Today marks the official start of Banned Books Week--a national celebration of the freedom to read! Over a thousand books have been challenged since its launch in 1982--many of which have a permanent home on my keeper shelf.
I can't imagine life without Judy Blume's FOREVER, JD Salinger's CATCHER IN THE RYE, Margaret Atwood's THE HANDMAID'S TALE, Stephen Chobsky's THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, (and too many more to mention!)--all books that have shaped me not just as a writer, but as a person!
Books are challenged in every state and in hundreds of communities--and they run the gamut of contemporary works to classic and beloved works of American literature. And according to the American Library Association, more than 400 books were challenged in 2007. The 10 most challenged titles were:
1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
3. Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes
4. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
7. TTYL by Lauren Myracle
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
9. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
So tell me, what are some of your favorite banned books??
7 comments:
Oh there's so many! I adore The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time, which are on many many Banned Books lists. I also LOVe the Harry Potter series, which pops up a lot too. Oh and Where's Waldo, which I remember got challenged when I was younger. I was looking on the top 100 most frequently banned books from 1990-2000 and there were so many great books on there!
Be sure to check out Entertainment Weekly's website-they put together the "top 18 wild trips to the library stacks" in honor or Banned Books Week-as a book love and librarian, it made me smile!:)
-Sarah
Hey Sarah-
WHERE'S WALDO was challenged???
Yeeesh!!
Off to check out EW's website--thanks for stopping by!
It just boggles the mind, doesn't it?
I'm shocked at this list. When I was a teacher, I taught from some of these amazing books. Crazy. Honestly, I love most banned books. I guess that's why they're banned - the novels attract a bunch of attention. :)
I was looking at the list of Banned and Challenged Books and could not belive it--Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Anne Frank, Twelfth Night, Little House on the Prarie?!?!?! Really?
*walking away and shaking head*
Blubber. Harry Potter. Gossip Girl. TTYL. And Tango Makes Three
Amy- Yup! Pure insanity!
Keri- I know, lives are ENRICHED by these tales!
Pam- It's just sad, sad, sad!
Jennifer- All great titles!
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