Books and Writing - Banned Books Week (09/27-10/03)

22 Umbrellas · 09-27-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Banned Books Week (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. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.

The 15 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000
1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
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
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margo L. Roberts

Here in Norwood, a small group of parents sent letters to Superintendent Bob Conder, expressing their concern over, "Bless Me, Ultima," a book being used in the classroom as a literature book. Conder said the books, about 2 dozen in total costing $6.99 each, were pulled from the classroom, and designated to be destroyed. The parents approached the superintendent and asked that they be able to burn the books instead of the school janitor destroying them.

Conder granted them their request, as he has the right to dispose of them. Conder informed the School Board in a letter after the fact. He further stated, “I can’t dictate morality, but my job is to protect the kids. The books should have never been purchased, and were not properly disclosed for approval.”

I didn't realize people still burned books.

(all info credited to: ala.org)

Jedisakora · 09-28-2005, 07:38 AM

Its sad when they burn or ban books. The only way i see that as acceptable is if it is stuff that can hurt a person or a place.

*perfect · 09-28-2005, 05:05 PM

Bless Me, Ultima was a very interesting book and though I may not have agreed with its ideals I still repected it and learned quite a bit from it. Some people just like to be in control and believe that their way is the only way and, unfortunately, this sort of behavior will always exist.

Mannylover · 09-28-2005, 06:08 PM

I have read already some of the books on the list! The ones I have read were all very good!

TheAngel · 09-28-2005, 07:23 PM

These are the ones I have read and I loved all of them. I'm surprised Fahrenheit 451 isn't on the list. It's one of the gret ironies of life that a book that is a political statement against banning books and burning books has been banned on numerous occasions.
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Unchallenged_4eva · 09-28-2005, 08:31 PM

6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Wow we read all of these in school except for Alice. Haha. Is It's Perfectly Normal the sex book? That has some fun memories. In 4th grade people in my class checked it out and were passing it around for like a week. Then the librarian came in and told the class that we shouldn't look at it because we weren't old enough. She took it away and didn't put in on the shelf till my class was in 7th grade.

*ADARA* · 09-29-2005, 04:43 PM

Quote:

The 15 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000
1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
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
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Is it bad that I've read most of those?

*perfect · 09-30-2005, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *ADARA*

Is it bad that I've read most of those?

I'd say it's a good thing

22 Umbrellas · 09-30-2005, 07:50 PM

I've read 10 of them, and 2 of those were in school, so I'd say no. The funny thing is, "inappropriate content" and all those other excuses parents give for wanting to ban/burn books was never a big issue at my school or the local libraries, so it's weird reading stories like this because it seems so unreal.

Kimberly · 09-30-2005, 08:20 PM

I've read tons of those.. I hate people who want to ban books

It makes me so upset that people think they have the right to destroy someone's creativity or free speech. IMO if you are worried about what your kid is reading you should read the book too and discuss it with them. I think a lot of parents don't give their kids enough credit.

As for burning books....

yeah there are no words for how evil I think that is.. that is just the WRONG message.

**Yellow Mustang Girl** · 10-02-2005, 10:31 AM

I forgot that this past was banned books week :argh: How could I forget that...

80sBabygirl · 10-02-2005, 12:08 PM

I love the Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz. I used to read it all the time as a kid. And of course, I love me some Harry Potter.

naceprettub · 01-22-2007, 10:26 AM

I'm very surprised at some of the books that are on that list. I read most of them when I was in school. I hate that any book is banned though. I mean, Harry Potter! and Judy Blume?!

AmeliaBeck · 07-23-2007, 06:20 PM

I'm still confused why "The Catcher in the Rye" was banned (or still is..?). I was not able to complete the book but I did read the first few chapters. Can someone explain to me why it was banned?

And also was "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" banned because it deals with slavery/black opperssion issues?

Also is "Mein Kamp" ("My Struggle) by Hitler still banned?

~Unfaithful~ · 07-23-2007, 07:13 PM

I know why the caged bird sings is one of my favorite stories

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