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A site where school library media students at Auburn University and Georgia Southern University can discuss intellectual freedom issues.
Posts
ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom blog
Blogging Censorship
Web Resources
- An Honor to Be Banned by Chris Crutcher
- Walter Dean Myers Interview
- Bret Hartinger on the banning of The Geography Club
- A Brieef History of Chinese Internet censorship
- Katherine Paterson interview
- Chris Crutcher answers the censors
- Judy Blume video interview
- Judy Blume talks about censorship
- Censorship and Banned Books (journal published by Random House)
- Ensuring Intellectual Freedom and Access by Helen Adams companion web site
- Intellectual Freedom 101 (Knowledge Quest issue)
- AASL Resource Guide: Intellectual Freedom
- NCTE Anti-Censorship Center
- Frequently Challenged Books (ALA)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Brief summary: This book is the story of two boys, Amir and Hassan, who grow up as close friends in Afghanistan. Amir witnesses the rape of his friend Hassan and does nothing to stop it. The rest of the novel deals with Amir coming to terms with his guilt and finding redemption. This title has been challenged in various U.S. high schools due to sexual content and graphic language.
ReplyDeleteThe Catcher in the Rye is a coming of age story about a boy, Holden, attending a private school. You learn that he has attended and been kicked out of several schools. He seems to have a negative attitude and general apathy about everything in life. Throughout the book he discusses his younger brother who died. After being kicked out of school due to failing grades, Holden spends two days in New York City mostly drunk in a sleazy hotel and has an awkward encounter with a prostitute. At the end of the book, you learn that he is in a mental institution, but seems to be doing better and will be attending another school in the fall.
ReplyDeleteTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in the American South during the Great Depression. The novel focuses on the family of lawyer, Atticus Finch. Atticus' daughter, Scout is the narrator of this tale about courage and racial injustice. Scout's world consists of innocently spying on her mysterious neighbor, Boo, with her old
ReplyDeletebrother until her father takes on a case that will change their lives forever. Tom Robinson, a local black man, has been falsely accused of sexually assaulting a local white woman. Atticus wants to teach his children to peacefully stand up for equality, so he takes on the unpopular case knowing that he has little chance of winning. In the end of the novel, Scout and her brother find themselves the victim of a brutal attack; however, an unexpected hero saves the children.
Racial slurs, profanity, and content about rape have led people to ban this book from classrooms all across the country since the early 1960's.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in Alabama. It is told from the view point of a young girl named “Scout”. Scout is the daughter of Atticus Finch who is an attorney in Maycomb. Scout has one brother, Jem. After their mother’s death, Atticus has raised these children alone with the help of a black lady named Calpurnia. Scout and Jem spend most of their time walking around town being adventurous and trying to find out how they are going to get a glimpse of their neighbor, Boo Radley. Their summertime playmate, Dill, participates in their adventures when he is in Maycomb.
ReplyDeleteMr. Finch is busy preparing for a trial that is approaching. He is defending Tom Robinson. Tom, a black man, has been falsely accused of raping a white woman. Mr. Finch took the case because he believed Tom was falsely accused because of his race. The Finch family takes a lot of heat over Mr. Finch taking the case. Mr. Finch and his children are referred to as numerous slang names from the white community.
After the trial is over, there is still someone with anger towards Mr. Finch. After a Halloween play, Jem and Scout are walking home and are attacked by this angered person. But, they are saved by someone that no one would have ever suspected.
This book has been a source of controversy since the 60’s. The book’s open discussion of rape, profanity and derogatory racial terms are the factors that led this book to being challenged and banned in so many schools and libraries.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton has been a controversial young adult title for many years. It is the story of fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a wannabe tough kid who is a member of the Greasers, a gang of boys from the wrong side of town. The rivalry betwen the gangs, use of weapons, death of a teen, profanity, underage drinking and smoking, and Hinton's portrayal of teens who lack parental supervision all make this book an easy target for those who would challenge its integrity.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time deciding whether to go with High School or Middle School. My chosen book, Forever by Judy Blume has a place on many middle school shelves, but I feel it is more appropriately placed on High School shelves due to the content. It is classed as YA, so I guess very mature middle school students could read it and be fine with the content. Forever is a story about first love, first sexual encounter and what happens when that love fades away. It has several topics addressed in the novel that would make it challenge worthy in many peoples opinion. This novel has sexual activity, drug use, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, profanity and attempted suicide, but it also gives readers a sense of what reality is like and I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeletesleighbelle above is Stacy Eastwood.
ReplyDeleteI read To Kill A Mockingbird as my novel choice. Set in the Southern town of Maycomb, this novel focuses on the Atticus Finch family. Atticus is a lawyer and takes on the job of representing Tom Robinson who was been accused of rape. Before and throughout the trial, Atticus reminds his children, Jem and Scout, to respond with calm and dignity to anything they might hear about the case. Told from Scout's point of view, the reader receives the story of racial injustice through the eyes of a child. This book has been challenged on the basis of racial issues/terms, profanity, and rape.
ReplyDeleteI read "Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. It is a very interesting book about a boy who is in high school and deals with all the "normal" high school things, but also has some others that make this a challenged book. For one, he deals with a friend's suicide. He also explores sexuality and drugs, his sister's pregnancy, and being institutionalized. There is also a theme of sexual abuse throughout the book. The format for this book is very interesting...it is written in letters to an anonymous friend. The reader never finds out who this friend is, which makes it even more meaningful to the theme of the book.
ReplyDeleteI, too, chose Forever by Judy Blume and had a hard time deciding where to post my comments. I chose high school due to the sexual content present in this book. Forever is about Katherine falling in love for the first time and losing her virginity. She thinks this first love will last forever (see how the book got its title), but then realizes it doesn't. This book is mainly challenged due to its sexual content. I believe Blume wrote it to deal with a teenage topic in a realistic way; however, I am not sure this book should be in a school library. I don't, however, believe the review that blamed this book for teenage sex. This book simply tries to convey what it is like the "first" time. It isn't a handbook on how to have sex as one review stated.
ReplyDeleteI also chose Forever, by Judy Blume. I chose this book because I am a fourth grade teacher, and I have read several of her titles to my students. I couldn't understand why this book would cause controversy. First of all it is listed as a young adult book. I agree that it is geared for the high school student. The story is about a high school senior and her first real love. They start off dating and getting to know each other and then the hormones kick in and sex enters the picture. I have to admit that I found myself blushing while reading the book, but I truly believe the way Blume developed the story line by including a wise grandmother and a very understanding family helped with what I believe Blume intended to do. She writes about a real issue that I am sure in 1975 was a more taboo topic than in 2009. The story not only has been criticized for the sexual content but the use of "the Pill" too. I think Blume's book is full of good advice in the form of a story. After reading the book I now understand why some people have issues with it, but I do not understand why it is number 8 on the American Library Association's list of the most 100 frequently banned books 0f 1990-2000.
ReplyDeleteI chose The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. This book is on middle and high school shelves. This is one novel that maturity levels need to be considered for reading. The Blues Eye is set in the 1950's in an urban segregated community. The language, graphic sexual situations, incest and profanity that Morrison uses in this novel causes parents and school systems to challenge the use of it in the classroom. According to the NCTE Censorship Challenge Report (2006) the problems that create challenges for the novel use are sexual content, and disturbing psychological situations. After reading the book, I agree the context is controversial but need to be examined. I understand the issues with it, but I think it is too mature for middle school and some high school depending on the maturity level.
ReplyDeleteBeach Music by Pat Conroy
ReplyDeleteThis very long (600+ pages) book is the first Conroy title I've actually read (I know, how can I live in the Low Country and not know his work!). It's a big family saga that moves around in time and place-from South Carolina to Rome to Eastern Europe to the mountains of North Carolina. Pretty much all of the characters and families are dysfunctional in some way. The center of the story is Shyla, a young mother who has taken her own life. As her husband tries to understand how Shyla got to that place he has to try to understand the history of both his family and her family. The book includes one of the most graphic discussions of the Holocaust (in fiction) that I have ever read. There are also some scenes with violence, sexuality and language issues. But to make those issues into something that would cause you to EXCLUDE this book from a high school collection you'd definitely have to take scenes and words out of context. Love of family and faith both come through as strong themes here.
So, the most recent challenge to this title and The Price of Tides (now on my tbr list) came in 2007 from West Virginia.
http://wvgazette.com/News/200801080924
You'll see that the story has a happy ending-the books are back in school!
You can read Pat Conroy's response to the controversy here:
http://timeenoughatlast.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/pat-conroy-banned-books-and-censorship/
Here's my favorite line from that letter:
"The world of literature has everything in it, and it refuses to leave anything out."
The Color Purple is a book about a black girl named Celie who is repeatedly raped by a man she thinks is her father, her two resulting children taken from her, then married off to a man she hates. Celie’s sister Nettie is taken in by missionaries who have unwittingly adopted Celie's babies. They don’t see each other again for 30 years. The story is told through Celia writing letters to God. This book has been challenged or banned mostly due to being sexually and socially explicit, inappropriate language, and violence.
ReplyDeleteI read The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Makcler.
ReplyDeleteThis book is about Virginia and her struggles as a plus size teenager. Her mother is constantly making comments about her weight, and her father makes little remarks about how other women look…especially those with big “assets” as Virginia notes. Her best friend has moved away and she feels alone with no one to talk to, until she meets Froggy. Virginia and Froggy meet on the way home after school one day. She invites him to come to her house. As usual, when two teenagers get together without adult supervision, things will happen. It starts with kissing, then before long his hand is going up her shirt. She doesn’t mind his hand going up her shirt, but she is just afraid he might leave if he sees her nude. Since her best friend is gone, she has no one at school to talk to or to eat with. Because of this, she sits in a bathroom stall and eats her lunch instead of facing everyone alone. To make things worse, the popular girls come in the same restroom and Virginia overhears them talking about how big she is and that they cannot believe she is the sister of perfect Byron. The perfect brother who has to come home from college because he has been accused of date rape. For Virginia this is the start of many changes in her life.
This book is mainly on high school shelves, but has been banned because of "sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group."
The book "Summer of my German Soldier" is about a time when some German soldiers were brought to a small town in Arkasas. A Jewish girl becomes friends with one of them and has to deal with the consequences that follow that action. Patty, the Jewish girl, is 12 years old and having a hard time growing up. The story is about her, her family and her new friend Anton, the German soldier.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that this book has been banned is that it includes racism, offensive language and being sexually explicit.
Sorry, linzer85 is Lindsey LaBarge.
ReplyDeleteI read Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. This book is about a sixteen year old loup-garoux (werewolf) and her journey to fit in with the new human town that she now lives in. Her pack (other wolves) have been forced to this town after one of their own began killing people in their other town. In the aftermath of Axel (murderers) actions, Vivian's father, the alpha male, is killed. Vivian is facing a new life with no father, a depressed mother, and a new alpha who she accidently named as her mate. To top it off, she has fallen in love with a human.
ReplyDeleteThis is all about falling in love, growing up, and accepting who she really is.
This book one a 1998 YALSA.
The main reason this book is banned is because of the almost sexual content (no actual sex). While there is some killing it is not graphic and the bad language is minimal. There is an attempted suicide, but is not graphic.
Book: Go Ask Alice
ReplyDeleteSummary: Go Ask Alice is a nonfiction piece set in the format of diary entries. "Alice" is an assumed name as the protagonist never actually refers to herself by name. The entries chronicle the drug addition of a teenage girl living during the 1960s. It is considered controversial for a number of reasons. "Alice" describes several experiences she has using drugs, and some are presented in very detailed accounts. There are portions of the books where "Alice" describes sexually lewd acts that she has to do to score more drugs. The book also mentions acts of homosexuality that occur while "Alice" is institutionalized. The book has explicit language throughout its contents. Finally, the book ends with "Alice's" ambiguous death. The reader is left wondering if her overdose is suicide or accidental.
I chose to read this book because it is a book that is on the Ninth grade suggested reading list at our school. I often see students reading it, and they can not seem to put it down. When I noticed it on the banned book list, I decide to check it out. After reading, I can see why the book is questioned. Some of the language and events where extremely strong for my taste. It does teach a valuable lesson on the serious effects of drug usage.
"The Perks of Being A Wallflower" by Stephen Chboskyis a coming-of-age story about Charlie, a high school freshman and his experiences during his first year of high school. Set as a social outcast, Charlie is a loner (even when surrounded by friends) who tells the story from his thoughts and observations in the form of diary entries/letters to an unknown friend. The book contains themes of homosexuality, sexuality, pedophelia, child abuse, domestic abuse, and drug use. This books is pretty much YA, but can be found in the fiction section and not Teen/Young Adult at B&N (where I worked for a few years).
ReplyDeleteI chose to read the book Forever by Judy Blume. This is a young adult book; I found this summary to be more "properly placed" in the high school blog. However, this book would probably be appropriate for very mature middle schoolers as well. The book is a about a teenage girl and the experience she has losing her virginity, getting on birth control and having a sex life. This book is challenged because of the sexual nature of the book. I would imagine that this book would have a lot of trouble staying on the shelf in a middle school library.
ReplyDeleteForever by: Judy Blume. This book is about a young girl named Katherine who is falling in love for the first time. Like most young girls, she is in love and naive and thinks love will last forever. Katherine meets Michael at a friend’s party during their senior year of high school. They start dating, and soon after, Katherine loses her virginity to Michael. After the school year ends, they part on their separate ways. Katherine falls for another guy and realizes that her first love will not last forever.
ReplyDeleteI think this book was written for high school level students. I remember reading this book when I was in high school. I presume this book was banned because of its sexual content. In 1975, when the book was written, teenagers weren't as familiar with sex and sexually related activities as today's teenagers are so it is understandable why the book would have been banned.
I chose Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. It is a collection of poetry from a very cool guy who really challenged thinking and published a book that was considered obscene during the time period when it was published. It references many indiscretions and challenges authority. Each piece in the book is unique and has its own “ingredients,” but the overall “flavor” of the book is pretty constant: free thinking and untamed living.
ReplyDeleteJR - If you liked Beach Music, I think you will really like Prince of Tides. It is one of my favorite books - DO NOT watch the movie, it has very little to do with the book.
ReplyDeleteI am going to post this on all three of these blogs (just thought you should know if you are reading them all - it's not deja-vu!)
ReplyDeleteMy district just banned a book from all middle schools and high schools - The Burn Journals. I have not read this book, but from the reviews I have read online, I am not sure I would select it for middle schoolers. I have been speaking to my media specialist about this all this past week, and from what she can find out - this ban did not even go through the process - and our district does have a board approved process for this. At least one of the MS in the district is upset (and willing to admit it and make waves) and has contacted the ALA for help. The next few weeks should be interesting. Here is a link to the newspaper article if you would like to see it:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/mar/08/georgia-book-sparks-debate/
I am reading Forever, by Judy Bloom. This book is all about becoming a woman, falling in love for the first time and the first sexual experience. Like her other books, in this book Judy Blume writes authentically and honestly. Although the material can be quite sexual it is certainly relevant for the age group it is targeted at, high school.
ReplyDeleteI chose the book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. It was censored in 1993 at Arcadia, Louisiana because it was said to be racially biased. I also chose this book because I have personal experience with this story in my 6th grade classroom.
ReplyDeleteDuring my first year teaching, my co-workers advised me to use this book for Black History Month. Although I had never read the book, I trusted the advice of my co-workers. I found the book on audio tape. My class demographics were mostly African Americans, and I thought that it would be a wonderful learning opportunity for them to be able to follow along with the story as it was read aloud.
While listening and reading, one of my students stood up and pounded his fists on the desk. “I hate this book,” he exclaimed. I paused the tape. I knew why he was upset, however this was the first time that anyone had shown dislike for the book. The student was tired of hearing the word “n” word. I opted to bring up the sensitive word for discussion, especially since I knew why he was offended. I explained to the class that the discussion would require them to think of how the word is used in different situations.
I have often heard these students use the word with each other either in playing or out of anger. When I asked why it was wrong for the white men in the book to use the word but not wrong when they (the students) said it to each other, a student replied, “it’s ok for us to say it to each other.”
It shocked me to hear the students agree that the color of their skin made this word okay for some to use but disrespectful to be said by others. With this thought in mind, I decided to also discuss other “curse” words. I asked my students: “If you say a cuss word in front of your mother, it’s considered bad; but, if you say the same word in front of your friend are you saying a cool word?” I told the students that in both of those situations the word was still a cuss word. This also meant that it was a bad word to use; and that throughout the story, the word “n” word was used in degradation.
We discussed what the word “equal” really meant. I posed another set of questions. “If we are supposed to be equal and I can’t go to the same school you do, or the same restaurant, then are we equal? If I can say words you can’t or vice versa are we truly equal? Or is the word itself bad for all?”
At the end of the class discussion, I felt like we went deeper than the words used within the book and more into the lives and actions of my students in their contemporary world.
The book the Color Purple has been challenge due to the books explicit sexual and social content. Alice Walker, the author touches on a very sensitive subject. Lesbianism. This book time setting takes place somewhere in the eary 1900"s when not only was their racial tensions but the book tells a story of rape, incest, and molesestation. the author also explores physical abuse endured by women in this time.
ReplyDeleteThis book was also made into a movie and a stage play.
I can understand why the book the Color Purple would be placed on the banned book list. Parents and media specialists find these issues very challenging for their children.
ReplyDeleteI mistakenly posted my title under the elementary book list. I guess it's because I teach 3rd grade, and that's all I think about! Anyway, here it is again:
ReplyDeleteI chose to read The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I read it once as a requirement for a high school English Lit. course, but wanted to revisit it as an adult since it had previously been placed on the Banned Book list. As you may know, it is the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman in a Massachusetts Puritan society who, while married to an overbearing husband (Roger Chillingworth) commits adultery with Arthur Dimmesdale.She is jailed, then forced to wear a scarlet 'A' that stands for adulterer as a punishment. Oh- did I mention her daughter Pearl (whom the townspeople refer to as "the child of the devil"- the result of said adultery? This book has been banned because it is considered by some to be 'pornographic and obscene" because of its themes of sexuality and adultery. Honestly, when I read it in high school, I did not have a clue that it could be considered pornographic or obscene. It was simply looked at from a literary standpoint. I feel that finding the appropriate context in which to use such a literary tale helps children to become critical thinkers.
I have finally found the time to complete the book entitled “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chboskyis. I thought it was a good book that gave a detail view of life a young adult trying to find his place in the world. Chboskyis wrote the book in the form of letters that were sent to an unknown friend. This book was banned because of the sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and the homosexuality relationships. Many of such books are viewed as distasteful and some parents think that their children will do thing because they read it.
ReplyDelete