View Full Version : ALA Most Challenged Books of 2006
Polly
03-28-2007, 09:19 PM
Gotta love the American Library Association. They always do a fine job of letting us know which books are pissing off parents and school boards everywhere.
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/challengedbanned/challengedbanned.htm#mfcb
Is censorship OK? Oh, :hellno (I especially love the crazies who try and ban the "Harry Potter" series.:rolleyes saying it is satanic and popularized witchcraft in order to bring kids over to "dark side.:rofl )
Polly
I love the ALA, too.
Of the books on the list, I would say that I wouldn't be particularly thrilled with a daughter reading the "Gossip Girls" books, because the one I read just seemed like a very annoying celebration of shallowness and materialism, but sadly that doesn't seem to make the list of complaints parents had about it. I've never read "Scary Stories," so I can't comment on that one.
But I've either read the other books, or read others in the series they're a part of, and they're books I'd encourage my kids to read. I've had several students, when we do literacy narratives, point to The Perks of Being a Wallflower as a book that got them re-interested in reading as a teenager.
Polly
03-30-2007, 03:22 PM
Lori-Scary Storieslive up to their name. I read the first one when I was junior high and slept with a nightlight on for a couple of months. Know your kid.
BTW-since I don't remember how to private message (sorry Jo! re-train me!) I just wanted to say that I was cool with everything you said in the circ argument.
Polly
Thanks, Polly. I had no problem with anything you said, either. ;)
I think it's bizarre that Tango Makes Three is first on the list, considering that it's actually based on a true story. There were indeed two gay penguins who mated one season and "adopted" a baby. Like other penguins, they only mated for that one season, and I have no idea if they've continued to mate with male penguins or not, but it's a true story. I'm not sure what about it is offense unless the idea is that just acknowledging that homosexuality exists is offensive.
Jejune
03-30-2007, 07:02 PM
Gabriel loves Scary Stories. My mother (a librarian) gave him that one in a big old pile of books at his birthday. I can't comment on any of the others except Tango Makes Three, and Lori, I'd say you've hit the nail on the head. Remember when PBS had to pull the show that had a child with two mommies featured very briefly? There are parents who simply don't want their children to know that homosexuality exists. And honestly, while I think parents for the most part have a right to teach their children their values, I do not think they have any right to deny the existence of some groups of people just because they don't agree with them.
There are parents who simply don't want their children to know that homosexuality exists.
We have a lot of the same going on here, too...I remember in particular two particular furores occurring over a preschool aged tv show, Play School, having a "Through the Windows" feature on a girl who went to the amusement park with her two mothers (the through the windows segment is essentially little short films that show chunks of life through the eyes of children, and the makers try their hardest to show as many different types of children as they can.)
The other more recent one was a whole bunch of people kicking up a huge stink about the fact that a childcare centre was *shock, horror* reading the children stories about children growing up with same sex parents...and didn't the conservative politicians go off...the thing I found most amusing was that they were spouting off about the idea that they had to "protect the rights of the children"...when all the carrying on they were doing about it was essentially in contravention of the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child.
But back on topic, am I the only one who reads that list and wants to go buy all the books on the list for their kids specifically because they've been complained about? I have a lot of the books anyway, but still...
Polly
03-31-2007, 01:07 PM
No, most of the books are good reads. They've also been on the list for years and I had to read in as part of my Master's Degree in Ed classes. Not a bad way to spend a semester!
Polly
I tend to think that banned/challenged book lists make very good readings lists. They're usually very well-known works, because people don't bother to ban or protest little, unknown works, and they generally hit on important themes.
Erika
04-06-2007, 04:17 PM
I remember hearing about the PBS show, Kristen. It is so sad that a child and her family were denied because others refuse to acknowledge their existence. It is so aggravating that families are treated as second class citizens in this day and age due to small-mindedness and prejudice.
Will we ever learn?
CrazyLady
04-17-2007, 10:04 AM
But back on topic, am I the only one who reads that list and wants to go buy all the books on the list for their kids specifically because they've been complained about? I have a lot of the books anyway, but still...
I've started collecting them for Lily and I can't wait until she's old enough to start reading them.
gr8mommy
04-19-2007, 10:44 AM
I'm on the fence, again. :talker
I have no issue with books being challenged---just as with everything else, there are books that are approriate for children, and there are books that are not. It is everyone's right to ask a given library to justify making certain books easily available to children. That's why there are 'children's' sections and 'youth' sections and 'adult' rooms--and I don't mean XXX by adult.
I don't agree with banning them, however. I think all books should be available to anyone who wants them, or wishes to allow their children to read them. I'm not sure how to balance the one with the other in school libraries, as I believe it is the parents' choice and parents are not in the library to guide or approve their childrens' selections. Perhaps there should be a voluntary rating system---similar to movies---and parents can simply sign a permission slip stating which 'ratings' their children are permitted to check out? This would work quite easily in libraries with computerized systems.
eta: The show was Postcards from Buster, my kids saw it, and neither of them even noticed that the girl had two moms.
I think it's bizarre that Tango Makes Three is first on the list, considering that it's actually based on a true story. There were indeed two gay penguins who mated one season and "adopted" a baby. Like other penguins, they only mated for that one season, and I have no idea if they've continued to mate with male penguins or not, but it's a true story. I'm not sure what about it is offense unless the idea is that just acknowledging that homosexuality exists is offensive.
My daughter LOVES that book :)
And Roy and Silo, (the penguins) were actually together for 6 years, and raised an egg they were given by a zookeeper. They have since split up.
And I must admit, I think Toni Morrison is an amazing writer, but holy s*** she writes intensly! I would want to make sure she was able to handle them before I let my dauighter read those books. Beloved was a whopper!
I don't agree with banning them, however. I think all books should be available to anyone who wants them, or wishes to allow their children to read them. I'm not sure how to balance the one with the other in school libraries, as I believe it is the parents' choice and parents are not in the library to guide or approve their childrens' selections. Perhaps there should be a voluntary rating system---similar to movies---and parents can simply sign a permission slip stating which 'ratings' their children are permitted to check out? This would work quite easily in libraries with computerized systems.
I think that is a fine idea as that puts the control into the hands of the parents who I do think should be able to censor what their child reads.