Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read
Categories: In the News
September 29-October 6 libraries and booksellers across the country will celebrate Banned Books Week (BBW.) Now in it’s 27th year, BBW celebrates “the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.”
In 2006, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received 546 challenges (formal, written complaints), a 30% increase over the previous year. They estimate the number of unreported challenges to be four or five times this amount.
How many banned books have you read? It’s probably more than you think! The most frequently challenged books of the past ten years include those titles we hear a lot about- The Color Purple and The Catcher in the Rye, but also some that might surprise you such as Martin Hansford’s Where’s Waldo, appearing at no. 88 on the list. Apparently quite a few people have spotted a topless sunbather on one of the spreads.
For some time, Harry Potter was the poster boy for BBW. The series about the young wizard received the most challenges four years in a row. Not any more- at the top of 2006 Most Frequently Challenged Books List- Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell’s And Tango Makes Three.
Based on actual events, And Tango Makes Three is the story of two male chinstrap penguins at the Central Park Zoo who, thanks to the helping hands of an observant zookeeper, hatch and raise a penguin chick, named Tango. It focuses on family and the acceptance of others’ differences. Tango's challengers argue the book promotes homosexuality, is anti-family, and is unsuited to age group.
Others in the Top 100
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’EngleL’Engle was the J.K. Rowling of her time and this book remains on my personal top 10 of children’s literature list. The audiobook is also great- read by L’Engle herself. The plot- a girl and her brother travel to a vivid fantasy world to save their father. It was the Newbery Medal in 1963. It’s been challenged for: Including witchcraft, crystal balls, and other hallmarks of fantasy novels.
Almost every book ever written by July Blume- Forever, Blubber, Deenie, and Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret are among Blume’s most controversial titles. Her titles have been challenged for: Sexual content and inappropriate behavior. Blume brushes aside the criticism stating, “I’m known as the adult who doesn’t lie to kids for a reason.”
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. A boy bets he can eat fifteen worms in 15 days. It’s been challenged for: Encouraging inappropriate behavior. I feel compelled to add the author visited my elementary school when I was in 5th grade – and I was never once tempted to eat a worm.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Oprah calls this autobiography, “the first book I ever read that made me feel my life as a colored girl growing up in Mississippi deserved validation.” It’s been challenged for: depictions of sex, racism, homosexuality and violence.
Carrie by Stephen King- popular at high schools across the land. A telekinetic teen brings the horrors of high school to the masses. It’s been challenged for: Promoting sex and violence.
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein- Yes, censorship hits humorous children’s poetry. It’s been challenged for: Inappropriate content. This story says Attic was challenged at a Florida school because it "promotes disrespect, horror and violence.”
ALA’s website has a number of interesting articles, links, and other information about Banned Book Week as well as information on 2007’s ten most challenged titles.
