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Banned Books Week is the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read. Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events. The 2015 celebration will be held September 27-October 3.<\/p>\n
Students in Prof. Schmidt’s Gateway class (Banned & Burned) worked in groups to create —–<\/p>\n Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982 according to the American Library Association. There were 311 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2014, and many more go unreported. The 10 most challenged titles of 2014 were:<\/p>\n 1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian<\/em>, by Sherman Alexie<\/p>\n Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs\/alcohol\/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: \u201cdepictions of bullying\u201d<\/p>\n 2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Persepolis<\/em>, by Marjane Satrapi<\/p>\n Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: \u201cpolitically, racially, and socially offensive,\u201d \u201cgraphic depictions\u201d<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And Tango Makes Three<\/em>, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell<\/p>\n Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: \u201cpromotes the homosexual agenda\u201d<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Bluest Eye<\/em>, by Toni Morrison<\/p>\n Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: \u201ccontains controversial issues\u201d<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s Perfectly Normal<\/em>, by Robie Harris<\/p>\n Reasons: Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: \u201calleges it child pornography\u201d<\/p>\n 6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Saga<\/em>, by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples<\/p>\n Reasons: Anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. Additional reasons:<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Kite Runner<\/em>, by Khaled Hosseini<\/p>\n Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Perks of Being a Wallflower<\/em>, by Stephen Chbosky<\/p>\n Reasons: drugs\/alcohol\/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: \u201cdate rape and masturbation\u201d<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A Stolen Life<\/em>, Jaycee Dugard<\/p>\n Reasons: drugs\/alcohol\/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group<\/p>\n 10)\u00a0\u00a0Drama<\/em>, by Raina Telgemeier<\/p>\n Reasons: sexually explicit<\/p>\n More information on banned and challenged books is available on theAmerican Library Association website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Banned Books Week is the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read. Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety … Continue reading
\ninteractive, educational displays celebrating Banned Books Week. Four exhibits will be on display on the entry level. Check out some of the photos<\/a>\u00a0on The Ames Library’s Facebook page<\/a>. Do you have ideas for an exhibit? Get in touch with Meg Miner<\/a>\u00a0for details on how you can create your own!<\/p>\n