The ALA has compiled (as they do every year) a list of the 100 most challenged and banned books.
Help mark the week by reading a banned genre title. Suggestions:
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
- Carrie, The Dead Zone, or Cujo by Stephen King
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- James and the Giant Peach or The Witches by Roald Dahl
- The Earth’s Children Series by Jean M. Auel
There are probably others, but I’m not recognizing them. Maybe I should do this when I’m awake…
Why?
Why is A Wrinkle in Time on the list? It’s probably been 20 years since I read that book, but I don’t recall anything even remotely objectionable in it. Can someone enlighten me please?
Same with James and the Giant Peach…
Re: Why?
I haven’t read Wrinkle (never got around to it as a child, but should). I think James made the list because it portrays parental figures (James’ aunts) in a negative way. The ALA website had more info one why the top 10 made the list.
Re: Why?
Considering that some boards have banned The Wizard of Oz because (like those clearly pro-Satanic Potter novels), it features a good witch and a bad witch– and we all know, there are no good witches–, I’m not certain there has to be much of a reason.
Re: Why?
Link, please? I couldn’t find anything but a simple list of the top 100.
Re: Why?
Bans by type, year, initiator, and institution
Banned Books Main Page
Re: Why?
Ah, thanks. I was looking for a book-by-book list, which I guess is why I couldn’t find it. :)
Re: Why?
Well, it’s been a good 15-20 years for me, too. But I seem to remember that late in the series, of which Wrinkle is only the first book; they make the connection that several humans have been sent to fight the enemy (E.Coli, I think..) and when they return to Earth they sometimes make a stir with the powers they’ve obtained. In particular, the childrens’ father was one, and I believe that it was hinted if not said outright that Jesus was one. I’m sure that would ruffle feathers.
Re: Why?
“Offensive language, undermines religious beliefs”
Same old, same old. Has a book ever been banned without some religious zealot behind it? I understand the world if the religionist is quite scary, all these other beliefs arbitrarily competing for you and yours, never safe.
Tom Saywer
You’ll have to excuse my spelling here, it’s quite late, but I belive Tom Saywer was banned. Which well….. is sick
Re: Tom Saywer
That and Huck Finn get tagged. The sad part is, it was first banned by white supremists because it depicted a friendship between a white boy and a black man. It was later banned by minority groups for its depictions of slavery and oppressive lifestyle. Make up your minds people.