I found this article as I was perusing google, killing time. I’m actually angry about this. Read it and tell me what your think.
Published on CBC
Monday, April 13, 2015
Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian was the book most targeted for censorship in schools and libraries last year, according to the American Library Association (ALA).
The ALA, which tracks attempts to remove or restrict books deemed too controversial, released its list of the top 10 most challenged and complained-about books.
Alexie's YA novel explores poverty, alcoholism and bullying, and contains strong language. One of the most common complaints was that the book was not suitable for the age group.
Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novel about living through Iran's Islamic Revolution Persepolis was the second most contested book last year, with some contending that the book was "politically, racially, and socially offensive."
The third most complained-about book was And Tango Makes Three, the illustrated kids' book by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. It was based on the true story of a same-sex pair of penguins who raise a chick. The book was deemed by its detractors to be "anti-family" and promoted "the homosexual agenda," according to the ALA.
Here's the full top 10 list:
• 1) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
• 2) Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
• 3) And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
• 4) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
• 5) It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
• 6) Saga by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples
• 7) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• 8) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• 9) A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
• 10) Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Below is an infographic that lists 30 books you may be surprised to learn have battled attempts at censorship in Canada. The image below clicks through to a larger version.
What are you thoughst on this? I am personally apauled.
"Anit-family" and protomts "the homosexual agenda"? The hell is that? Are we still doing that, thinking that being homosexual is something that can be taught, really?
You are borne the way you are, and that's it. No matter whom you love, how you love, in the grand scram of things we are all the same. Just skin and bones, and guess what, when we die, we're all going to decompose the same way, and be nothing but bones. This is ridicules.
"Alexie's YA novel explores poverty, alcoholism and bullying, and contains strong language. One of the most common complaints was that the book was not suitable for the age group." - So we can't let teens read about what is actually happening to some people? Oh god… strong language, believe me teens swear, no if's and or buts. But you'll let them read 50 Shades of Gray? Or Game of Thrones? Oh wait that's fiction...
I can't get my head around it. I understand sheltering kids, as in 12 an under. But once you hit the teens, there should be lessons in reality, because in five short years that's where they're going to be.
This is stupid, it really is.
Tell me what you think, are your for it or agents it. As you can tell, I’m fully, whole heartily, agents it.
I don't get it either. If you don't feel comfortable reading something or want your children to read it then don't. But to go so far as to promote the removal of the book(s) from the library and so on. That's too much and most times I think they're just making a mountain out of a molehill. Or that they're focused so much on what they find wrong with it, negative that they gloss over and don't see the positive. I've read some of the books on the infographic and as a parent I have no problem letting my son read The Giver and Harry Potter right now. But I'll wait until he's a little older to read Huckleberry Finn.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child, I was encouraged to read, (I hated reading as a child). I read the Giver in grade seven, I found nothing wrong with it then and I re-read it a few years ago, you know to see if it was as good as I remember, and again, there's nothing in there that needs to be censored.
DeleteMost of the books on that list, (Canadian one) I've read going through middle and high school. Lord of the Flies,(didn’t like it, found it boring) To Kill A Mockingbird, and Catcher and The Raye. I don't know why these books are on there. All I can think of is that they do, in some ways, reflect real life. And that seems to be a problem.
It’s like anything, just because you (not you Lidy, you're cool, I'm talking about the masses) don't approve, doesn't mean it should be banned, because you believe it should be so. We aren't robots.
I hope your son likes The Giver; it was and still a favourite book of mine.
The Percy Jackson series is awesome as well. Xp..
Cheers
I don't understand the mass banning of any book. A book is either appealing, or it isn't, and really banning it just makes me want to read it so I can see what all the fuss is about. I agree that there is a shortage of life lessons being given by parents and schools, and if teens can't find them in books then where are they supposed to get them? Reality tv? Do we as parents REALLY want our kids to grow up with lessons on how to be out of control and attention seeking?
ReplyDelete