Hello all! I can’t believe it’s already time for Banned Books Week! This year is flying! For those of you that don’t know what it is, here’s what www.ala.org has to say:
“Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”
I don’t believe in censorship and I believe that everyone should be allowed to read what they want. If you don’t agree with a particular book’s message, then don’t read it! In honor of the week I thought that I’d list some of my favorite banned books.
In no particular order:
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
2. The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison
3. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
4. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
5. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
6. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
7. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
8. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
9. Push by Sapphire
10. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
11. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
12. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Did not read, but it’s on my list. I was shocked to find it on the list.)
As Banned Books Week comes to a close, I hope we all celebrate our freedom to read.
Some of the reasons these books were banned don't even bear thinking about now. I heard recently that even Grapes of Wrath was banned at some time because of the picture it painted of American society. Long live freedom of speech and freedom to write what's in our hearts!
Denise