Each year, the last week of September is Banned Books Week. It is a chance for you to celebrate your freedom to read, as well as remember the importance of our country's First Amendment, which includes the freedoms of expression and religion, among other freedoms. Another purpose of Banned Books Week is to draw attention to books that have been challenged in the past and also encourage people to read them.
The American Library Association (ALA) lists the most challenged books from the last 20 years. Here's a partial list in alphabetical order by title, as well as their location in the Santa Clara City Library:
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain [Adult; Juvenile Fiction]And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson [Juvenile Picture Book]
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson [Juvenile Fiction]
Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey [Juvenile Fiction]
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger [Adult; Teen Fiction]
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler [Teen Fiction]
The Giver by Lois Lowry [Juvenile Fiction]
Goosebumps (series) by R.L. Stine [Juvenile Fiction]
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling [Juvenile Fiction]
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl [Juvenile Fiction]
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor [Juvenile Fiction]
Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz [Juvenile Nonfiction]
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee [Adult; Teen Fiction]
TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series) by Lauren Myracle [Teen Fiction]
Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer [Teen Fiction]
Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher [Teen Fiction]
Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford [Juvenile Picture Book]
According to ALA's website, "Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress."
Get help from a Youth Services Librarian if you want to find more Banned Books!
Posted by ws
