Banned Books

[MissVictoria]

Most Challenged Books of the 1990s

The American Library Association's list of the 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-1999.


Scary Stories (Series), by Alvin Schwartz


Daddy's Roommate, by Michael Willhoite


I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou


The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier


The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain


Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck


Forever, by Judy Blume


Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson


Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman


The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger


The Giver, by Lois Lowry


My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier


It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie Harris


Alice (Series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor


Goosebumps (Series), by R.L. Stine


A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck


The Color Purple, by Alice Walker


Sex, by Madonna (Out of Print -- Find it at Powells)


Earth's Children (Series), by Jean M. Auel


The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson


In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak


The Witches, by Roald Dahl


A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle


The New Joy of Gay Sex, by Charles Silverstein


Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous


The Goats, by Brock Cole


The Stupids (Series), by Harry Allard


Anastasia Krupnik (Series), by Lois Lowry


Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying, by Derek Humphry


Blubber, by Judy Blume


Halloween ABC, by Eve Merriam


Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George


Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane


The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison


What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters, by Lynda Madaras


Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers


The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood


The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton


The Pigman, by Paul Zindel


To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee


We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier


Deenie, by Judy Blume


Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes


Annie on my Mind, by Nancy Garden


Beloved, by Toni Morrison


The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar


Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat, by Alvin Schwartz (Out of Print -- Find it at Powells)


Harry Potter (Series), by J. K. Rowling


Cujo, by Stephen King


James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl


A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein


Ordinary People, by Judith Guest


American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis


Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley


Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A. N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)


Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard


Asking About Sex and Growing Up, by Joanna Cole


What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons, by Lynda Madaras


The Anarchist Cookbook, by William Powell


Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume


Boys and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy (Out of Print -- Find it at Powells)


Crazy Lady, by Jane Conly


Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher


Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan


Fade, by Robert Cormier


Guess What?, by Mem Fox


Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut


Lord of the Flies, by William Golding


Native Son, by Richard Wright


Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies, by Nancy Friday


Curses, Hexes and Spells, by Daniel Cohen (Out of Print -- Find it at Powells)


On My Honor, by Marion Dane Bauer


The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende


Jack, by A. M. Homes


The Arizona Kid, by Ron Koertge (Out of Print -- Find it at Powells)


Family Secrets, by Norma Klein (Out of Print -- Find it at Powells)


Mommy Laid An Egg, by Babette Cole


Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya


Where Did I Come From?, by Peter Mayle


The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney


Carrie, by Stephen King


The Dead Zone, by Stephen King


The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain


Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison


Always Running: LA Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A., by Luis Rodriguez


Private Parts, by Howard Stern


Where's Waldo?, by Martin Hanford


Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene


Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume


Little Black Sambo, by Helen Bannerman


The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett


Running Loose, by Chris Crutcher


Sex Education, by Jenny Davis


Jumper, by Steven Gould


Christine, by Stephen King


The Drowning of Stephan Jones, by Bette Greene


That Was Then, This is Now, by S. E. Hinton


Girls and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy (Out of Print -- Find it at Powells)


The Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain


Jump Ship to Freedom, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

 

[Black_Bird]

This is sad...

So many wonderful books taken out of so many hands, just because a few nitwits couldn't "get it".

I can honestly say that "Catcher in the Rye" opened a whole new world for me when I first read it in ninth grade. I don't know what type of person I would be if I hadn't read that book, but I doubt very much that I would have been a "better" person without it.

 

[sch00lteacher]

I can not discuss, read about, or hear about banned books unless a doctor is standing by with a hypo filled with a sedative.

I have to post this fast and run away from this thread as fast as possible.

 

[MissVictoria]

I thought it was sad too.

I thought the only books being banned were things like "Little Black Sambo".

A Brave New World? I Know why the Caged Bird Sings? Julie of the Wolves?

Its just crazy...

 

[Ask For More]

Excuse me for being a dumbass, but what does it mean by challenged? Does that mean that they can't be read by school kids?

 

[Black_Bird]

I can not discuss, read about, or hear about banned books unless a doctor is standing by with a hypo filled with a sedative.

I have to post this fast and run away from this thread as fast as possible.

OH - that's right! You're a teacher!

Believe me, I feel that way too... and I still wish Gore would have won.

 

[MissVictoria]

By challeneged, it means that people are out to censor these books.

 

[Halx]

I didn't expect to find the Anarchist Cookbook in my school's library.

 

[MissVictoria]

Note: These are books sought to be banned from libraries, not neccesarily school libraries.

 

[Ask For More]

These books stand out to me immediately:

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
The Witches, by Roald Dahl
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Harry Potter (Series), by J. K. Rowling



How can anyone seriously want to ban books like these? There are some really sad people out there....

 

[Black_Bird]

I thought it was sad too. I thought the only books being banned were things like "Little Black Sambo". A Brave New World? I Know why the Caged Bird Sings? Julie of the Wolves? Its just crazy...

"Goosebumps"
"Scary Stories"
"Harry Potter"
"James and the Giant Peach"

Aren't they being just a *little* anal retentive? Banning ANYTHING by Shel Silverstien should be grounds for global excommunication - the man is a genius! Not only is his books humorous, they also teach an important lesson that *some* adults apparently never learned; Never take anything too seriously.

"Go Ask Alice" is probably one of the best pieces of literature on the dangers of drugs to date - "Lord of the Flies" is one of the best social commentaries I've ever read in my life...

*shakes head*

 

[MissVictoria]

We wouldn't want to have any books that encourage the imagination, or question the current way of things.

The book that really blows my top being on the list is "A Brave New World". It has been, thus far... so prophetic.

 

[Black_Bird]

and The Clockwork Orange...

DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST! HA!

 

[MissVictoria]

A Clockwork orange was probably banned before 1990 when this list started!

*giggle*

 

[seXieleXie]

of the above list i have read 65 of the books.

Scary Stories (Series), by Alvin Schwartz
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Forever, by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Alice (Series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Goosebumps (Series), by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
The Witches, by Roald Dahl
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
Anastasia Krupnik (Series), by Lois Lowry
Blubber, by Judy Blume
Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters, by Lynda Madaras
The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton
The Pigman, by Paul Zindel
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind, by Nancy Garden
Beloved, by Toni Morrison
The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
Harry Potter (Series), by J. K. Rowling
Cujo, by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
Ordinary People, by Judith Guest
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A. N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
The Anarchist Cookbook, by William Powell
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan
Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Native Son, by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies, by Nancy Friday
On My Honor, by Marion Dane Bauer
The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende
Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya
The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney
Carrie, by Stephen King
The Dead Zone, by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
Private Parts, by Howard Stern
Where's Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett
Christine, by Stephen King
That Was Then, This is Now, by S. E. Hinton

pretty damn good i always make a point of reading things people tell me are forbidden

 

[Lady Damona]

I'm with schoolteacher. . .this is one topic that sends me into a frenzy. The only reason that people support banning books is that they are too lazy to sit down with their children and discuss whatever opinions/ideas/subjects they find offensive. Most, if not all, of the books on this list contain subject matter worthy of discussion, whether it be between adult and child or among children.

steps off her soapbox. . .

 

[Black_Bird]

of the above list i have read 65 of the books. {snip} pretty damn good i always make a point of reading things people tell me are forbidden

I know that there was a reason I liked you!

Er - besides the obvious, I mean.

 

[MissVictoria]

Here are the ones I've read.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
Forever, by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger
A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
Blubber, by Judy Blume
Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
The Pigman, by Paul Zindel
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind, by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
Cujo, by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A. N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Carrie, by Stephen King
The Dead Zone, by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
Private Parts, by Howard Stern
Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
Christine, by Stephen King
Little Black Sambo, by Helen Bannerman
The Stupids (Series), by Harry Allard
Where Did I Come From?, by Peter Mayle

 

[missbehavin_badly]

So many wonderful books....its a shame that book banning still has any place in this country.

About 2 years ago, here in my home town....the book Ordinary People almost hit the banned books list in our school system. The high schools 11 grade reading list included this and several other books.....the kids are required to read only 2 selections from the list, and its their chose of which ones to read. Well a pastor who had enrolled his children in the school system objected to the book and went before the school board, special hearing and threatened lawsuits ensued.

The right side won out and the book remains on the reading list today for them to enjoy

 

[daughter]

Communities not the ALA bans books

The ALA has provided a list of the most challenged books. Groupswant these books banned. That does not mean they have been banned. The ALA has compiled a list for our benefit.

Secondly, the Association doesn't have the authority to enforce a ban. Someone correct me if I'm a wrong. Librarians join the association. Membership is not mandatory. And communities, not librarians (more appropriately, directors) decide what goes on the shelf.

Communities are made up of constituents. Not only are folks guilty of not reading to their children, voters are guilty of not weilding their influence.

Too many times, the librarians are fighting for our rights while we're complaining about losing them.(Don't get me started on how voters fail to pass mileages to pay for these books being on the shelf in the first place) Maybe we need to visit our local library and school board meetings and get a heads up about how things work.

Where are our librarians? What's the problem? Don't want the books banned, get involved.

Before someone ask. Yeah, I work with this market. Kids and patrons are reading these books everyday.

Peace,

daughter

p.s. Speaking of school libraries, do parents know the average copyright on the books in your school library? Do you know that some of your libraries don't even have enough money to buy paper for their printers?

Want kids to pass classes without giving them the resources to do it. Some fools in your school systems believe that kids can find everything they need on the internet! Nevermind credibilty and authenticating references. It's free on the net.

(((d getting off this thread before she really goes off)))

 

[morninggirl5]

And the idiots in some school administrations won't let you take students to the public library to make them aware of the resources available in their community becuase "We have a library in our school."


Of course that library is so well-stocked with books that none of the teachers have their own seasonal/theme libraries to use in their classrooms, and the librarians always have the funds to purchase new books for the students.



[/sarcasm]

 

[Weird Harold]

How Times Change!

The title that really stood out for me, was Lord of the Flies.

I was required to read this in seventh grade! (circa 1963)

 

[LukkyKnight]

ban em all

That Maurice Sendak, he's a pinko. And Maya Angelou? Man, talk about subversive. We all know about Mark Twain, and clearly there's no need to even dicuss Toni Morrison.

Ban all the books. Kids should be issued TVs at birth, I say. Reading is so over-rated. Who ever learned anything from books.

I'm surprised Gibbon's Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire isn't on this list, but I suppose it's too damn long for these narro-minded, insecure, control freaks to plow through, eh?

 

[p_p_man]

What schOOlteacher says...

 

[seXieleXie]

Re: How Times Change

the following were required reading for school:

Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya

all within the last 5 years