April A to Z Challenge Letter "B" = Banned Books #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z

Welcome back for the second day of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Today's letter is "B" and my topic is = BANNED BOOKS.

“Books won't stay banned. They won't burn. Ideas won't go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas.” —Alfred Whitney Griswold, Essays on Education

Here are the top seven from the current list from The Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom via American Library Association.

This list represents books challenged, removed, restricted or banned from May 2010 - May 2011.

1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Banned in the Stockton, MO School District (2010) because of violence, language and some sexual content. Retained in the Helena, Mont. School District (2011) despite a parent's objection that the book contained "obscene, vulgar and pornographic language." This New York Times Bestseller won the National award in 2007 in the "Young People's Literature" category, and is on many recommended book lists.

2. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Challenged in the Republic, MO. schools (2010) because it is "soft-pornography" and glorifies drinking, cursing and pre-marital sex.

3. The Flamingo Rising, by Larry Baker

Challenged on the Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, III summer reading list (2010) because a parent complained that "a sexual encounter depicted in the novel was definitely something you could consider X-rated."

4. The Notebook Girls: Four Friends, One Diary, Real Life, by Julia Baskin, Lindsey Newman, Sophie Pollitt-Cohen and Courtney Toombs

Reclassified from the Young Adult section to the adult non-fiction section at the Waukee, Iowa Public Library (2011) because of a complaint citing "foul language" and "cussing." The book includes frank discussions about  adolescent sex, drinking and drug use. Body use, sexual orientation and the 9/11 terrorist attacks are also addressed.

5. Forever in Blue : The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood, by Ann Brashares

Challenged at the Theisen Middle School in Fond du Lac, Wis. (2010) by a parent who believes that the book has inappropriate subject matter for children. "Some (of the characters in the book) are sexually active, and alcohol is part of their recreation."

6. Running With Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs

Challenged as a suggested reading in a class where juniors and seniors earn a college credit in Hillsborough, County, FL (2010). Four high schools - Plant, Middleton, Hillsborough and Bloomingdale - voted to keep the book and place a "Mature Reader" label on the front cover. Three high schools - Sickles, Robinson and Lennard - will require parental consent. Gaither High School and Riverview High School voted to ban the book. Riverview's report stated:

"This book has extremely inappropriate content for a high school media center collection. The book contained explicit homosexual and heterosexual situations. profanity, underage drinking, smoking, extreme moral shortcomings, child molesters, graphic pedophile situations and a total lack of negative consequences throughout the book." 

7. My Mom's Having a Baby, by Dori Hillstead Butler

Challenged in the Carrollton, TX Library (2011) because it is inappropriate for children. The book won an Editor's Choice award from Booklist in 2005 and was named a Top Ten Sci-Tech for Youth by Booklist. 

Retained at the Hillsborough County, FL Public Library System (2011).

Published in 2005, the book tells of a little girl named Elizabeth who is curious about childbirth and how her mother became pregnant. Throughout the book's thirty pages, little Elizabeth learns about these topics in great detail.

A couple of my personal favorite Banned Books that are not listed above are:

Go Ask Alice and To Kill A Mockingbird. 

What are some of your favorites? 

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by.

Have a fantastic week!

Happy Reading and Arrivederci.