It's that time again, when the American Library Association and other national organizaitons focus on books that have been banned or challenged in the US. The challenges may occur at a store, a library or a school. Sometimes a book will be 'allowed' but only hidden behind a counter. Now, books can be revolutionary, it's true. Reading does broaden the mind and offer new perspectives. Books can teach you, inspire dreams, and give hope. But to hide them? To deny other people the chance to read it simply because you don't like it or you disagree with it? Why? Why should your tastes determine what I read, what I learn? Why should your beliefs take precedence over mine? Don't like it? Don't read it. Don't want your child to read it? Why? Have YOU taken the time to read it? Why not read it with your child? Be there to discuss the book and offer your thoughts on it. Maybe there's a book on a similar theme that you prefer; offer that to your child in conjunction with the other book.
Censorship is slippery. There are books that I passionately disagree with and would rather not see for sale or available to read but where do we draw the line? Whose taste and judgement take precedence? Think for yourself, make an informed judgement, and let others do the same.
For more information about banned books and banned books week, check out this site and this site. To see lists of books that have been challenged or banned, go here.
I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card so you can purchase your own challenged or banned book. Open to anyone who can receive and use an Amazon gift card. No purchase necessary. VOID where prohibited. Giveaway ends October 1st, 2016 and is open to all who can legally enter.
I really liked "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," so I might get that one. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which I would get, maybe The House of Night since I've had my eyes on those for a while. I didn't realize just how many YA books were banned/ challenged til I clicked over and scrolled the list...
ReplyDeleteIt's frightening how many children's books are challenged or banned.
DeleteI'm not sure yet, there's some upcoming releases that look really interesting too, but definitely some YA title.
ReplyDeleteNot, sure but I know it would be a cozy mystery of some sort.
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter for my nephew.
ReplyDeleteNot sure but a mystery book.
ReplyDeleteVera Wilson
snoopysnop1 at yahoo dot com
I would buy Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan!
ReplyDeleteI would buy a mystery or harry Potter.
ReplyDeleteOckler's Twenty Boy Summer.
ReplyDeleteI would buy my grandsons the book Where the Wild Things Are .
ReplyDeleteHonestly no idea what I would get, there's so many! I don't get censorship, it's like the easiest way to admit that you're not right about something. If you had confidence that your view was correct, then wouldn't you have confidence that it would win out on its own, without other ideas being hidden? I do, however, understand restricting books based on appropriateness for age at schools. That's it though.
ReplyDeleteNow see, I have trouble with restricting books due to age appropriateness. No two children mature at the same rate or have the same life experiences. What's tame for one 8 ear old might give another nightmares. So, instead of preventing children from reading them, instead why not be aware of what they are reading, be available, and discuss it with them?
DeleteI agree with you that children are individuals, and can handle books at different levels. But you wouldn't advocate for putting, say, Fifty Shades of Grey in an elementary school library, or on the shelves at your preschool, would you? I think that while there's certainly plenty of individual variation in what kids are ready for at various ages, there are a few broad generalizations one can make when it comes to young children and decidedly adult content. But those are the easy decisions. It gets trickier when you're talking about YA books in a middle-school library. And it's far more difficult to make those determinations for a high school library, because at that point, the individual variation in maturity/readiness can encompass anything from MG books to very adult themes. Therefore, I can see making "age-appropriateness" a consideration for elementary-school libraries and to a lesser extent middle-school libraries, but probably not for high-school libraries.
DeleteOf course, the issues of shelf space and of matching books to the reading level and interests of the majority of your patrons also tend to limit the selection in a school library at whatever level. And that cuts both directions. You're not going to find many picture books in most college libraries, for instance, unless they maintain a collection of them for a specific reason.
All that said, in general I oppose the banning of books, and certainly at the high school level and above.
I would buy Two Boys Kissing.
ReplyDeleteI think I would put it toward Saga, the graphic novel series, which made the ALA's Top Ten Banned/Challenged Books list for 2014. I've heard amazing things about that series.
ReplyDeleteOh, I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to look it up.
DeleteI would buy Come Away With Me by Karma Brown.
ReplyDeletenot sure yet
ReplyDeleteI might get RAINBOW BOYS.
ReplyDelete--Trix
There are so many book on my goodreads to read list that I'm not sure which I would get. Knowing myself I wouldn't even pick something on that list and just find something new :) I can not get make progress on my list haha
ReplyDeleteI think the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
ReplyDeletetiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
I don't know which to chose there are so many to pick from.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone fixes their settings so they can get to the Bookhounds site to join. Thank you, participating book bloggers for setting this up.
ReplyDeleteI need to have Crooked Kingdom!
ReplyDeleteC.L. Stone's Black and Green is coming out soon. And I'm sure it would be a contender for the banned book list.
ReplyDeleteI would get something in the PNR genre or UF. I've got a long list of books that I would like to own.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Banned Books Week and the giveaway!
I would get the rest of Kallystens books. I love her genre.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd get Looking for Alaska, since it fits the theme :)
ReplyDeleteKarina
I think that I could possibly squeeze in two titles, since I like to shop for used books on Amazon Marketplace. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe...
- Green, John: "Paper Towns"
- Kleinbaum, N.H.: "Dead Poet’s Society"
--Ann
That's some good shopping. :)
DeleteI would buy books. Not sure which ones yet, but I'd definitely shop!
ReplyDeleteI really think I want to get A Hero Ain't Nothing but a Sandwich for my daughter. I despise censorship of books. Ignorance is a huge issue - just as you mentioned, if people would take the time to educate themselves about the issues, the fear would lessen. Many books would never be an issue in the first place. People should always think for themselves; remember children think too. Share thoughts together. Read together. Respect opinions. If children can't go to their parents for open discussion and honest answers, they'll look elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI would buy one of the newer books. Like maybe Holding Up the Universe!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure yet but I am behind on some of my favorite series so I am sure it would be one of those.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading the Harry Potter books on Kindle Unlimited but I would like to purchase them for keeps.
ReplyDeleteI might get The Absolute True Story of a Part Time Indian. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI would buy the next book in the Six of Crows series by Leigh Bardugo
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteActually I wouldn't buy a book. I'm saving up all my Amazon bucks to buy a new tablet to replace my old and very slow one. I'm saving for a top end Kindle Fire tablet. Fire HD 10 Tablet, 10.1" HD Display, Wi-Fi, 64 GB, Silver Aluminum. Without the "special offers" it's a bit over $300.00.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have my own copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe Completely True Story of a Part-Time Indian sounds really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI would purchase a new Lee Child's book, I have read the first 4 and I am missing several!
ReplyDeleteNot sure probably a mystery or one of Annie's book that I havent read yet (humorous)
ReplyDeleteYikes! I don't know! I haven't read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian yet, maybe that would be a good one to get. Thanks
ReplyDeleterecently i bought a lot of books.so i guess i would buy something else this time.
ReplyDeleteI would like to put it in on a cookbook. I love cookbooks of all kinds.
ReplyDeleteI'd buy a fantasy book!
ReplyDeleteI might get The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Thanks for the chance to win!!
ReplyDeleteI a looking forward to reading March Book #3 by Sen. John Lewis.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
I'd buy a devotional book.
ReplyDeleteI'd get a new cozy mystery.
ReplyDeleteI would buy a steamy romance
ReplyDeleteI read Black Boy in high school and liked it. I'd love to have a copy of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway and for participating in the Hop!! 😃
Renee Carlino books
ReplyDeletesome teen books
ReplyDeleteoh gosh i have no idea! it would be a hard decision!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what I would get.
ReplyDeleteI would buy my grandson a new book by Mo Willems.
ReplyDeleteI would get Looking For Alaska by John Green
ReplyDeleteDigicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I would love to buy one of the new Rose Harbor books by Debbie Macomber.
ReplyDeleteSo many books on my wish list, but I think I'd buy Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs. :)
ReplyDeleteEleanor and Park!
ReplyDeleteI would probably buy The Raven King!
ReplyDeleteBooks of course! I'd have to check my long tbr list but probably a new release from October :)
ReplyDeleteIf I won the giveaway, I would buy a new board game!
ReplyDeletenot sure, got lots on my wish list
ReplyDeleteI'd buy Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews.
ReplyDeleteI would buy Amy Schumer's The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo. I just know it's going to be hilarious.
ReplyDeleteJaimebroadwater@gmail.com
I always have a large list of things that I want to read but among them is Kaffir Boy.
ReplyDeleteI would buy a historical book for my son, they are his favorite.
ReplyDeleteI'd get The Kite Runner.
ReplyDeleteI would either buy a book for my daughter or The Lady and the Lionheart.
ReplyDeleteWhere the Wild Things Are.
ReplyDeleteThe House of Night
ReplyDeleteOh, a book of some sort, I'm sure! hah I have so many on my wish list it's hard to say.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I'm not sure what I would get yet. I need to go through my books to make sure I don't buy a double. I love books!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure yet
ReplyDeleteI will be buying ten books on my Wishlist
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, maybe one of Richelle Mead's books
ReplyDeleteI would get Looking for Alaska, by John Green
ReplyDeleteI would probably buy Fifty Shades of Grey, because i'm probably one of the few that haven't either read the book or seen the movie.
ReplyDeleteI would get I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
ReplyDeleteI would totally get Stealing Snow! I know it's not banned/challenged, but I'm dying to get my hands on it! :D
ReplyDeleteI somehow accidentally made my comment a "contact us" email. Oops. Anyway. I would use the gift card on probably not a banned book. I do have a lot of vegan and gluten free cookbooks on my Amazon wishlist and I would probably buy one of those to help with my lifestyle. I certainly can't imagine having books banned from me. It has to be terrible.
ReplyDeleteThe new Harry Potter book!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which one at this time but more than likely I'd get a book by Lisa Renee Jones.
ReplyDeleteI would love to get the captain underpants book for my son. He loves the series.
ReplyDeleteI would buy Throne of Glass
ReplyDeleteI don't know which book I would buy. I'll let you know when I win...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
I'd love to get either a stephen king or neil gaiman book that I haven't read yet.
ReplyDeleteThe Perks of Being A Wall Flower.
ReplyDeleteTheresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
I might read The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. I would have to go through the whole list of the banned/challenged books to see what everything is about.
ReplyDeleteI would like to buy Hunger Games for my daughter
ReplyDeleteI don't know yet. I can always find a book that I want.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
I'm not sure what I would get what I would get but I have load of options on my Amazon Wishlist
ReplyDelete