Live Dangerously - Check Out a Banned Book!
Our constitution protects the right of free speech, including writing books that may be considered objectionable by some individuals. Though the United States government does not officially ban any books, every year people across the country challenge books for a variety of reasons. Books are sometimes removed from library shelves, most often in schools, taking away a young person's chance to decide for themselves. Do you like “living on the edge”? Want to see what all the fuss is about? Now's your chance.
Here are some titles from our own library collection that have been challenged over the last ten years somewhere in the United States.
Here are some titles from our own library collection that have been challenged over the last ten years somewhere in the United States.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a futuristic story where the government pits young people against each other in a televised death match – last one standing wins glory, food, and supplies for their territory for the next year. It has been challenged for powerful depictions of violence and the suggestion of teen sexuality.
Twilight
Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer, is the first book of the hugely popular vampire series. Bella Swan moves to damp and dreary Forks, Washington. But she’s not depressed for long when she meets the handsome and mysterious Edward Cullen. The drama builds as Bella discovers the secret of Edward’s past, and moody, intense Jacob becomes a rival for her affection. Twilight has been challenged based on religious beliefs, as well as violence.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, a National Book Award winner by Sherman Alexie, is the story of Arnold Spirit (known as Junior), a Spokane Indian growing up on a reservation in Washington state. Encouraged by a teacher, Junior escapes the poverty, alcoholism and depression of the “rez”, walking miles every day to a rich, white prep school. Here he manages to win friends and a spot on the basketball team. Junior chronicles his balancing act between these two different worlds with his humorous comic doodles. This is a great story about overcoming difficult circumstances and forging your own identity. It has been challenged for its strong language, depictions of racism and violence, and references to teen sexuality.
The Harry Potter Series
The Harry Potter Series has sold over 450 million copies in 67 different languages. The movies based on the novels have earned over two billion dollars. There’s no question that the Harry Potter saga holds universal appeal for children, teens, and adults. The story follows a young wizard as he and his friends uncover the secrets that will help them save the wizarding world from unspeakable evil. Despite strong themes of good vs. evil, family, friendship, love, loyalty, and courage, the series has regularly been challenged, most often because of the characters’ use of magic and witchcraft, and because they often disregard authority in their efforts to thwart the dangerous forces that lurk around every corner.
The Chocolate War
In The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, Jerry Renault is a regular teen, attending an expensive private school, who causes a stir when he refuses to sell chocolate for the annual fundraising drive. This break from rigid tradition first makes Jerry a hero, but eventually a victim of bullying and peer pressure, even with faculty members loading on the abuse. The book blurs the lines between good and evil, courage and cowardice. Jerry’s attempt to inject a sense of individualism into the everyday workings of his school results in violent and tragic consequences. The book has been challenged for mature themes, intense violence, and strong language.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series compiles the best of the best scary campfire stories, based on folklore and popular urban legends. He even gives tips on storytelling techniques that will add to the “freak out” factor. And the creepy black and white illustrations are nearly as chill inducing as the stories themselves. These books frequently appear on challenged and banned book lists because of their fascination with murder, witchcraft, and the paranormal.
The Chronicles of Narnia / His Dark Materials Trilogy
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is a much beloved children’s fantasy series. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman is an award winning fantasy series geared toward teens and young adults. Both series have been challenged frequently by various groups for their perceived questioning of organized religion, as well as encouraging youthful rebellion, with young characters questioning authority and forsaking the wishes of their elders in search of mischief and adventure.
Fallen Angels
Walter Dean Myers is an author who’s known for telling it like it is, and he does so in Fallen Angels, a brutally realistic novel about a young black soldier serving in the Vietnam War. The destruction and violence around him causes the young man to question the morality of the war and his role in it. The book has been challenged for its strong language and graphic violence.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain’s historic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has been challenged because of its use of the “n-word” in the text. This word used in the context of the novel is authentic to the time period and setting. Ironically, Twain was making a case against racism in his much read American classic.
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee, lays out the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer defending a black man accused of attempted rape in a small southern town. Atticus’s strong sense of morality conflicts with his desire to protect his young children from the racially charged atmosphere that surrounds the trial. Though this book is a staple on most high school reading lists, it has been challenged for its use of racial slurs and discussion of the alleged rape.
The Giver
The Giver, Lois Lowry’s futuristic Newbery Award winner is the story of Jonas, a 12 year old growing up in an outwardly perfect society. All of your basic needs are provided (food, clothing, shelter, education), and all of your important life decisions are made for you (your mate, your children, your job, when you will die). When Jonas receives his highly specialized job assignment, he begins to unravel the dark side of the society in which he lives, and the government that controls it all. This thought provoking book has been challenged for its depictions of violence, budding teen sexuality, and euthanasia.
Bridge to Terabithia / The Great Gilly Hopkins
Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia is another Newbery Award winner that has made the challenged and banned books list. It is the story of Jesse, a pre-teen from a small rural farm, who befriends Leslie, a city girl who recently moved to the house next door with her parents. Both square pegs at school, Jess and Leslie form a strong bond, cemented by their creation of an imaginary kingdom (Terabithia) in the nearby woods. This beautiful story of friendship has been challenged for language (contains mild swearing), religious concerns, and because of the tragic ending that befalls one of the characters. Bridge to Terabithia is not alone on the challenge list. Paterson’s Newbery Honor book, The Great Gilly Hopkins, portrays Gilly as a rough around the edges foster child, who makes every effort to maintain her unlovable reputation. That includes her racist treatment of an elderly black character. There’s no doubt that Paterson has a way of writing about life’s tough situations with unflinching honesty, hence her frequent appearance on banned books lists.
Whale Talk
Whale Talk, a terrific YA book by Chris Crutcher, follows a high school athlete who turns a bunch of bullied misfits into a swim team – no easy task at a school without a swimming pool. The book has been challenged for instances of violence and bullying, and for strong language, but its message of forgiveness in the face of meanness and spite is a strong argument for keeping this book on the shelves.
Want to find out more about challenged and banned books? Check out these websites.
http://www.abffe.org/bbw-booklist-detailed.htm
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm
http://www.banned-books.com/
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm
http://www.banned-books.com/