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Monday, September 22, 2014

Banned Books Week

If you haven't already heard, this week is Banned Books Week.

Banned Books Week began in 1982 when there was a surge of challenges against banned books in schools and local libraries. Banned Books Week is extremely important because many of our favorite books are being kept from students because of certain ideas that they pose. This is a form of censorship something hundreds of people protest daily.

A book being banned does not necessarily mean that it is a bad book. Some are banned just because a parent may think that the events in the story are too much, or too depressing for a student to read.

Some books that you may not think are a problem, but have actually previously, or currently, been banned or challenged in some parts of the nation are...



Reason: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence


The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Reason: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group


Looking for Alaska

Reason: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group


To Kill a Mockingbird

Reason: Offensive language, racism


Twilight (Twilight, #1)

Reason: Religious viewpoint, violence


The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Reason: Anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)

Reason: Occult/ Satanism

Many of us may be dropping our jaws because of some of these titles. Personally, when I read many of these books, I am reading the story of struggling teenagers and how they handle the situations they are thrust into.

However, some people don't see it that way. And that is why Banned Books Week is so important. It is to show that people cannot control what we read. These books are important to us and we will (hopefully) learn from them.

If you are interested in learning more about Banned Books Week then you can check out there website linked HERE.

Now, go read a banned book!

-Shawnee Smith

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