Celebrating Banned Books
While it is a popular book used as a teaching tool in schools, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, was one of the most challenged books of 2010 due to being “sexually explicit, unsuited to [a number of] age [groups], and [violent].” It is often surprising when books are banned from schools, so talking to students about book banning can help spark rich classroom discussions and boost critical thinking skills.
History of Book Banning
Books are banned by different organizations for a multitude of reasons. The history of book banning is a worthy classroom discussion topic, and PBS offers lessons specifically focused on this topic. Even the beloved Harry Potter series has been banned from many schools since the books allude to witchcraft and black magic. Typically, books are banned for the following four reasons:
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Language: Some novels contain profane language, whether it is to make a situation more realistic or better depict the social/historical background of the novel. This has been the case with Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, and Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck.
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Sexual Content: Some books contain scenes that are considered too mature for students. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, has been banned for this reason.
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Violent Content: Just like video games and popular media, some books have been accused of desensitizing readers to violence. This has been the case with Native Son, by Richard Wright.
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Religious Content: Religion has long been used as an argument to ban and challenge books. Some religious groups have opposed books that discuss evolution, sexuality and the occult.
In order to challenge or ban a book from a school, an individual or group must file a formal complaint, in the form of a letter, with a school or library. Between 2000 and 2009, more than 5,000 books were challenged with the highest number of challenges (1,577) due to “sexually explicit” content. Each year, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom publishes a list of the top ten challenged books at schools and libraries. Some of the most challenged books in 2012 include the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey; The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie; and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It is ultimately up to a school district to decide whether a book is worth banning. For fun, classes can look at the ALA’s “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009” list to see what books they have already read and discuss why those books may have been challenged.
These Books Were Banned?
While some books may certainly be inappropriate for specific students, and it is not advisable for teachers to fight schools over books that have been banned by their districts, history has delivered some surprising book bans. Time magazine shared a list of book bans that, in many cases, are downright perplexing. Some of the books include:
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The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank — banned in a Virginia district for sexual themes and possible homosexuality. The book was replaced with a cleaner version.
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Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare — some New Hampshire residents did not approve of the “alternative lifestyle” that the play portrayed.
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle — someone on a school board had confused Bill Martin Jr. with a different Martin that wrote a book about Marxism.
When discussing the topic of book banning with students, teachers must tread lightly. Banned books contribute to rich discussions on censorship, intellectual freedom and the freedom of creative expression. However, children are easily influenced, so reading materials must be kept age (and maturity level) appropriate.
If a book is banned, teachers should be careful to explain the reasoning behind the ban and how it isn’t always necessary to fight a ban. If a book isn’t banned, it is the teacher’s responsibility to use discretion in handling any mature themes, like some of the themes present in The Hunger Games. The trilogy is best suited for middle and high school students.
Happy reading!
Are there any books that are banned in your school? How do you talk to students about censorship, responsible reading, and sensitive literary themes? Join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtags #hgteacher or #popreading