Banned Books Week is a national celebration that celebrates the freedom to read and First Amendment rights. This year Banned Books Week takes place from September 25-October 2, 2010. Banned Books Week is designed to bring attention to books that have been challenged, banned or burned for various reasons throughout history as well as today. This annual event celebrates the right to read and write books with unorthodox views or controversial topics.
Many books may not be formally “banned”, but in many cases after they are challenged for being inappropriate or offensive they tend to be taken off of reading lists and taken out of classrooms and school libraries. Some school librarians have stated that some books are not even purchased due to the fears that they may be challenged at one point.
Many books are challenged due to profanity, such as Steinbeck’s classic book “The Grapes of Wrath” for having taken the “Lord’s name in vain”. Material that discusses homosexuality is frequently challenged, as well as books that have a hint of “homosexual undertones” such as And Tango Makes Three, a book about two male penguins in a zoo that pretend that a rock is their egg. Books such as the Harry Potter and Twilight Series have been challenged over concerns that it promotes magic and offends Christian sensibilities. Other books are challenged based on discussions of sexuality, racism or violence. Even Dr. Seuss’s children’s book The Lorax has been challenged because it promoted environmentalism.
The National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression have created a U.S. map with documented cases of books that have been challenged and/or banned over the past three years. According to the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom (May 2009-May 2010) the following notable books were challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2009-2010:
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl: In Virginia this book was banned after a parent made the complaint that the book discussed sexual material and homosexual themes. The director of instruction banned the book in the district; however, after much criticism and international attention, the superintendent reinstated the use of the book, but claims that the book will be used at a higher grade level.
I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings by Maya Angelou: This book was restricted to students with permission at the middle school level in one California School District. The book was also challenged in California by a board trustee, who questioned the high school staff’s qualifications to be able to teach about a book that depicted African American culture.
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich: This book was challenged by a parent in a Pennsylvania high school with charges that the book promotes “economic fallacies”, socialist ideology, belittling of Christians, and discussions of illegal drug use.
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs: In Florida the book was challenged as part of a suggested reading list for students taking a class that received college credits. In some high schools a “mature reader” sticker was placed on the front of the book, while in other schools the book was restricted to require parental consent. Two high schools banned the book because, “The book contained explicit homosexual and heterosexual situations, profanity, underage drinking and smoking, extreme moral shortcomings, child molesters, graphic pedophile situations and total lack of negative consequences throughout the book”. (Note to self: Then you really need to read this book).
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: This book has had a long history of challenges, restrictions and banning. In 2009 this book was banned from secondary classrooms in a school district in Canada, due to a parent’s objection of the use of the “n word” in the book.
Meriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary: This dictionary was banned from a school library in California when a parent complained that her child found the term “oral sex” in the dictionary. The district is currently considering banning the book from classrooms as well.
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison: A superintendent in Michigan had initially banned the book from the curriculum, but it has been reinstated although parents must be informed about the book’s content in writing and at a meeting. Students have also been given an option of reading an alternate book without being penalized.
Paint Me Like I Am-Teen Poems: A principal at a middle school in New Jersey removed two pages of the book that included the poem “Diary of an Abusive Stepfather”. A parent complained about it being inappropriate due to profanity and depictions of violence between a parent and a child. (Sidenote: I bet all of the abused children who need support in such situations would beg to differ).
Please consider purchasing a book that has been challenged, restricted or banned during this year’s Banned Book Week in order to support intellectual freedom and free speech. You can find additional books that have been banned on the American Library Association’s Website.
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I got really upset over the book Nickel and Dimed being on the list. That parent should be put to work as say a hotel cleaning crew for just one day. ONE DAY. That book imo should be mandatory reading for all high school students so they hopefully will not grow up with false sense of entitlement and in this day and age the “let them eat cake” mentality. Ugh. Too agitated. Must relax now.