September 26 to October 2 is Banned Books Week. I love this year's Banned Books Week image and the message is spot on. It's been three years since I did a post on Banned Books Week even though, when I was a librarian, it was one of my favorite weeks. I'd create displays, we'd have staff do Banned Book read-alouds, and the conversations with students were always interesting.
This link goes to the Banned Books Week website where they list the top 10 banned books. I've listed them below including the reason for their banning. To me, banning and challenging is ridiculous and merely a way of people imposing their personal ideas on others. Think of all hte amazing literature they are missing out on! The links go to my reviews of the books
- George by Alex Gino. Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community.” Note: I read this book for BBW in 2018, but didn't review it.
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. Banned and challenged because of the author’s public statements and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people.
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism and because it was thought to promote antipolice views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now.”
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint, it was claimed to be biased against male students, and it included rape and profanity. Note: my review is of the graphic novel because I read the prose novel before I was blogging)
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of the author. Note: I read this novel before I was blogging.
- Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin. Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote antipolice views.
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience. Note: I read this novel before I was blogging.
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes and their negative effect on students. Note: I read this novel before I was blogging.
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse. Note: I read this novel before I was blogging.
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Challenged for profanity, and because it was thought to promote an antipolice message.
If you're really into lists, check out the 100 most challenged books by decade (1990-1999, 2000-2009, and 2010-2019). When I scan the list, I am stunned by the incredible literature that is included.
I haven't decided which book to read yet, but I think I'll swing by one of our junior high libraries to see what I can find.
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