Banned Books Meme

[kleenexwoman]

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
I seriously loved this book when I was a kid. The stories weren't really that scary, but the pictures freaked me out and I loved it.
Probably banned because: I can see how the illustrations would give some kids nightmares, yeah. But so can the paintings of Hieronymous Bosch, and that's, like, culture.

Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I read this one last year during Banned Books week because the library had it out. Some mom was arguing with the lady at the front desk about how she thought it was inappropriate to display. Huh.
Probably banned because: Ooh, portraying loving, monogamous same-sex relationships in a realistic and easy-to-understand light? Heaven forfend a child should understand his daddies.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Probably banned because: Knowing Maya Angelou, there's probably a lot about slaves and how much she loves having body parts.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Read it in fifth grade and didn't quite get it; read it again in ninth grade, when my BBG group was trying really hard to get me to sell candy for them, and loved it. Wanted to chuck the Crunch bars in someone's face, but settled for eating them all myself.
Probably banned because: Some kid actually did chuck stale marching band chocolate in some adult's face after reading it. Good for him.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Read it after I read "Tom Sawyer." Never quite got through the end. I still like "Tom Sawyer" better.
Probably banned because: The word "nigger" is in it--never mind the complex racial and ethical subtext, THERE'S A BAD WORD that everyone else in the classroom throws around like spitballs.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Ooh, I remember this one. Lenny kind of reminded me of the Abominable Snowman in the Bugs Bunny cartoons who wanted to have something to kiss and hug and call George.
Probably banned because: Hell, I don't know. Because of the tard?

Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Of course I've read it. Who hasn't? My grandmother has read this.
Probably banned because: You know, I have a sneaking suspicion that it's not the "ooh, eek, witchcraft" thing that's so terrifying to millions of fundies, but the fact that this fandom has done more to make hot boy-on-boy action acceptable to millions of squealing preteen girls than any other fandom in the history of time, anywhere.

Forever by Judy Blume
Never did like Judy Blume's more serious books. By the time I got around to reading one all the way through, I had already gone through the beginning of puberty. They bored me.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
I loved this book SO MUCH. I wanted to make up a place like Terabithia. And I cried when Leslie died.
Probably banned because: Two kids using their imagination is just plain wrong. Oh, and Leslie? Not a good model for quiet little Christian girls.

Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
They chose these Phyllis Reynolds Naylor books to ban? Why not the "Girls Start the War, Boys Get Even" series, which has a lot of pranks involving cake which kids might be influenced to pull on their annoying neighbors? Why not the "Shiloh" series, which features a dog who gets beaten by his owner and a kid who stands up to authority? Gah. At least choose the right books to ban.

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
Probably banned because: See "Daddy's Roommate". (Actually, I kind of thought those two were by the same author. Color me wrong.)

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
It's about the Revolutionary War, right? When we were doing that unit in English in 5th grade, I chose "Johnny Tremain" instead, which I kind of hated. Smug little fucker deserved to get that silver poured on his hand.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
I really didn't think this book lived up to its legacy. Then again, it was probably very revolutionary when it came out and the only reason I'm not impressed by it is because generations of teenagers since have based themselves on Holden Caulfield. Frankly, the whole "keeping it real" thing gets old after a while.
Probably banned because: Teenage rebellion, swearing, sex--heard it all before. Ban "A Clockwork Orange" instead, all right? Let's see Holden go toe-to-toe with Alex and his droogs.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Loved this book. Read it 500 times. Wrote slash about it.
Probably banned because: I honestly don't know. It's partially about censorship--banning it is just validating its message.

It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Probably banned because: From the title, I'm judging that it's about puberty. Ok.

Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
I remember these. Fun for long trips in the car.
Probably banned because: Teh scary. Personally, I think they should be banned just so that kids aren't exposed to the crappy writing. Make 'em read Poe instead if they want to get their spooky kicks.

A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
I haven't read this one, but I've read a lot of his other books. They're pretty good--all about teenagers and their peer groups and ghosts and time travel. Or maybe I'm thinking of Richard Peck. Which one wrote the "Blossom Culp" series?

The Color Purple by Alice Walker
I really should read this one if I'm going to be a liberal feminist college student. But I can't be arsed.
Probably banned because: Slavery and lesbianism--we've all heard the summary.

Sex by Madonna
I really, really want to get this book.
Probably banned because: It's about sex. As we can see from the title.

Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
I loved this book so much...'scuse me, need to go reread it.
Probably banned because: I really can't imagine why. Doesn't it have angels in it? (No, that's later in the series.)

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Mom made me read it when I was in eighth grade. I didn't like it that much.
Probably banned because: Drugs. Then again, the kind of people who would ban this book are probably the same kind of people who would ban Jack Chick tracts for mentioning hell.

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
I love Maurice Sendak. Our kindergarten teacher used to read us his books during naptime; her favorite was "Chicken Soup With Rice." I recently managed to find a copy of "I Saw Esau", which is a book he illustrated with Peter and Iona Opie. It's a collection of children's rhymes from England, and some of them are really, really old. Passed down by generations of kids.
It's really amazing how many of the rhymes in that book are about sex or death, codified in some weird way; kids are more aware of these things than we think.
Probably banned because: Well, our Mass Media teacher showed us slides from the book as an example of a banned book. It's really chock full of psychosexual goodness once you look at it with a college student's eye.

The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The books were cute, if kind of dumb. Talked about people eating chili sundaes and stuff.
Probably banned because: The movie sucked? I don't know. What's so subversive about chili sundaes?

The Witches by Roald Dahl
This was an awesome book, really. One of my favorites. I loved the stories about what the witches did and I loved the grandma.
Probably banned because: Some kid got freaked out because he thought that a lady in the supermarket was a witch. Mother puts two and two together and comes up with six hundred and sixty six, decides that Mr. Dahl is a Satanist.

The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Er...
Probably banned because: Title?

Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
Hm, I kind of remember these. I always thought that Anastasia and Ali Baba Bernstein (what, you've never heard of him? Awesome series about a Jewish kid with a big imagination) would have liked each other.
Probably banned because: Maybe the part where she writes an e.e. cummings poem inspired a lot of kids to experiment with verse when they should have been writing "roses are red, violets are blue".

The Goats by Brock Cole

Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Read a portion of it in 9th grade. Was unimpressed.
Probably banned because: Well, our portion had the word "nigger" in it, and I had to read it. Right before that paragraph, the teacher suddenly decided it was time for lunch.

Blubber by Judy Blume
Meh. More girl Judy Blume. I liked the "Fudge" series better.
Probably banned because: It's by Judy Blume and probably has stuff about girl bits, what the hell more do you want?

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Probably banned because: Killing, probably a teacher. Very taboo subject.

Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
Probably banned because: Has Halloween. See Jack Chick.

We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier

Final Exit by Derek Humphry

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This book actually made me sick when I read it, the same way that "Brave New World" or "1984" or "Fahrenheit 451" made me sick. Excellent dystopian fable.
Probably banned because: Talks about sex and lesbianism. How horrible.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
I friggin' loved this book. I love teen survival stories in general, but there's just something about "Julie" that makes me want to go purposely get lost in the Alaskan wilderness.
Probably banned because: Somebody actually did go out and get themselves lost in the Alaskan wilderness after reading it. Or maybe brought home a pet wolf. "Mom, can I keep him?"

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Probably banned because: It's probably about racism, knowing Ms. Morrison. Wotta corrupting subject.

What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
Probably banned because: Got puberty stuff, so it must be poisoning our daughters' minds.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I remember this one from 9th grade. Racism bad, idealistic lawyers good, tomboy girls who make friends with potentially homicidal 'tards good.
Probably banned because: Racism again.

Beloved by Toni Morrison
Probably banned because: Oprah endorsed it and she's black. I don't know. Who knows how the mind of the censor works?

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
10th grade. Totally changed my perception of the '50s.
Probably banned because: Well, the gang violence. Also, the sekrit homoeroticism. Or am I the only one who saw that?

The Pigman by Paul Zindel
I read "The Pigman Returns" before I read this one. Or maybe it was "Son Of The Pigman" or something. It was about the kid who moves to a town in New Jersey and meets a lot of very weird people...I really need to get my hands on that book, I loved it in middle school
Probably banned because: One of the main characters dies at the end, if I remember correctly, and stupid kids commit violence. Because we never ever need to expose our children to the fact that interesting people might die!

Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard

Deenie by Judy Blume

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
This book made me cry. I felt so sorry for Charlie when I read it, and then I saw the movie and I cried even more. Wonderful.
Probably banned because: The main character is retarded and people act mean toward him, so kids reading the book are automatically going to be mean to retarded people! Even though half the point of the book is that retarded people are not blind or deaf and know when people are insulting them--golden rule, right? Gah.

Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
This one's got a special meaning for me. Tammy made me read it during the start of our relationship and I'm not going to say anything else because then I'll start tearing up.
Probably banned because: Teenage lesbians, corrupting etc. Ok.

The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
This was a great book. Louis Sachar is a great author, period. Larry, Mo, and David? Awesome book about adolescence in general.
Probably banned because: The only reason I can think of is that two boys and a girl are portrayed as having a nonsexual, close relationship. In one of the schools my mom had to substitute at (I won't say which school, but it's Orthodox Jewish and rhymes with Schmillel), books or cartoons that showed males and females interacting with each other outside of marriage were not allowed to be read to the kids. I shit you not.

Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
Cute book. Got me started on a learning about superstition phase.
Probably banned because: It's into premonitions, black cats and voodoo dolls. If you read this book to your kids, it will surely make them fall.

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
I love Shel's poems. No other kid's poet can ever be as good as him, ever.
Probably banned because: Most of his poems are infused with a hippie sensibility about doing your own thing, not going along with the crowd, and stopping to enjoy life once in a while. Good stuff, but some people just don't like hippies.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Scared the shit out of me, I can tell you.
Probably banned because: It raises some fairly complex issues. I can understand why little kids shouldn't be allowed to read it, but once you hit fourteen or so, your brain is usually ready for this kind of heavy stuff.

Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Probably banned because: Well, the title is a little teensy bit misleading. I can picture some dumb-ass parent who tried to read it to their kids, thinking it was a fairy tale. A really dumb-ass parent.

Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Probably banned because: Puberty again. When will our kids ever learn to stay eight years old?

Cujo by Stephen King
I didn't like dogs, even before reading this.
Probably banned because: "Mommy, I'm scared that Fido is going to eat me up just like Cujo did in that book."

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
I love this book! I love the big bugs and the little songs and the peach pit and everything else in the book. Roald Dahl is a god among writers.
Probably banned because: Evil aunts get flattened. But honestly, what kid hasn't dreamed of rolling a giant piece of fruit over a particularly horrible relative?

The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
My brother has a copy of this somewhere, I'm sure of it.
Probably banned because: Okay, this is one that I agree should be pulled from the Young Adult shelves. We really have enough trouble in school without letting kids figure out how to build bombs. If they want to blow up their teachers so much they should spend their own damn money on a copy.

Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Probably banned because: Boys? Sex? Eh, must be gay. Toss it on the bonfire.

Ordinary People by Judith Guest

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Probably banned because: I'm trying to remember the movie. Serial killer, right?

What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Probably banned because: Boys don't need to know why they're getting pubic hair. Let 'em think they've got cancer, it'll build character.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Again, never read it. Still like "Fudge" better.
Probably banned because: From the title, I'm thinking that it might be about a young girl who's questioning her religion, and that alone might be grounds for some religious groups. I don't know, though.

Crazy Lady by Jane Conly

Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Chris Crutcher rocks. He actually made me care about school sports. For a while.
Probably banned because: He writes like an actual teenager, with sex talk and swear words and everything. How awful to expose our kids to something that's going on inside their own heads.

Fade by Robert Cormier

Guess What? by Mem Fox

The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
I think every high school ought to be required to read at least one Vonnegut book, just to put the human race in proper perspective.
Probably banned because: Talks about war disparagingly. How horrible.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The images from this book are still with me. The kids, the pig...And haven't the Simpsons done a parody of it?
Probably banned because: Reveals small children as the nasty, animalistic beasts they are. Good book for the childfree community.

Native Son by Richard Wright

Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Probably banned because: Ooh, feminism. How disturbing.

Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Probably banned because: Eh, witchcraft. Let's move on.

Jack by A.M. Homes

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya

Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Probably banned because: Talks about babies and does not involve the stork.

Carrie by Stephen King
Damn good book. Damn good movie. Every snotty high schooler should be required to read it so that they know what they might be getting into if they decide to throw pig blood on some poor unpopular girl. EAT TELEPATHIC FIRE, FUCKERS!
Probably banned because: "Dirty pillows"? Plus the whole scary thing. Yeah.

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
Probably banned because: Can we accept that every book by Judy Blume has been banned and just get on with it?

On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
This is the book about two kids who find a dead body? Or the one about the kids where one kills himself and the other doesn't want to tell anyone? I remember reading it, but the plot was so forgettable...
Probably banned because: Someone dies and someone lies about it.

Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge

Family Secrets by Norma Klein

Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole

The Dead Zone by Stephen King
Stephen King is good shit, man. Our high school library had practically all of his books. He's a good "beginner" author because he's easy to read and he's so influenced by other authors. You start with the King, you go on to Bradbury, Poe, and before you know it you're deep into Oscar Wilde.
Probably banned because: Teh scary.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
I love this book. Always have, always will. Unlike other books from before the 20th century, the prose is easily recognizable and simple for, say, a 3rd grader. And it reads like an 8-year-old's fantasy: Get chased by a wild Indian, find a buried treasure, get lost in a cave with a pretty girl and rescue both of you.
Probably banned because: If our kids read this book they will want to go off and have adventures! And we can't have that!

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Is this a re-interpretation of a Bible story? I prefer Anita Diamant for that.

Always Running by Luis Rodriguez

Private Parts by Howard Stern
Thought it was OK. Not as funny as, say, Dave Barry.
Probably banned because: There's a five-page lesson on how to wipe your ass correctly. Toddlers should read that, at least.

Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
I have all the Waldo books. I am such a geek.
Probably banned because: Honestly, I do not know. The mind boggles. Maybe they think Waldo's gay?

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
I tried to read this one, but I could never get through it.
Probably banned because: Isn't it about a girl that hides a Nazi soldier in her bedroom? 'Nuff said.

Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
My grandma had a copy of this. I thought it was great, especially where Sambo makes the tigers run so fast that they turn into butter. That was before I knew about stereotypes.
Probably banned because: Racist, right? It's still a good book, goddamnit. Just don't call him "Black Sambo" and it'll be fine.

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Probably banned because: As I remember, Ken Follett wrote a book called "Jackdaws" which featured a Nazi giving some girl head. That's all I know.

Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Probably banned because: I haven't read this one (and I should, because the author is faboo), but I'm assuming it's banned for the same reason his other book was banned.

Sex Education by Jenny Davis
Probably banned because: Heaven forfend, right? What's with these people and kids learning about biology?

The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene

Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Probably banned because: I'm getting so sick of this. Give the kids their Sex Ed already.

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
I remember this book! It was my first introduction to non-linear storytelling.
Probably banned because: Er, worms? All I know is that my mom teaches fourth grade and she's using it in her classroom.

View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts

The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
This was a sweet-ass book. I have fond memories of reading it during a hockey game.
Probably banned because: It talks about kids doing witchcraft.

The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Probably banned because: Terrorists? Dunno.

Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Probably banned because: It sounds like it's about slavery? Okay, I'm done with this list.

Comments

[bluenewt.livejournal.com]

"Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Is this a re-interpretation of a Bible story? I prefer Anita Diamant for that."

It's not. It's a book about black society in the 30's. And it involves loads of sex and incest and killing.

[bluenewt.livejournal.com]

Yer slash be funny. :)

[kleenexwoman.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

You know I'll have to read "Song of Solomon" now...

[bluenewt.livejournal.com]

It's actually not very good. Most of the people who read it before me hated it, but not because of the incest and killing and stuff, because of the hard-to-identify plot and the fact that we have to analyze every vowel of every word in the entire book for 2 months.

[gyr-falre.livejournal.com]

I saw the movie version of "Ordinary People." It's a story about depression and suicide and all that fun stuff...and that's just what made it to the movie...ok, I need to go read it now.

[diraskyria.livejournal.com]

some of those must be recent bans; i recall reading a good handful of them in elementary school....but i did go to a private school, and they could have been all, " you silly ban. *bonk*" *shrugs*

[oneheart9302.livejournal.com]

yeah, almost all the books that we have read in high school are on there! lol..

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume >>i read that in 4th grade, its about a girl thats obsessed with getting her period and then at the end of the book she finally does the end kthnxbye

[sithanas.livejournal.com]

One of the Waldo books has a topless woman in it. Apparently breasts are evil, who knew?

[bluenewt.livejournal.com]

Do you routinely go on my friends page, or are you commenting here because I showed this to you? *weirded out*

[chiosayshi.livejournal.com]

forever by judy blume isn't about puberty. it's about a girl in love with her boyfriend and they have a lot of sex.