We’re half way through Banned Books Week now and we hope you’re getting involved and rebelliously reading at least one challenged text, or adding it to your TBR! The event is celebrated worldwide but is promoted by the American Libraries Association (ALA) who condemns censorship around the world and keeps records of books challenged and banned in the USA.
We’ve looked at the most challenged books of the last twelve months, and now I’m taking a look over this century, from 2001 to 2015 to bring you the most controversial book of each year. As you’ll see, bannings often reflect trends and social constructs and they change each year, highlighting hot issues of the year.
2015
Looking for Alaska – John Green
Reasons: Offensive Language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
2014
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian – Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs, alcohol, smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence, depictions of bullying
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian US
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian UK
2013/2012
Captain Underpants – Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive Language, unsuited for age group, violence
2011
ttyl; ttfn; 18r, g8r (series) – Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group.
2010
And Tango Makes Three – Peter Parnell, Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group.
2009
ttyl; ttfn; 18r, g8r (series) – Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group.
2008/2007/2006
And Tango Makes Three – Peter Parnell, Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group.
2005
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing up, Sex and Sexual Health – Robie H. Harris
Reasons: Abortion, homosexuality, nudity, religious viewpoint, sex education, unsuited to age group
2004
The Chocolate War – Robert Cormier
Reasons: Offensive Language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence.
2003
Alice (series) – Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: Sexual content, offensive language, unsuited to age group
2002/2001
Harry Potter series – J. K Rowling
Reasons: Occult, Satanism, violence
I have to say, this entire list is disheartening to say the least. What a tragic state of affairs when some of these books received upwards of 300 challenges in schools and libraries across America IN THE 21ST CENTURY! (yes I shouted that bit)
Do you really think that a gay penguin is going to corrupt your children, or that children learning about their biology is harmful some how? And all that before Harry turns your kids into devil worshippers.
I’m speechless.
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