Which banned book have you read and do you think it should have been banned?

Question

This is banned books week. Check out the American Library Association's list of most challenged books for 2006.
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwkit/resourceguide/resourceguide.htm

Answer 1

I've read about a third of the books on the "banned" list. I don't think books should be banned, although obviously not all books are appropriate for children. However, I think that at least through middle school, parents should check out the books their children bring home and be prepared to discuss aspects that may be confusing or disturbing to the young reader. By the time a child is able to go to the bookstore on his/her own & has enough money to buy books, I'm not too worried about their choices, although if I saw that my teen was focusing heavily on books dealing with violence or sexuality in what appeared to be an unhealthy way, I'd initiate some discussion about it.

School librarians obviously can't read every book before purchasing it for the school library, but I'm sure they try to choose books that are appropriate for the age levels using the library. If you think a particular book is inappropriate for younger children, why not talk (in a civil manner) with the librarian about an alternative to banning--like putting books more appropriate for older kids on higher shelves, or in a separate part of the library? For parents who, due to religious, political or social views, are extremely concerned about what their children read, surely personally monitoring what their kids bring home makes more sense than trying to make a book unavailable to every student, regardless of their and their parents' viewpoints.

In looking at the list of books that have been removed (or that there have been attempts to remove) from school libraries, a lot of them really seem to make no sense at all. Urban legends? Maurice Sendak? I understand that some parents have concerns about sexuality, and I recognize that racist language in books like "Huckleberry Finn" is a sensitive issue. Frankly, kids who are old enough to read books like these are generally mature enough to deal with these issues, and one would hope their parents are mature enough to discuss their concerns with their children. I don't see a lot of third-graders bringing home "Huckleberry Finn" or "The Handmaid's Tale". I read "Uncle Tom's Cabin" when I was around the third grade, but a lot of it went over my head--and a lot of the things parents worry about are likely going over their kids' heads too.

Finally, if you want to choose your kids' reading, go to the library & the bookstore yourself & find books you think are good for them--don't sit home complaining that bookstores & librarians don't share your identical tastes. And, in my opinion, one of the best things a parent can do is to answer their children's questions honestly, in language the child can understand. If you're afraid to have your ideas questioned in any way, maybe you need to re-evaluate them yourself--before your kid reaches the "adolescent rebellion" stage.

Answer 2

No books have ever been banned nationally. There have been cases where certain school districts and libraries have refused to carry certain books, but they have always been available in bookstores. I have probably read most of them.

Now I am going to to out on a limb here. Yes, I believe it is the parent's responsibility to monitor what their children read. But how can they? CD's and Videos and Video Games carry ratings. Books do not. I am the author of 4 novels I wouldn't be happy to learn children are reading. I would support ratings on books. It does bother me when kids are able to walk into a bookstore and walk out with material like Justine or The 120 Days of Sodom because they are ill prepared to understand this material. But there is nothing a bookstore can do to stop them.

Is this a form of censorship? Absolutely not. It is simply holding back adult information until young people are ready to handle it responsibly. I have read of far too many cases of erotic auto asphyxia and other deaths through risky sex acts - the dead being young kids. With more maturity, I doubt they would attempt such actions so irresponsibly.

I believe all books should be available, and I do believe in free speech - otherwise I wouldn't be writing novels with adult content in them. I just would prefer there was some kind of a warning system so parents would know that their children were reading. Pax - C

Answer 3

I do not really believe this is a serious question ... but I will play along. No books should be banned in the United States of America. If you don't like it, don't read it. An if you don't want the kiddies checking it out then do your job as a parent and monitor their reading habits. The fact that you are even allowed to ask this question gives creadence to my view!

Answer 4

I don't think any books should be banned. I always discussed books with controversial content with my children until they were about 16. I feel that was a point where I had taught them what I could. If they want to share with me, they occasionally do some 40 years later. I always felt that if they could understand it they were old enough to read it.

Answer 5

I've read several banned books. I don't think any book should be banned, ever.

Answer 6

I read Animal Farm and I heard that it is banned inRussia (perhaps).... I dont think it deserves to be banned.....

It is not banned in my country though.

TW K

Answer 7

Kite Runner is banned? idk i read it before, and liked it:) there's a banned book week? oh well im already reading a book The Other Boleyn Girl (not sure if its banned....)

Answer 8

No book should EVER be banned. This practice is tragic and saddening.