...stepping off my soapbox, sort of ...
The ALA says,
A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. The number of challenges reflects only incidents reported. We estimate that for every reported challenge, four or five remain unreported. Therefore, we do not claim comprehensiveness in recording challenges.So how many reports are not reported? How many children have been robbed of a good read because of a couple of complaints?
The ALA does banned books week up pretty good and this year they're having a twitter party! Use #bannedbooksweek, read more about it here.
Top Ten Challenged Books - 2012
Out of 464 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom- Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey.
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group - Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group - Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit - And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.
Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group - The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit - Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group - Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence - The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit - Beloved, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence
My thoughts on the list.
1. My kids were above this reading level by the time I saw this one in their school library so I didn't bother reading the series.
2. review/thoughts here
3. Suicide? Hard subject, maybe this will be the one I read this year.
4. Nope, no way! Subject matter has nothing to do with this one, I didn't like Twilight, why should I read a book that started out as Twilight FanFic? Besides, based on reviews, I've read much better written books on BDSM - The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty anyone?
5. review/thoughts here and here
6. hasn't come across my radar
7. no interest in reading this one
8. I haven't read them but when a 5th grader who usually checks out nothing, or car magazines, brings this to me to check out I'm not going to ask questions. Hey, the kid is reading!
9. I recently added this one to my wish list
10. no interest is reading this one
Other posts that may interest you:
(all from my blog)
and Tango Makes Three, here and here
Perks of being a Wallflower, here and here
10,000 Dresses, here and here
Are you there God? It's me, Margaret, here
James and the Giant Peach, here (with a rant) and here
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, here
Links and a review of Bookbanning in America: Who bans books? And Why?
2011 post on my censorship, here
copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013
Posts
3 comments:
Since you left a comment on my Banned Books blog, I came to see your blog. Would you like to contribute a review to the Banned Books blog? It's okay to simply lift one of your older ones, if you choose. You are also welcome to include your copyright on your post. I can give you participant status if you email me at
emerging DOT paradigm @yahoo.com
I wish I had known about books like Thirteen Reasons Why and Looking for Alaska when I was in high school. I recently read Perks of being a Wallflower which was out when I was in high school and I can absolutely see it being challenged too. So sad.
Fifty shades of grey should be banned for bad writing.
The kite Runner is really good though. How can "religious viewpoint" be grounds for banning a book. Does this mean the bible is banned to?
Post a Comment