Banned Books Week

This week was Banned Books week. I'm finally getting around to writing, as things have just been really hectic lately.

I picked up The Chocolate War from the library, and I'm hoping to crack it open tonight.

I also wanted to post this list:

The 10 most challenged books of 2007 reflect a range of themes, and are:

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language
The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
TTYL, by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit
It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Books have always been an important part of my life. Wherever I have lived, I have frequented my local library, and those of you that know me, know my love of bookstores (and bringing home something from there...)

This is also an interesting source - it gives a list of challenged novels in the 20th century, and talks about where they were challenged and why they were challenged. I have to say, I don't necessarily agree with everything that every book has written in it, but I think to challenge any book and not allow it to be accessible to the public is a great travesty. People should be able to read what they want, and make up their minds as to what is appropriate for their own family. Parents should be involved and read along with their children.

Many books were written in different times, and context must be taken into account, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Only by opening our minds to different viewpoints can we truly understand our world.