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ALA's 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books 1990-2000
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April
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Sep 26, 2008 05:27PM
Banned Books Week is next week? Whoo-hoo, lets have a TNBBC virtual-party to celebrate, I'll bring the merlot ;-)
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I've had a passionate interest in book censorship for years. I am, of course, against book censorship. When I was working on my Library Science Masters, I did quite a bit with this issue. Banned Books Week is always an important week for me. Last year when our new public library opened, I went in during Banned Books Week expecting to see a nice display dealing with it, but I was appalled when two people working there didn't even know what Banned Books Week is. In my latest order from Amazon, I bought the non-fiction book entitled, Obscene in the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath by Rick Wartzman. I'm looking forward to reading it. Another good non-academia book is Places I Never Meant to Go, edited by Judy Blume. Judy Blume has been and is very active in the anti-censorship movement. I can list some other books dealing with book censorship if anyone is interested. Two of the best sites online for information concerning book censorship are the National Coalition Against Censorship at www.ncac.org and the American Library Association (already mentioned) at www.ala.org
Hi Kathy! I just finished reading Places I Never Meant to Be. It was an awesome book, but the best part was Judy Blume's intro essay about censorship. Blume's non-wavering voice of anti-censorship is just one of the reasons she is a personal hero of mine :) I will definitely check out Obscene in the Extreme as well! Everyone who is here obviously loves to read, so we should all be concerned about protecting our intellectual freedom!
Niki, Judy Blume is a hero in my book, too, and I agree that the introduction essay was the best part of Places I Never Meant to Be. My daughter taught for a year at an elementary school in Key West, where Judy has a home. Judy visited the school, and my daughter obtained her signature in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. I told my daughter that it was the perfect gift.
Can I just say that if I had access to books like Daddy's Roommate, it most likely would not have TAKEN ME 17 YEARS TO FIGURE OUT I WASN'T THE ONLY GUY WHO FELT THE WAY I FELT , WHICH MEANS I MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO BIBLE COLLEGE EITHER.
Well, I woke up this morning to a segment on the news about an uproar at one of the local high schools (in the suburbs of Columbus) over a class reading selection...The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier.A group of parents are petitioning to have it removed from the reading list for 9th graders because of the amount of sex discussed in the book. One parent had taken it upon herself to email all the other parents of the class to "raise awareness of the issue" and a slew of parents jumped on board. They said that not only was it not suitable for 9th graders, it wasn't suitable for any school-aged children.
According to the reporters, the majority of the parents could not give specific objections based on their personal reading of the book, only on the information provided in the email from the concerned parent, because they had not read the book themselves. However, they still felt strongly that the book should be banned from the curriculum.
The Director of Curriculum for the high schools said that he is "not in the business of banning books" and that the book isn't even assigned reading. If a student doesn't wish to read that specific book, they can choose another from the list.
*sigh* I'm soooooo tired of this kind of nonsense from people. They are given a CHOICE about whether they want to read a specific book or not, but that isn't good enough. They want to take everyone else's CHOICES away from them. Sickening.
You can see some coverage of the story here:
http://www.wsyx6.com/shared/newsroom/...
Charity, thank goodness that the Director of Curriculum didn't cave into parental pressure. Gee, they could have used this objecting parent who emailed the other parents back at the Salem witch trials. Choice doesn't seem to be enough for these folks; they want control.
Some people are of the mind that if they stop children reading or learning something then they can keep them in their own way of thought. That by doing that the children will be innocent of what they are not allowed to read or learn and will therefore not be tempted in that way of thought or action.There is someone before us who does not approve of sex education in schools, has had a minor furore about her attempts to see if books could be banned from the town library and does not believe in pre-marital sex, contraception or abortion. From her own family we can see exactly how successful this kind of thought is.
I'd also like to extend my thanks to Charity for providing the links. Those alone made for some good reading. Also for raising the point about people wanting to take other people's choices away. What a bunch of party poopers.It's unfortunate that these parents who are putting so much effort into banning/challenging these books aren't actually spending this time with their children explaining what/why they find these things offensive. I think it really insults a child's intelligence when one automatically assumes that they would not be able to grasp or analyze any of the serious issues these books raise, or that the child might, oh I don't know, think for themselves. Rather than shelter children from sexuality or violence or things that are flat out depressing, it seems to me that parents, educators, and librarians should be engaging young readers in discussion with these issues. We are trying to teach them about the world, are we not?
Especially (as Santina in #28 pointed out) when one considers all the crap that's out there - on tv, in movies, and in pop music. Ugh.
It looks like I've read 17 books. Although I have to ask, why would anyone ban Where's Waldo?!?!?
I had never noticed that, I was always too busy trying to find Waldo.
I think some people have WAAAAAY too much time on their hands. :-)I'm reposting this for people who haven't seen it yet:
Reasons/Documented Cases of Banned and Challenged Books
I have read over half of the books on this list.In fact, I own them. When my children want something to read, I pull one off the shelf and hand it to them. I love the church group that burned all of the Harry Potter books as a "statement". What statement would that be I wonder: "We weren't aware of the invention of the printing press?"
haha Dogwoman, that's a good one, but it wouldn't suprise if it would bethat!!!!I like how you give books to your children and not just the popular, 'safe' once.
I'm curious -- does anyone know if other Western nations ban books as readily as we do here in the land of the free?
Outside of the Muslims and the Catholic Church I don't think there is any censorship of books in the UK with the exception of revisionist books on about the holocaust unless they can be proved to be true. In the US most books seemed to be banned by individuals or organisations with a strong religious connection. But the UK is, in line with Western Europe in general, a mostly secular nation - only 7% of people describing themselves as Christians actually attend church on Sundays so they wouldn't ban books for the same reasons of sex, violence, evolution, magic or profanity.
I was surprised (and disappointed)to find that censorship is alive and well in Canada,mostly by special interest groups. Thankfully,they are not often successful!
I taught a unit on book censorship to a young adult lit class. I created a data base of challenged young adult books that included the reasons for the books being challenged and the some results of those challenges. The students were pretty amazed at some of the books on the list and some of the reasons. We did an activity using the data base that helped the students to become more familiar with the information.
If you read the article you would see that the reasons are so stupid for being banned. One of them for a shel silverstein potery book said "It makes children think they should break plates" How stupid is that?!?!
Okay, I'm completely irritated that one of Maya Angelou's books was banned for the "rape scene" that occurred when she was 8. While I agree that it is an offensive subject matter, it's a part of an autobiographical series of books. What the hell do they want?"Excuse me miss, could you write us the entire story of your life? Start at the beginning, but leave out major traumas that most likely helped shape a big part of who you are... especially if people don't want to think that such a thing could actually occur..."
sorry... that was my tirade for the month... I promise to not have another outburst for another 30 days (I'll try anyway....)
ScottK -- Oh goodness... If I had known you then I would have introduced you to my brother and set things right for you :) (Although it did take him an engagement and some army time to figure out what we all already knew) Oh well... Sometimes the route from point A to point B isn't always straight and narrow :)
Hey!! Why the heck is Pillars of the Earth is included there. I liked the novel and had read it and there's nothing anti-religious in that one.Could you please shed some light on why this has been so. I'm so frustrated.
I've read 14 of these, but thanks for posting all of this info because now I can add the ones I haven't read to my TBR list!!!! Down with the establishment! Where is V when you need him? ;o)
I've read 14 with one TBR
April said: I think Twain is on there because of his use of the N-word.
was it that or was it the fact that Tom and Huck and N. Jim were friends, and on an even footing, living and sleeping on the same raft and helping each other? Egads, until recently there were separate water fountains, bathrooms, etc.
During the election an Italian political talk show showed an interview with an American man, who first made sure that his comments would be shown only on Italian TV, who said things about "them people" that truly shocked me.
Are you there God, had a discussion about menstruation that I believe offended a lot of people. James and the giant peach must have been done in because of the political satire (didn't see later post, will go study). Dahl was probably a communist, too. *sharp intake of breath* ;)
later: read the motivations for the bannings. interesting and some predictable, others horrifying (anne frank was a real downer, that just cant be real, please say it isn't real...) one wonders if anyone tried and succeeded to read the books in those places where they wer banned.
April said: I think Twain is on there because of his use of the N-word.
was it that or was it the fact that Tom and Huck and N. Jim were friends, and on an even footing, living and sleeping on the same raft and helping each other? Egads, until recently there were separate water fountains, bathrooms, etc.
During the election an Italian political talk show showed an interview with an American man, who first made sure that his comments would be shown only on Italian TV, who said things about "them people" that truly shocked me.
Are you there God, had a discussion about menstruation that I believe offended a lot of people. James and the giant peach must have been done in because of the political satire (didn't see later post, will go study). Dahl was probably a communist, too. *sharp intake of breath* ;)
later: read the motivations for the bannings. interesting and some predictable, others horrifying (anne frank was a real downer, that just cant be real, please say it isn't real...) one wonders if anyone tried and succeeded to read the books in those places where they wer banned.
So I juse went through a different list and did pretty good - I think like 44.5. And I would think that banned books I would be very attractive to because i abhor censorship in all forms - but I must confess that I've not read much on this list.1.I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
2.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
3.Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
4.Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
5.The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
6.The Color Purple by Alice Walker
7.A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle - What? Really - its a great book
8.Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
9.To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
10.The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
11.The Pigman by Paul Zindel
12.Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
13.A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
14.Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
15.Cujo by Stephen King
16.James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
17.Lord of the Flies by William Golding
18.Carrie by Stephen King
19.The Dead Zone by Stephen King
20.The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
--
Wife of fantasy author: Michael J. Sullivan
The Crown Conspiracy (Oct 2008)
Avempartha (April 2009)
A Wrinkle in Time is indeed a great book.It is probably on there because it mentions witches, and doesn't propose immediately burning them, and encourages kids to use their imaginations.
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
12.My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13.The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
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
22.A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23.Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24.Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
27.The Witches by Roald Dahl
35.We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
37.The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
39.The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
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
47.Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48.Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
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)
55.Cujo by Stephen King
56.James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57.The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
59.Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60.American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
62.Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63.Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
65.Fade by Robert Cormier
67.The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
69.Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70.Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71.Native Son by Richard Wright
74.Jack by A.M. Homes
77.Carrie by Stephen King
78.Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
83.The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84.The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85.Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
87.Private Parts by Howard Stern
88.Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89.Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
91.Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
96.How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
I have read probably 75% of those books! I can't believe how many are banned that I would consider classics of childhood reading!!! Actually, a lot of those books were assigned to us in school. I guess I'd better have those books on hand in my library for when I have kids! :)
The title of this thread is misleading as the ALA lists 100 most frequently Challenged books.The American Library Association has done an incredible job compiling the books with the reasons given in support of the challenges. The third most oft given reason was 'unsuited to age group,' and 71% of challenges were directed at books in schools.
The books aren't banned, although the challenges might lead to removing a book in a particular library. IMHO, that action is just plain wrong as what might be deemed offensive to one reader, is an exploration of ideas to another.
That said, age appropriate material in school libraries makes good sense and some books should not be accessible to children.
7.Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling 9.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
14.The Giver by Lois Lowry
27.The Witches by Roald Dahl
42.Beloved by Toni Morrison
47.Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
51.A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
56.James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
69.Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
71.Native Son by Richard Wright
79.On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
84.The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Those are the ones I've read
What does "challenged" mean? That someone complained? M.c. wrote: "The title of this thread is misleading as the ALA lists 100 most frequently Challenged books.
The American Library Association has done an incredible job compiling the books with the reasons giv..."
Yeah it means that somewhere along the line, someone thought ssomthing was wrong with the poor book and they had to open their big mouths and say so. = )I'm planning on reading To Kill a Mockingbird soon. Some boys last year had to read My Brother Sam is Dead and I picked the other book to read b/c my teacher said it wasn't as gross and didn't cuss. It was a horse story and I usually don't enjoy those, but for some reason, this one was better. Go figure! And my mom read Bless me, Ultima. She said it was a good book. I'm not allowed to read the Harry Potter series b/c of the witchcraft, but I wonder if my parents know that there are other books in the world with that too and I've even read some of them *gasps*
Charity wrote: "Here is a list of some of the more frequently challenged books and the reasons given for banning and/or challenging specific books:If you cannot access that link,..."
Now this is ridiculous. I followed the link and found this...
“The American Heritage Dictionary” was banned by an Eldon, Missouri library (1978) because it contained 39 “objectionable” words, and by the Anchorage School Board (1987) for having slang definitions for words such as “bed,” “knocker,” and “balls.”
I thought banning Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Where's Waldo was bad, but banning the dictionary?!
Counting the full Harry Potter series, I've read 24 of the list and I have a handful more on my TBR shelf. I will definitely have to check out DeleteCensorship.org when I have a bit more time... (At work right now!)
I read four books of the list and three of them I had to read for school :-)- Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck
- Brave New World by Huxley
- Lord of the Flies by Golding
I wonder why those books are on the list. I somehow can imagine why the only other book I read, PILLARS OF THE EARTH, made it on the list. Some of his descriptions are really very graphic but in my opinion no reason to put it on the list.
Becky wrote: "Counting the full Harry Potter series, I've read 24 of the list and I have a handful more on my TBR shelf. I will definitely have to check out DeleteCensorship.org when I have a bit more time... (A..."That website is awesome! I wish they had t-shirts in the shop that said "I read banned books!"
If you want any of the 'Delete Censorship' stuff too, you can find them through Half Price Books/Cafepress.(I have the 'Books: Read the Movie' shirt. So cute!)
I've read 27 of them. It's funny, some were taught in my school and some were in my school library. We had Curses, Hexes and Spells in our middle school library. I kid you not!1.Scary Stories-Alvin Schwartz
2.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-Mark Twain
3.Of Mice and Men-John Steinbeck
4.Harry Potter 1-5 J.K. Rowling
5.Bridge to Terabithia-Katherine Patterson
6.The Catcher in the Rye-J.D. Salinger
7.The Colr Purple-Alice Walker
8.A Wrinkle in Time-Madeline L'Engle
9.Go Ask Alice-Anonymous
10.The Witches-Roald Dahl
11.Blubber-Judy Blume
12.The Handmaid's Tale-Margaret Atwood
13.The Bluest Eye-Toni Morrison
14.To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee
15.The OUtsiders-S.E. Hinton
16.A LIght in the Attic-Shel Silverstein
17.Cujo-Stephen King
18.James and the Giant Peach-Roald Dahl
19.The Face on the Milk Carton-Caroline Cooney
20.Curses, Hexes and Spells-Daniel Cohen
21.Carrie-Stephen King
22.The Dead Zone-Stephen King
23.The Adventures of Tom Sawyer-Mark Twain
24.Song of Solomon-Toni Morrison
25.Where's Waldo?-Martin Hanford
26.How to Eat Fried Worms-Thomas Rockwell
27.The View from the Cherry Tree-Willo Davis Roberts
I have read 23Why on earth is Shel Silverstein on their??
Manday wrote: "I have read 23Why on earth is Shel Silverstein on their?? "
You might not believe it, but the answer is because one of his poems encourages children to break dishes. There's another poem that supposedly encourages cannibalism. Really, the challenges against Silverstein are absolutely insane.
I guess I should add that I consider every one of the challenges against any of the books/authors insane, but that could just be me. :)
I agree wit the above sharon, and also - some of these books have made the list for the most stupid of reasons
GET OVER IT
yes, Earth's Children series has parts that are basically porn, but it also talks amazingly about cultural differences and sexism and are some of my favorite books for that reason - my friend wrote an essay on their literary value for her term paper
I still can't believe that they banned Anne Frank's Diary on account of it being "a real downer". There are just no words.And, I think it is ironic that a school would ban Fahrenheit 451, when the book itself is discouraging censorship.
Well, a school district in Mississippi is being investigated for re-segregation (to the extent of two different school buses, apparently), so alas, it doesn't surprise me.
23 read! Not too shabby....not too great either!
LOL- I've read 61 of them!! The central theme seems to be the homophobia, racism, and anti-semitism of the "Christian Right"... Love and tolerance should be taught from the pulpit and not hatred.
El wrote: "Manday wrote: "I have read 23Why on earth is Shel Silverstein on their?? "
You might not believe it, but the answer is because one of his poems encourages children to break dishes. There's ..."
You have to laugh about the reasons for banning Silverstein. I'm sure HE is!!
My gosh, my school is currently talking about banning catcher in the rye because of the "profanity." I mean REALLY?!?! I can't beleive it! these people are so afraid their kids are going to get introduced to a swear word in high school, heaven forbid! They hear a lot worse just walking down the hallway. I don't get it. People who waste their time doing stuff like this just make me mad. Why do they have to ruin it for the rest of us?
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