Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #21




Thirteen Books on the 100th most challenged books list from 1990-2000 as compiled by The American Library Association!

In honor of Banned Book Week, I wanted to highlight just a small few of the most challenged books!

1. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
3. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
4. Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
6. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
7. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
9. Beloved by Toni Morrison
10. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
11. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
12. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
13. Carrie by Stephen King

And as a bonus--The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

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23 comments:

MsSnarkyPants said...

It astonishes and horrifies me that we have to have a week about banned books! I just don't get how other people think they can hide the truth about what goes on in the world just by keeping people from reading it. Don't get me wrong, I think everyone has the right to tell their own children what they can and cannot read, but don't come knocking at my door telling me my son isn't allowed to read a certain book! *deep breath* I'm better now. :-D Great list!

Anonymous said...

I shake my head every year when I see posts about banned books week. I don't get it! We don't have a banned books list over here in NZ.

Rhian said...

i'm with Shell, i just don't get it. I first picked up a Harry Potter book many many moons ago was because there was a huge outcry in the South for the book to be banned. Of course I had to read it and find out what the heck the hubbub was about. All I can say about those screaming for the banning (of any & all these books for that matter)... some people are soooooo narrow minded and lacking in creativity.

N.J.Walters said...

I agree with all of you. It's hard to comprehend someone wanting to ban a book, but it is an unfortunate reality.

Unknown said...

The funny thing is when I taught high school English, I taught at least three of those books to my students. This list always makes me cry. Thanks for sharing.

charleneteglia said...

I've read all of those except Beloved. I first came across Harry Potter because a friend who had kids was raving about it; her kids couldn't get enough of the books. There were I think 2 of them out at that time. I tried to reserve the first at the library and it had nine thousand holds ahead of me, so I bought it. And I was hooked.

I know people criticize the series, but my God, it turned an entire generation into devoted readers. JK Rowling ought to be canonized for that alone.

Lisa Andel said...

A Wrinkle in Time? You have got to be kidding me. What is wrong with people?

Tempest Knight said...

Amazing what some people think to censure.

Anonymous said...

It's interesting to see what books you've listed from the banned books.

My daughters have friends who's parents won't let them read Harry Potter for religious reasons. I don't understand.

N.J.Walters said...

I was lucky enough to go to a school that didn't seem to ban books, Christine. I read The Outsiders and Go Ask Alice in junior high, along with a bunch more "challenged" or "banned" books.

N.J.Walters said...

Exactly, Charli. The Harry Potter series has turned a huge number of kids on to reading. And that can only be good IMO!

N.J.Walters said...

Some of the books on the list made me shake my head, Lisa. I mean, To Kill a Mockingbird. That's a classic!

That's the truth, Tempest. Problem with censorship is that you'll always find someone who doesn't agree with your perspective. Doesn't matter what the book is.

It's sad, Lorilei, but I respect a parents' right to limit their own children's reading. What I can't abide, is them wanting to control what other children are allowed to read.

LA Day said...

It's a shame to have banned books. I think it should be an individual choice.

Anyway, it's an awesome list. I've read most of them.

N.J.Walters said...

It really should be an individual choice, LA. That's what living in a democracy is all about.

Moondancer said...

They can ban them all they like we'll just keep reading them!

http://moondancerdrake.livejournal.com/

N.J.Walters said...

And that's the truth, Moondancer!

Ann Aguirre said...

I've read about half of those. People get very uptight over nothing, don't they?

N.J.Walters said...

If people spent all that energy on something more constructive, who knows what we could accomplish, Ann.

Anonymous said...

Hey! Great minds think alike. This was my topic choice for the week, too.

Happy TT and keep reading those books.

Mechele Armstrong said...

You and I had similiar ideas today LOL. Great list.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for another list on the Banned/Challenged books. We can't have enough info out there on what's happening to books every day.

~X

Carrie Lofty said...

Isn't it amazing what great books people get so terribly worked up about? Thx for the congrats on Ann's blog -- I appreciate it!

N.J.Walters said...

Hey Elisa and Michele. I think a lot of us chose this topic this week.

Zakara and Carrie, thanks for dropping by my TT.