Happy Banned Books Week!
Sep. 26th, 2005 01:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lls_mutantI am definitely a reader. I have been since I was a kid. In fact, I am the only kid I know whose parents told them to STOP reading and come watch TV. And no, my parents weren't the villians in Matilda- in fact, my mom teaches 5th grade and laments how little kids read. I just read THAT MUCH.
Book banning is one of those things I just find dumb. If you have a real vested interest in what your kids are learning, read the book with them. Talk about it. But more than that, I'd rather see books banned because they're dumb or condensending or Barney-esque, not because of silly reasons. If you're going to ban something, ban those really bad readers that make kids despise reading because the stories are stupid. Don't ban the good stuff.
Anyway, I felt like making a commentary today; so here's my commentary on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000. I skipped a lot of them, because I either haven't read them or didn't have something to say. But if you have comments, please discuss!
4.) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier. Wow. This has to be one of the most intense YA books I've ever read, and has a powerful- and realistic- message about conformity. This was one of my favorite books as a teenager, because I could identify with it in so many ways. Not the secret societies and that boxing match at the end, but the loneliness and the lack of social acceptence because you don't fit in and you don't care to make the effort to, because it's not who you are. I hand this off to every single youth group kid I can.
5.) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Does anyone know for sure why this is banned? I forget, to be honest. It's not in my top YA books, but I never got any controversial ideas from it!
6.) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Eh. I almost want to agree with this, because I despise Steinbeck. But I despise censorship even more.
I still think he's one of the most boring writers known to man though.
7.) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. Well, we all know I love the series, so it seems silly to even comment. But I'm going to make a comment here that echoes through the whole list.
The thing about some of these books- and it is very evident in Harry Potter, which does have some elements I'd be wary of a 6 or 7 year old reading, is that they have a built in mechanism, and that's the ability of the child to read and understand. Would I want my 6 year old reading Harry Potter? No. Not because of the magic (which is a reason I find silly), but because of teenagers being murdered and teachers torturing students and killing Headmasters and all sorts of stuff- it's just too intense for a 6 year old. However, will my 6 year old be able to pick up Harry Potter and read it? No. See? Instant defense.
Even as kids get older, you have to ask how much will a mind that's too young be willing to read it? A lot of my junior high kids couldn't make it through Order of the Phoenix because they found the politics too heavy. Same with, for example, The Chocolate Wars. By the time you get to the really objectionable part, the kids that don't have the maturity to deal with it have long since lost interest.
Of course, this is simplistic and generalizing and all that. But it's also often true.
19.) Sex by Madonna. I've read parts of this. Certainly wouldn't want elementary school kids reading it, and I might really be concerned about letting a high school kid read it. But it would depend on how old my kid was. I DO remember watching Madonna's "Justify My Love" video in one of my English classes in 11th grade, and discussing the media and the public's reaction to it. It was a mature discussion, and actually stuck with me, which is saying more than most lessons.
22.) A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Um, this is contested WHY? I suspect it has something to do with religion and creationism or whatever, but this is another I've read to rags. Want a strong female character in YA literature? Meg. I love Meg.
23.) Go Ask Alice by Anonymous. Obviously, the people who contest this never read the whole book the whole way through. Yes, there's drug use. And you know what? It ruins the girl's life and she dies from an overdose at the end. I am SO giving this book to my kids to read, because it's the most honest and clear account of drug use I've ever read, and it sure helped turn me off of drugs. The book stuck with me, and although I haven't read it in years, I still think of it often.
28.) The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein. I don't know who's contesting this or what the circumstances are, but I wanted to comment on the opposite sides. There ARE books I certianly don't feel are appropriate for classroom reading. Our health classes should teach the basics of sex and everything there is to know about protection and STDs, but I don't think they should be teaching the hows of blow jobs or anything like that. However, kids are curious. Having The Joy of Sex around isn't necessarily a bad thing, at least in a high school library. See, the thing is, when you're 16 and wondering, who do you ask about sex? Your parents? Um, NO. If you're lucky, you might have an older sibling or cousin- I learned a LOT from my cousin, and told a lot to my sister. But even that can be embarrassing. Books are good, and I'd rather see my kid get facts from a book that is actually reputable and addresses consequences as well than a bad romance novel or a porno movie or whatever. And if you're a gay teen, I can see where you REALLY wouldn't want to ask. That's HARD. But I can also understand why parents aren't thrilled about the idea of schools having the books.
32.) Blubber by Judy Blume. Rather than banning it, every kid in the in crowd should be forced to read this.
40.) What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras. I haven't read this, but I would bet that the people who want this banned are the same people that believe epidurals go against God's plan because women are supposed to experience pain in childbirth because of Adam and Eve.
41.) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. One of the ONLY books I was required to read and did, and also enjoyed. One of the best books ever written. And really, the whole sex/rape thing? Went right over my head in ninth grade. It might not these days, but really- kids- both genders- should know ALL the facts about rape. Sad but true. Including what can happen when you falsely accuse someone of it.
42.) Beloved by Toni Morrison. See my comments about John Steinbeck.
43.) The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Another one of those rare books I was required to read and loved. And you know, I just reread it for the first time in years the other day, and I was very surprised at how frank and accepting Ponyboy was in talking about crime. Certain things he just accepted as the norm, like lifting hubcaps and shoplifting. But you know, that wasn't what caught my attention when I read it as a kid. What caught my attention was the story of Johnny killing the Soc in defense, and then the ramifications, and the runaway, and the rumble... Ponyboy's attitude never stuck out to me until I read it as an adult. It certainly didn't make me want to start shoplifting or carrying a blade.
53.) Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice) Okay. THIS I've read, and this I certainly don't want my kids reading in school. It's basically an encyclopedia of perversions- sort of like the Marquis de Sade's works, really. However, do I think people should be banned from printing it? No. (Like I said, I've read it. In college.) I just think this is one of those times where you either have to think for yourself, or be a parent and monitor your daughter's reading material (because most guys aren't going near this one.)
56.) James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. My FAVORITE author as a kid. It baffles me why anyone would ever want to ban Roald Dahl. Seriously.
57.) The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell. This is the first one where I almost can see the point. But y'know what? Write it up in a less controversial way, and you can find almost all the information here in scientific journals or mechanics magazines or political science theses. It's all in the presentation. If people want the information in here, there's other ways to get it.
58.) Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy. By now we know my opinion on sex ed books. I just wanted to point out this is the first time we see one directed at boys in this list. The boys' version of growing up and body changes does check in at number 61.
62.) Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. Do you have ANY idea of how many puberty questions this book answered for me?????? It was invaluable. Every pre-teen girl should read this, even if some of the info is way out of date (like the pads are still the belted type!)
70.) Lord of the Flies by William Golding. You know, pre-teen and early teen kids LOVE gore. It's a surefire way to actually get them to read. And doesn't it occur to anyone that this is basically now sanctioned a "Survivor"? Let's have some consistent standards, people.
77.) Carrie by Stephen King. The one Stephen King book I've read, and another one I think every "in crowd" kid should read. Although I will concede that the supposed Readers' Digest excerpts make it even creepier!
Wow. There's a lot of books on this list I haven't read. And boy, does this crowd hate Robert Cormier!
I can understand being concerned about what your kids read in school. I really can. But challenging or banning books because they are sexually explicit, have offensive language, or are unsuitable for the age group.... The thing is, kids NEED to learn about sex. They hear offensive language. And what I consider suitable for my six year old might not be what you consider suitable- and maybe with good reason. I could see being able to read Lord of the Rings with one kid by the time he's 8 or 9, but where that might give another child nightmares or just not interest them.
Anyway, I just felt like procrastinating and commenting on banned books, and now I'm going to go back out to my lab and do my work and read Atlas Shrugged, which amazingly did not make the list at all.
Book banning is one of those things I just find dumb. If you have a real vested interest in what your kids are learning, read the book with them. Talk about it. But more than that, I'd rather see books banned because they're dumb or condensending or Barney-esque, not because of silly reasons. If you're going to ban something, ban those really bad readers that make kids despise reading because the stories are stupid. Don't ban the good stuff.
Anyway, I felt like making a commentary today; so here's my commentary on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000. I skipped a lot of them, because I either haven't read them or didn't have something to say. But if you have comments, please discuss!
4.) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier. Wow. This has to be one of the most intense YA books I've ever read, and has a powerful- and realistic- message about conformity. This was one of my favorite books as a teenager, because I could identify with it in so many ways. Not the secret societies and that boxing match at the end, but the loneliness and the lack of social acceptence because you don't fit in and you don't care to make the effort to, because it's not who you are. I hand this off to every single youth group kid I can.
5.) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Does anyone know for sure why this is banned? I forget, to be honest. It's not in my top YA books, but I never got any controversial ideas from it!
6.) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Eh. I almost want to agree with this, because I despise Steinbeck. But I despise censorship even more.
I still think he's one of the most boring writers known to man though.
7.) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. Well, we all know I love the series, so it seems silly to even comment. But I'm going to make a comment here that echoes through the whole list.
The thing about some of these books- and it is very evident in Harry Potter, which does have some elements I'd be wary of a 6 or 7 year old reading, is that they have a built in mechanism, and that's the ability of the child to read and understand. Would I want my 6 year old reading Harry Potter? No. Not because of the magic (which is a reason I find silly), but because of teenagers being murdered and teachers torturing students and killing Headmasters and all sorts of stuff- it's just too intense for a 6 year old. However, will my 6 year old be able to pick up Harry Potter and read it? No. See? Instant defense.
Even as kids get older, you have to ask how much will a mind that's too young be willing to read it? A lot of my junior high kids couldn't make it through Order of the Phoenix because they found the politics too heavy. Same with, for example, The Chocolate Wars. By the time you get to the really objectionable part, the kids that don't have the maturity to deal with it have long since lost interest.
Of course, this is simplistic and generalizing and all that. But it's also often true.
19.) Sex by Madonna. I've read parts of this. Certainly wouldn't want elementary school kids reading it, and I might really be concerned about letting a high school kid read it. But it would depend on how old my kid was. I DO remember watching Madonna's "Justify My Love" video in one of my English classes in 11th grade, and discussing the media and the public's reaction to it. It was a mature discussion, and actually stuck with me, which is saying more than most lessons.
22.) A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Um, this is contested WHY? I suspect it has something to do with religion and creationism or whatever, but this is another I've read to rags. Want a strong female character in YA literature? Meg. I love Meg.
23.) Go Ask Alice by Anonymous. Obviously, the people who contest this never read the whole book the whole way through. Yes, there's drug use. And you know what? It ruins the girl's life and she dies from an overdose at the end. I am SO giving this book to my kids to read, because it's the most honest and clear account of drug use I've ever read, and it sure helped turn me off of drugs. The book stuck with me, and although I haven't read it in years, I still think of it often.
28.) The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein. I don't know who's contesting this or what the circumstances are, but I wanted to comment on the opposite sides. There ARE books I certianly don't feel are appropriate for classroom reading. Our health classes should teach the basics of sex and everything there is to know about protection and STDs, but I don't think they should be teaching the hows of blow jobs or anything like that. However, kids are curious. Having The Joy of Sex around isn't necessarily a bad thing, at least in a high school library. See, the thing is, when you're 16 and wondering, who do you ask about sex? Your parents? Um, NO. If you're lucky, you might have an older sibling or cousin- I learned a LOT from my cousin, and told a lot to my sister. But even that can be embarrassing. Books are good, and I'd rather see my kid get facts from a book that is actually reputable and addresses consequences as well than a bad romance novel or a porno movie or whatever. And if you're a gay teen, I can see where you REALLY wouldn't want to ask. That's HARD. But I can also understand why parents aren't thrilled about the idea of schools having the books.
32.) Blubber by Judy Blume. Rather than banning it, every kid in the in crowd should be forced to read this.
40.) What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras. I haven't read this, but I would bet that the people who want this banned are the same people that believe epidurals go against God's plan because women are supposed to experience pain in childbirth because of Adam and Eve.
41.) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. One of the ONLY books I was required to read and did, and also enjoyed. One of the best books ever written. And really, the whole sex/rape thing? Went right over my head in ninth grade. It might not these days, but really- kids- both genders- should know ALL the facts about rape. Sad but true. Including what can happen when you falsely accuse someone of it.
42.) Beloved by Toni Morrison. See my comments about John Steinbeck.
43.) The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Another one of those rare books I was required to read and loved. And you know, I just reread it for the first time in years the other day, and I was very surprised at how frank and accepting Ponyboy was in talking about crime. Certain things he just accepted as the norm, like lifting hubcaps and shoplifting. But you know, that wasn't what caught my attention when I read it as a kid. What caught my attention was the story of Johnny killing the Soc in defense, and then the ramifications, and the runaway, and the rumble... Ponyboy's attitude never stuck out to me until I read it as an adult. It certainly didn't make me want to start shoplifting or carrying a blade.
53.) Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice) Okay. THIS I've read, and this I certainly don't want my kids reading in school. It's basically an encyclopedia of perversions- sort of like the Marquis de Sade's works, really. However, do I think people should be banned from printing it? No. (Like I said, I've read it. In college.) I just think this is one of those times where you either have to think for yourself, or be a parent and monitor your daughter's reading material (because most guys aren't going near this one.)
56.) James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. My FAVORITE author as a kid. It baffles me why anyone would ever want to ban Roald Dahl. Seriously.
57.) The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell. This is the first one where I almost can see the point. But y'know what? Write it up in a less controversial way, and you can find almost all the information here in scientific journals or mechanics magazines or political science theses. It's all in the presentation. If people want the information in here, there's other ways to get it.
58.) Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy. By now we know my opinion on sex ed books. I just wanted to point out this is the first time we see one directed at boys in this list. The boys' version of growing up and body changes does check in at number 61.
62.) Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. Do you have ANY idea of how many puberty questions this book answered for me?????? It was invaluable. Every pre-teen girl should read this, even if some of the info is way out of date (like the pads are still the belted type!)
70.) Lord of the Flies by William Golding. You know, pre-teen and early teen kids LOVE gore. It's a surefire way to actually get them to read. And doesn't it occur to anyone that this is basically now sanctioned a "Survivor"? Let's have some consistent standards, people.
77.) Carrie by Stephen King. The one Stephen King book I've read, and another one I think every "in crowd" kid should read. Although I will concede that the supposed Readers' Digest excerpts make it even creepier!
Wow. There's a lot of books on this list I haven't read. And boy, does this crowd hate Robert Cormier!
I can understand being concerned about what your kids read in school. I really can. But challenging or banning books because they are sexually explicit, have offensive language, or are unsuitable for the age group.... The thing is, kids NEED to learn about sex. They hear offensive language. And what I consider suitable for my six year old might not be what you consider suitable- and maybe with good reason. I could see being able to read Lord of the Rings with one kid by the time he's 8 or 9, but where that might give another child nightmares or just not interest them.
Anyway, I just felt like procrastinating and commenting on banned books, and now I'm going to go back out to my lab and do my work and read Atlas Shrugged, which amazingly did not make the list at all.
