Thursday Thirteen

13 Banned books or authors I own or have read by Mechele 1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling. I’ve read them all. So has my nine year old. I own all 7. 2. Judy Blume. I read quite a bit by her when I was younger. I know I loved Are you there God, it’s me, Margaret?, Then again maybe I won’t, Tiger Eye, Blubber and Deenie, all of which have made a challenged list. I own Deenie. 3. Stephen King. I have quite a King library. And have read just about all his books. 4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I’ve read it. It tops most people’s favorite book list. 5. The Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park, we own quite a few of them. The youngest has really gotten into reading them. She things Junie is funny. 6. The Bluest Eye and Beloved by Toni Morrison read them 7. The Color Purple by Alice Walker Own it. 8. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan read it. I loved Lois Duncan and read everything I could find. 9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Own it. I’ve never read it but the oldest has. Incidentally, she wrote Jacob have I loved which was a favorite growing up. 10. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier. Own it. Most kids come away from a field trip with knickknacks. I came away from a trip to Williamsburg with a book LOL. 11. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak Read it and what on earth? It’s a picture book *scratches head* 12. Summer of My German Solider by Bette Green. Own it. I loved that book. I had to buy a copy recently because I’d like my kids to read it one day. 13. One flew over the Cuckoo’s nest by Ken Kesey, own it. It’s a powerful book. Bonuses that’s I’ve read : Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry by Mildred Taylor, A day no Pigs would die by Robert Newton Peck, Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck read it

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Banned Authors

The 10 most Challenged Authors of 2007

1. Robert Cormier
2. Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
3. Mark Twain
4. Toni Morrison
5. Philip Pullman
6. Kevin Henkes
7. Lois Lowry
8. Chris Crutcher
9. Lauren Myracle
10. Joann Sfar


Top Ten Challenged Authors 1990-2004

1. Alvin Schwartz
2. Judy Blume
3. Robert Cormier
4. J.K. Rowling
5. Michael Willhoite
6. Katherine Paterson
7. Stephen King
8. Maya Angelou
9. R.L. Stine
10. John Steinbeck


All I can say is what a great list of authors. This is from ALA website.

I also blogged on Banned Books Week at Georgia's Crossroads Cafe.

Mechele

Why challenge books?

According to the ALA's website, the three most common reasons for a challenge to a book are, sexually explicit,” contain "“offensive language,” and be(ing) “unsuited to age group.”"

There's something that has always amazed me when talking about movies that relates to the first most common reason. Some people will freak out if there's nudity or a hint of sex in a movie, but let the movie blow up cars and shoot each other all day long without comment. Notice violence isn't in the top three reasons that books are challenged.

As far as language, well, we all have words we find offensive. And few will have the same list.

I'm really puzzled at the last reason. I know that school libraries are included in the data. But there is a big difference between a 5th grader and a kindergartner and what they can read. Are they saying that only kindergarten books can be included in a school library? Because after all, a book that a 5th grader could read would be highly unsuited for a kindergartner to read.

There are also differences among children of the same age. I'm a little more careful with what my youngest reads because she's more sensitive and has nightmares, whereas things don't seem to bother the oldest in the same ways at the same age.

And if that's for public libraries...say what? Public libraries have ADULTS checking out books, not just kids. Why censor the public library and what books they have because of age unsuitability when the public library services people of ALL ages?

Mechele

PS I blogged at BWB today with Agent Search Tip #2.