Celebrate your American rights to read this week
In the U.S., every day we are able to celebrate the freedom of speech, of religion, of the press and the right to assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances.
This week, schools, bookstores and libraries around the country will celebrate the freedom to read with exhibits, readings and special events during national Banned Books Week, Sept. 23-30.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Banned Books Week.
According to the American Library Association, more than a book a day faces expulsion from free and open public access in U.S. schools and libraries every year. Sexually explicit material, racism, offensive language, violence, promotion of homosexual themes, religious viewpoints and anti-family sentiment are just a few reasons books are challenged or banned.
"Started in 1982, the Banned Book Week celebration acts as a reminder that although all books might not be suitable for everyone, we each have a right in our country to decide what to read, listen or view," said Incline resident and www.NorthTahoeLiving.com "good reads" columnist Barbara Perlman Whyman. The Incline Village Library celebrates with an exhibit of books deemed inappropriate from different periods of time and locations all over the country. The display, so far, has been the most interactive display this year, said Incline Village Library programming and youth services librarian Amy Levy.
"The Incline Village Library follows the American Library Association's position for the freedom to read," Levy said. "This week with our annual interactive book display, we are celebrating that right. It is curiosity that drives people to look at these banned books. Someone at some point in time tried to limit their freedom (as an American), and take their right away from reading these books.
"The idea is we don't consciously negate books because of a certain view point," Levy said. "We always buy several copies of the Harry Potter series because its one of the most popular children's books. That has been on the banned reading list for years. We try to give a variety of viewpoints and style in our selection. We give people what they want in reading."
The American Library Association complied a list of the most challenged books of the 21st century. The Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling, ranked at No. 1 and "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier was second.
Books are challenged or banned with the best intentions - to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information, ALA sources said. However banning books dates back to B.C.E. where different kinds of people and groups try to conceal knowledge, and to this day, continue to attempt to suppress anything that conflicts with their own beliefs.
"Nobody should be the judge and jury over what an individual should read," said Incline resident and library advocate Norman Rosenberg. "Except parents should always exert control over what their child reads, but never on the friends of their child. I hate when anyone tells me what not to read."
This week we are reminded not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted, and celebrate the freedom to read.
This week, schools, bookstores and libraries around the country will celebrate the freedom to read with exhibits, readings and special events during national Banned Books Week, Sept. 23-30.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Banned Books Week.
According to the American Library Association, more than a book a day faces expulsion from free and open public access in U.S. schools and libraries every year. Sexually explicit material, racism, offensive language, violence, promotion of homosexual themes, religious viewpoints and anti-family sentiment are just a few reasons books are challenged or banned.
"Started in 1982, the Banned Book Week celebration acts as a reminder that although all books might not be suitable for everyone, we each have a right in our country to decide what to read, listen or view," said Incline resident and www.NorthTahoeLiving.com "good reads" columnist Barbara Perlman Whyman. The Incline Village Library celebrates with an exhibit of books deemed inappropriate from different periods of time and locations all over the country. The display, so far, has been the most interactive display this year, said Incline Village Library programming and youth services librarian Amy Levy.
"The Incline Village Library follows the American Library Association's position for the freedom to read," Levy said. "This week with our annual interactive book display, we are celebrating that right. It is curiosity that drives people to look at these banned books. Someone at some point in time tried to limit their freedom (as an American), and take their right away from reading these books.
"The idea is we don't consciously negate books because of a certain view point," Levy said. "We always buy several copies of the Harry Potter series because its one of the most popular children's books. That has been on the banned reading list for years. We try to give a variety of viewpoints and style in our selection. We give people what they want in reading."
The American Library Association complied a list of the most challenged books of the 21st century. The Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling, ranked at No. 1 and "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier was second.
Books are challenged or banned with the best intentions - to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information, ALA sources said. However banning books dates back to B.C.E. where different kinds of people and groups try to conceal knowledge, and to this day, continue to attempt to suppress anything that conflicts with their own beliefs.
"Nobody should be the judge and jury over what an individual should read," said Incline resident and library advocate Norman Rosenberg. "Except parents should always exert control over what their child reads, but never on the friends of their child. I hate when anyone tells me what not to read."
This week we are reminded not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted, and celebrate the freedom to read.
The ALA "10 Most Challenged Books in 2005" -
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received a total of 405 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.
- "It's Perfectly Normal" for homosexuality, nudity, sex education, religious viewpoint, abortion and being unsuited to age group;
- "Forever" by Judy Blume for sexual content and offensive language;
- "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger for sexual content, offensive language and being unsuited to age group;
- "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content and offensive language;
- "Whale Talk" by Chris Crutcher for racism and offensive language;
- "Detour for Emmy" by Marilyn Reynolds for sexual content;
- "What My Mother Doesn't Know" by Sonya Sones for sexual content and being unsuited to age group;
- Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey for anti-family content, being unsuited to age group and violence;
- "Crazy Lady!" by Jane Leslie Conly for offensive language; and
- "It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families" by Robie H. Harris for sex education and sexual content.
Off the list for 2005, but on for several years past, are the Alice series of books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.
To find out what other books are currently banned or challenged this year visit http://www.abffe.org/bbw-booklist-detailed.htm
ALA "2005 Most Frequently Challenged Authors":
- Judy Blume, author of "Blubber," "Forever," and "Deenie"
- Robert Cormier, author of "The Chocolate War" and "We All Fall Down"
- Chris Crutcher, author of "Whale Talk" and "The Sledding Hill"
- Robie Harris, author of "It's Perfectly Normal and It's So Amazing!"
- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, author of the Alice series
- "It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families" by Robie H. Harris for sex education and sexual content.
Off the list for 2005, but on for several years past, are the Alice series of books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.
To find out what other books are currently banned or challenged this year visit http://www.abffe.org/bbw-booklist-detailed.htm
ALA "2005 Most Frequently Challenged Authors":
- Judy Blume, author of "Blubber," "Forever," and "Deenie"
- Robert Cormier, author of "The Chocolate War" and "We All Fall Down"
- Chris Crutcher, author of "Whale Talk" and "The Sledding Hill"
- Robie Harris, author of "It's Perfectly Normal and It's So Amazing!"
- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, author of the Alice series
- Toni Morrison, author of "The Bluest Eye, Beloved and Song of Solomon"
- J. D. Sallinger, author of "The Catcher in the Rye"
- Lois Lowry, author of "The Giver"
- Marilyn Reynolds, author of "Detour for Emmy"
- Sonya Sones, author of "What My Mother Doesn't Know"
Example book challenge cases:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In 2005 an eighth grader from Stanford Middle School in California spearheaded a campaign to remove Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from his classroom. He was uncomfortable with the use of racial slurs. In protest, he wore a shirt to school emblazoned with some of the racial epithets from the book. He was asked to cover his shirt. The book was taken under review of the school district and was kept in the classroom.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
A parent of a Noble High School student in North Berwick, Maine objected to the lewd content of The Catcher in the Rye and asked that it be removed from her son's classroom. The parent who brought the challenge expressed a desire for more cooperation between the school and parents in the book selection process. The book was retained by a 7 Ð 1 vote from the school board.
- J. D. Sallinger, author of "The Catcher in the Rye"
- Lois Lowry, author of "The Giver"
- Marilyn Reynolds, author of "Detour for Emmy"
- Sonya Sones, author of "What My Mother Doesn't Know"
Example book challenge cases:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In 2005 an eighth grader from Stanford Middle School in California spearheaded a campaign to remove Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from his classroom. He was uncomfortable with the use of racial slurs. In protest, he wore a shirt to school emblazoned with some of the racial epithets from the book. He was asked to cover his shirt. The book was taken under review of the school district and was kept in the classroom.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
A parent of a Noble High School student in North Berwick, Maine objected to the lewd content of The Catcher in the Rye and asked that it be removed from her son's classroom. The parent who brought the challenge expressed a desire for more cooperation between the school and parents in the book selection process. The book was retained by a 7 Ð 1 vote from the school board.
