TAX-ing
Thank goodness for electronic filing. We met the deadline yesterday at the accountant's office. Taxes filed. Now we wait for the return. After we got back to the house, I settled in for some work at the computer. This was the first link on Twitter and Facebook: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10. Each and every year, books are challenged, censored, banned. Here are the Top 10 from 2013.
2013
Out of 307 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James
Reasons: Nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: Occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
Bone (series), by Jeff Smith
Reasons: Political viewpoint, racism, violence
Aside from the two adult titles, this list has some eerie resemblance to my required reading lists for children's and YA literature (hard to imagine, I know). Compare the books on this list with those from past years. Some appear more than once or twice or even three times. Other titles come and go.
Check out some more news about censorship at the ALAN web site: www.alan-ya.org and be on the lookout for my first turn as editor of the column about censorship in THE ALAN REVIEW coming in May.
Last week, I renewed my membership in NCAC and FTRF. I urge all of you who stand up for books and the FREADOM to read to do the same.
2013
Out of 307 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James
Reasons: Nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: Occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
Bone (series), by Jeff Smith
Reasons: Political viewpoint, racism, violence
Aside from the two adult titles, this list has some eerie resemblance to my required reading lists for children's and YA literature (hard to imagine, I know). Compare the books on this list with those from past years. Some appear more than once or twice or even three times. Other titles come and go.
Check out some more news about censorship at the ALAN web site: www.alan-ya.org and be on the lookout for my first turn as editor of the column about censorship in THE ALAN REVIEW coming in May.
Last week, I renewed my membership in NCAC and FTRF. I urge all of you who stand up for books and the FREADOM to read to do the same.