It’s Banned Books Week. This is the week set aside by the American Library Association to celebrate the fact that, in our country, only your parents can tell you that you can’t read a book.
Although books are not banned outright by the government, there are times when an individual will question whether a book should be included in a library’s collection. The American Library Association keeps track of these challenges to books. About a year ago, Paste Magazine ran an article based on the 100 most frequently challenged books from 1990-2000. They shortened the list to 10 Frequently-Challenged Books Everyone Should Read, which should give you a slightly new appreciation for some of your required reading. I’ve read 8. How many have you read?
10. Anything by Judy Blume
9. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
8. Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Patterson
7. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
6. Native Son by Richard Wright
5. Lord of the Flies by Richard Golding
4. The Giver by Lois Lowry
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
1. The Cather in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Many of these books, and others that have been challenged are on display in the library. Come on up and check one out (after you’ve cleared it with your folks).
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