Free People Read Freely

[LA98]

It's Banned Books Week. Celebrate your freedom to read!

According to the American Library Association:

The 2004 Most Challenged Books:
1. "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier, for sexual content, offensive language, religious viewpoint, being unsuited to age group and violence
2. "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers, for racism, offensive language and violence
3. "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture" by Michael A. Bellesiles, for inaccuracy and political viewpoint
4. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, for offensive language and modeling bad behavior
5. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, for homosexuality, sexual content and offensive language
6. "What My Mother Doesn't Know" by Sonya Sones, for sexual content and offensive language
7. "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, for nudity and offensive language
8. "King & King" by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, for homosexuality
9. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, for racism, homosexuality, sexual content, offensive language and unsuited to age group
10. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, for racism, offensive language and violence

The 2004 Most Challenged Authors
1. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, author of the Alice series
2. Robert Cormier, author of The Chocolate War and We All Fall Down
3. Judy Blume, author of Blubber, Forever, and Deenie
4. Toni Morrison, author of The Bluest Eye, Beloved and Song of Solomon
5. Chris Lynch, author of Extreme Elvin and Iceman
6. Barbara Park, author of the Junie B. Jones series
7. Gary Paulsen, author of Nightjohn and The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer
8. Dav Pilkey, author of The Captain Underpants series
9. Maurice Sendak, author of In the Night Kitchen
10. Sonya Sones, author of What My Mother Doesn’t Know

[Escher]

11) The Bible--mere possession is a crime in numerous (Islamic) countries.

[ClaraB]

I'm going to bite (a little, anyway ;) ). Some of the books listed are children's books, and I wonder what others think about children having access to certain children's books that are, basically, garbage for their brains. While I don't particularly care if my ds reads Captain Underpants, I have a real problem with the "Choose Your Own Nightmare" series (like the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, except the endings frequently involve the reader's gory demise), and have toyed with the idea of asking the library to remove it from their shelves. What do others think about this?

[leebee]

I'm going to bite (a little, anyway ;) ). Some of the books listed are children's books, and I wonder what others think about children having access to certain children's books that are, basically, garbage for their brains. While I don't particularly care if my ds reads Captain Underpants, I have a real problem with the "Choose Your Own Nightmare" series (like the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, except the endings frequently involve the reader's gory demise), and have toyed with the idea of asking the library to remove it from their shelves. What do others think about this?

I am going to answer this with as much restraint as I can muster...
Is it a public library? Or a private one. In my mind, it makes a difference. A private organization can make whatever rules they want, I suppose (ETA--but I'll still stamp my feet and hold my brath about it). I don't have to agree with them. But be very careful if you are asking an actual public library to remove a book from the shelves just because you don't like it. Do it enough and it will end up on a banned book list with more noteriety and free advertising to make it more popular than ever.

A. I read many of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books as a kid. Trust me, there were many, many a gory demise in them as well.

B. If you have a problem with the books, then you need to deal with your child on that issue.

C. Reading garbage can be better than not reading at all, IMHO. I defend the right of someone to read a cheesy romance, poorly written western or bad "Choose Your Own..." if that's what they want. And, as I said, I read a lot of these books as a kid, in between reading more advanced stuff. They were fun.

I worked as a library clerk one year, in an elementary school. We had a book that we got in and featured at Halloween--it was a book that had jokes and stories, and featured some party ideas. It was a witch theme--the party punch was "Witch's Brew" and the decorating ideas included make-your-own brooms, witch hats, etc. It was requested that I remove said book from the shelves as it was "anti-Christian." I refused. It was then checked out and "lost." The head librarian replaced it, using the fine money that was charged for the loss. It was checked out and "lost" again. The family was again fined, and they paid again. The head librarian bought 2 more copies. The same thing happened to one, and when the parent came in to say, "Gee, I just don't know what happened," all smug-like, I just pulled a new one out of the drawer. They gave up. I swear to you, had the family continued, we would have had a dozen of those books in the closet, just waiting. It was our line in the sand. If you don't like something, educate your children about it--communicate with them and tell them what's appropriate in your household and what is not. If it is a private library, they can make their own rules, of course.

[SDMomChef]

I'm going to bite (a little, anyway ;) ). Some of the books listed are children's books, and I wonder what others think about children having access to certain children's books that are, basically, garbage for their brains. While I don't particularly care if my ds reads Captain Underpants, I have a real problem with the "Choose Your Own Nightmare" series (like the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, except the endings frequently involve the reader's gory demise), and have toyed with the idea of asking the library to remove it from their shelves. What do others think about this?

IMHO, I think it is the parents responsibility to monitor what books their children are taking out of the library, and so I generally do not support censorship for books. However, as I've often found as a parent, ideas that I have may not work in practice - my kids are still under the age of 7, so it is very easy for us to monitor what they are reading. I guess I hope that I can continue to have a dialogue with my kids as to why I am opposed to a book and to talk about it with my kids and let them form their own opinions.

[Sookie]

When I was a kid I would read anything and everything I could get my hands on - often without my parents permission. When I would visit my aunt's house I would always sneak upstairs to read her copies of True Story magazine. I'm pretty sure my mother would not have approved.

I guess what I'm trying to say is what leebee said so eloquently. I think one of the reasons I love to read is because I was never restricted but at the same time my parents taught me right from wrong and I knew when I was reading something that wasn't "real" or the characters were "bad".

I have traveled the world and been to the most exotic countries. I was with Fletcher Christian when he mutinied the Bounty. I have had my feet bound and was sold as a concubine. I died in my lover's arms. I am so thankful that my parents have always let me read.

[sneezles]

I have traveled the world and been to the most exotic countries. I was with Fletcher Christian when he mutinied the Bounty. I have had my feet bound and was sold as a concubine. I died in my lover's arms. I am so thankful that my parents have always let me read.

Very cool! :cool:

As someone who spent all her money on books as a child, as an adult who worked in a school library and the parent of 3 boys, I say let 'em read! What better way to develop a child's imagination and language?

[AvrilH]

I can't imagine the tiny little locked box my mind would be now if I had never read "inappropriate" or "un-Christian" or whatever else can be objected to stuff as I was growing up.

Nor can I fathom, as a parent, censoring my kids' literature! I simply make a point of talking to them about what they are reading. That way I know they get my perspective on the stuff they are thinking about.

[colleency]

Some of the books listed are children's books, and I wonder what others think about children having access to certain children's books that are, basically, garbage for their brains.

The problem with this line of thought is in who gets to decide. You choose to pull out the "Nightmare" books, then your neighbor decides that Captain Underpants is wrong and has that removed. My DSIL would have all of the Harry Potter books taken out, because it involves magic. Someone else has The Wizard of Oz books removed for the same reason.

Where does it stop? Who gets to decide?

[Julia1Pin]

I can still remember reading Sydney Sheldon and Danielle Steele at 9 and 10 years old. I love to read, and still read about 1 book/week.

Those books never made me want to have sex early, and if anything taught me to be a bit cynical (sp) about boys in regards to what they said/meant. They didn't "pollute" my mind or my soul. Thank G-d I have a mother who never censored me.