The American Library Association created Banned Books Week in 1982 in an effort to bring some recognition to the fact that people should exercise their "Freedom to Read". This event occurs the last week of September each year and it will occur September 27 – October 4 in 2008. According to the website for ALA,
"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."
The books that are banned are tracked and every year the ALA puts out a list of the most banned books for that year. For 2007 the books that were most banned were:
- "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;
- "Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
- "Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;
- "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
- "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
- "Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
- "Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language.
- "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group
- "Beloved" by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;
- "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.
It is always a good idea for parents to know what books have been banned from their local library and children’s school library. If there is a book that you feel has been banned but should not have been you can file a challenge with the ALA and find help in challenging the banning of books. The stance of the ALA is that books should never be banned because everyone should have the right to choose what books they want to read and have the availability to get those books from their local library. Check out their website if you have any questions about what Banned Books Week is about or what you can do to get books removed from banned books lists.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmm… I’ve never read any of these books. Maybe I need to. LOL!
Most of these books are geared toward children and so I see where some parents may find issue with the books. However, I strongly feel that parents have to be the filter for their children on what they see and read. I am very interested in reading “And Tango Makes Three” it is about 2 male penguins who find an egg and raise it together. That would be a pertinent book for gay couples with children. Yet, this is THE most widely banned book last year.
I’ll be interested to hear if you read “And Tango Makes Three” what you think about it. I see they have it characterized as “anti-family.” Let us know what you think about it. I’ll try to grab a copy from the library as well.