff about books being banned because they're depressing or "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" because it contains a rape-hello! That's real life, people are crazy!!
I love that they drew pants on the naked boy. How stupid! :-)
Oh my gosh, thanks so much for posting that! It amazes me that a few people can get books banned, such as Death of a Salesman, because they consider it to be "junk".Banning Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Good grief!
Okay, I just looked at the list again. Anne Frank's diary was banned for being "a real downer."I'm speechless.
LOL...I know, I know.One of my favorites is The Lorax because it "criminalizes the foresting industry". Hahahaha!
Charity, I just read that one and thought it was ridiculous! That is actually one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, as I was able to talk with my daughter about the difference between need and want. It isn't just about the foresting industry as capitalism itself. The best line (and I am not speaking verbatim) is something like, "I don't know what it is, but someone is going to want it."
I have read 13 on the list but several are on my TBR list.
Ken: I also encourage my children to read banned books.
I don't understand why a lot of the books are banned. I think people just are so closed minded. It's sad because there are so many great books on the list. They are banned for stupid reasons!
Ken: I also encourage my children to read banned books.
I don't understand why a lot of the books are banned. I think people just are so closed minded. It's sad because there are so many great books on the list. They are banned for stupid reasons!
LMAO...I LOVE IT.Banned because:
"an elaborate fantasy world that might lead to confusion"
I encourage my child to use her imagination as much as possible, that is a reason to ban a book. God if these people had any rights, we'd only be allowed to read the bible, which in my opinion (please don't take offense) is an elaborate fantasy world.
I just found my favorite one..Zen Buddhism banned because it details the teachings in such a way that the reader could very likely embrace it's teachings and choose this religion....I have tears from laughing.
Thanks for the link Charity. I was laughing over some of the reasons. Boy, some people need to get a life!
I just love some of the reasons!I can remember when the local school board was considering The Grapes of Wrath. What a circus THAT was! (In fact, for a good part of the Nineties the local school board WAS a circus, and its high wire acts were frequently the lead stories on the local TV news.)
I have read many of these and to think teenagers would be discourage to read "to kill a mocking bird" is really sad.I have asked this before but have never gotten an answer that satisfied me, what is a banned book? Does it mean that public school libraries can't have them? that they cannot be sold or purchased? I come from a place where you pretty much can read anything under the sun and if anyone came up and said your kid shouldn't read that because it talks about other religions people would laugh. And this is a place where I would say 90% of people are very catholic ... So this whole thing is extremely interesting to me, absurd, but nonetheless interesting.
Lorena, when people talk about "banned" books they are referring to books that receive complaints from members of the community and may end up getting removed from schools or libraries. Technically, a book can't be banned, or declared illegal, because that goes against the First Ammendment's right to Freedom of Speech (thank you, Allen Ginsburg, for striking down ridiculous obscenity laws). A better phrase, but one that doesn't carry as much of an emotional charge, would be "challenged" books. The books on the list are challenged by members of the community and then a library committee will decide whether the book is worth keeping in the library. Oftentimes a "challenged" book will not be removed from the library, but relocated to a different section.Hope this helps. Also, if I got any of the above wrong, someone please feel free to jump in.
Lorena - Here is some information from the ALA website on challenged and/or banned books:Why are books challenged and/or banned?
Banning books completely goes against the rights of Americans protected in the First Amendment. Banning a book does not make it illegal to own or to read, but it can hinder the availability of the book to the public...which is the goal of the people who go about challenging and/or banning books...those that self-appoint themselves judge and jury of what is morally/socially/spiritually sound.
It is absurd.
However, some other countries' citizens are not protected by the same rights and their governments will sometimes get involved...not only banning a book, but sometimes expurgating the text (removing obscene or objectionable passages from a book), making the book illegal to own/read, and even sentencing the author to prison or death.
All over words on paper...
Thanks Logan, yes this makes more sense, I kept thinking I've seen some of those for sale, gosh I have so many of them at home ... I think the word "challenged" then seems more fitting, sort of a cautionary thing VS what I thought it was: a prohibition on the book itself.
Charity - cross posting ;o) I had actually read part of that article before while browsing the Banned Books Club here, but for some reason I kept thinking that if a book indeed became banned (for whatever reason) people were not in liberty of purchasing/owning the book.
The biggest difference between a "challenged" book and a "banned" book is that a banned book is indeed removed from the shelves of the library or school...or moved to a 'Restricted' area. A challenged book has a case brought against it to be removed, but for whatever reason, the charges against it are disproved and it remains on the shelf...although, again, it too can be placed in a 'Restricted' area.Some folks even take things into their own hands by borrowing a book and "accidentally" destroying it.
Sick.
Very sad. Especially since most of the books are classics!
How much would like to bet that the objector's never read the book but were told all about it from the pulpit or a friend?
Isn't it amazing that some of these books about war are challenged for being "too violent?" And that Anne Frank's Diary was challenged for being "a real downer?" Calling the holocaust a "real downer," is putting it mildly...to say the least. And war is violent???? *smacks self on forehead* I never knew that!
I have read many of these over 15 and can not see why most of them are on the list. (Even the ones I haven't read but know the stories)
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2.Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3.I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4.The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6.Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7.Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8.Forever by Judy Blume
9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10.Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11.Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12.My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13.The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14.The Giver by Lois Lowry
15.It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16.Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17.A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18.The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19.Sex by Madonna
20.Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21.The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22.A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23.Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24.Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25.In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26.The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27.The Witches by Roald Dahl
28.The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29.Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30.The Goats by Brock Cole
31.Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32.Blubber by Judy Blume
33.Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34.Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35.We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36.Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37.The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
38.Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39.The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40.What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41.To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42.Beloved by Toni Morrison
43.The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44.The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45.Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46.Deenie by Judy Blume
47.Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48.Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49.The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50.Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51.A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52.Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53.Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54.Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55.Cujo by Stephen King
56.James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57.The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58.Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59.Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60.American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61.What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62.Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63.Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64.Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65.Fade by Robert Cormier
66.Guess What? by Mem Fox
67.The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68.The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69.Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70.Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71.Native Son by Richard Wright
72.Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73.Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74.Jack by A.M. Homes
75.Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76.Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77.Carrie by Stephen King
78.Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79.On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80.Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81.Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82.Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83.The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84.The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85.Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86.Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87.Private Parts by Howard Stern
88.Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89.Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91.Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92.Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93.Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94.The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95.Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96.How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97.View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98.The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99.The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100.Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
any thoughts? How many have you read?