The American Library Association celebrates the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week with this poster and other fun products. Purchase them here: http://bit.ly/O19Z
Banned Books Week is one of my favorite celebrations of the year—an important reminder that we shouldn’t take our freedom to read for granted. This year marks the 30th celebration of the week.
According to the American Library Association, “Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community . . . in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”
Check out this list to see the “most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century.” It’s fascinating to look at these graphs detailing the specifics of challenged books. For example, from the years 1990-2010, the most number of challenges were in 1995. During that time frame the most common reason for challenges was “sexually explicit content,” followed by “offensive language.” Most challenges were by parents.
One of my favorite features of my local library growing up (CALS, represent!) was the library-distributed bookmark listing names of banned books. Of course, the fact that the books had been banned at one point only increased my interest in reading these subversive titles. And I appreciated that I could get them for free at the library.
Here’s another thought for you to consider during Banned Books Week. Reading is educational and fun, and it can be hard to understand why anybody would want to limit our access to good books. But as Barbara Kingsolver says, fiction is political. Here’s an explanation in her own words, which I love:
Fiction cultivates empathy for a theoretical stranger by putting you inside his head, allowing you to experience life from his point of view. It can broaden your view of gender, ethnicity, place and time, power and vulnerability, things that influence social interaction. What could be more political than that?
. . . and that’s why it’s so important for “controversial” books to remain available to all readers. The ALA has resources for how you can be an advocate for the libraries that provide the books you love to read. Visit the Legislative Action Center for more information.
To enter to win 30 banned books (in eBook form), visit Open Road Media’s Banned Books Week website. Also, enjoy this video of authors talking about censured books:
Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Banned Books Week?
If I don’t approve of the content of a book, I can choose not to read it and/or choose not to allow my child(ren) to read it. If the school calls for that book as part of its curriculum, I can (probably) negotiate with the school to allow my child to read something else instead. Therefore, it is unnecessary to ban books. But more important is the frightening reality that banning books is a way of cutting people off from information “they” (whoever “they” are – government, for example) don’t want “us” to have. If we are ignorant, we are much more easily herded. Let us not go into the double-plus ungood world Orwell so well described (in a bannable book!) without resistance!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Mary! We totally agree.
I agree with Mary 100%…I wish I could have stated my thoughts that clearly!
I I agree with both Mary and Jane!
I agree with the above comments. I get really upset and aggravated when a small group (always small) of people attempt to dictate what reading choices are for the masses. The logic is very simple, as Mary stated: if you don’t like a book, don’t read it, but don’t try to take the pleasure away from someone else.
I don’t think any book SHOULD be banned, however, I think there should be discretion when giving certain books to children. But that’s a choice that we’re allowed to make, and that kids should have input in making as well, depending on their age. And yes, I also agree with Mary!