Here is a list of the 100 most challenged books from 1990 - 2000. (From the American Library Association) Hopefully you note that many of the books that some of you have read are on there (including some for school). When looking at the list, think about who would want these books to be banned and why would they want them banned?
Is this any different from what is happening in Fahrenheit 451? And what does this say about our society?
What do you think about some of your books being challenged? Should they be?
(Take a look around the ALA site… there are a lot of interesting things related to censorship)
15 responses so far ↓
1
alec
// Nov 10, 2006 at 8:56 pm
some of them were really random, like harry potter, and the other ones just informstion, that somepeople think should be censored, and i guess they think they should censored the outsiders ecuase maybe it familiarizes you with strret life, os you might thnk thst that stuff isnt that bad, but i dont thnk any of those books should be.
2
**Veronica**
// Nov 11, 2006 at 3:17 pm
I think that these books should be allowed to stay because there just books, but one reason they might have caused contriversy is that they had strong beleifs that their authors weren’t scared to express.
In Fahrenhiet 451 they might be doing that for one of the reasons that they want to outlaw these books. This thought that might be an act soon might be one of the steps leading up to the event (book burning) in F 451.
Our society might actually end up being like F 451
Well i’m not sure why they are being challenged because harry potter and a wrinkle in are just fiction made up stories not fact. So, I don’t think there is any need for contreversy unless the author makes a big deal about it and challenges the people challenging him or her.
3
David
// Nov 11, 2006 at 4:21 pm
I think that people who knew that there could be a bad effect to them would want these challenged bookes censored. People would want to do this because in some of the books there could be information that could make a good affect on someone and maybe a bad effect on someone else. What I mean by this is this type of censoring could be done just like slavery times and how some white people didn’t want blacks to read because they may overpower or outsmart the white people and revolt against them.
David
4
David
// Nov 11, 2006 at 6:15 pm
Mr. Kolade, I understand censoring books in our society and all but I have a question. When We do our Read For Pleasure’s don’t you challenge us to get good books? -David
5
Mr. Kolade
// Nov 11, 2006 at 8:18 pm
That has nothing to do with censorship… I just don’t want you reading books that are below your reading level as many of you would try to do.
In response to what you said… I don’t understand censoring books in our society, so I have to challenge you there. Censorship, doesn’t stop people from thinking those “bad” things… it just makes it harder for people to get to them, thus making people want to see them even more.
6
Victoria
// Nov 12, 2006 at 9:54 am
Some of the books I can understand should be banned, but other books like Harry Potter I don’t get how they should be banned.
In F451, they banned all books not some, but like Veronica said our society could ended up like F451 if they keep banning all these books.
7
Yazrian
// Nov 12, 2006 at 3:31 pm
I think nothing should be kept form people becasue we have the right to hear and learn anything we want and maybe some things should have like age limit but I dont think they should be totally kept from people. Classic books like the color purple and to kill a mocking bird are great books that may not say good things but tell the truth and are written by some of the greatest american writers ever.
8
Aaliyah
// Nov 12, 2006 at 5:48 pm
I feel that you should be able to read any book that you want, because most books have a strong meaning to them. Also if the author attempted to even write the book then it must have some purpose to it to why you should read it. For example Fahrenheit 451, it is not the greatest book in the world but what we have read so far it is going to turn out to have great meaning.
9
Jordan
// Nov 13, 2006 at 5:44 pm
Most of the books on the list, nearly all of them, were probably banned because many parents most likely didn’t want their children exposed to some of the issues or subjects that the book focused on. Such as Harry Potter. I don’t read any of the books, but I’m pretty sure that parents wanted to get those books banned because they don’t want their children to believe in witchcraft and things related to that. And alot of the books, such as Daddy’s Roomate, discuss controversial issues that people don’t want to think about. Possibly because they don’t want to have their children ask about it so they would have to talk about it. So they find it easier to try to prevent them from hearing about it in the first place.
10
David
// Nov 13, 2006 at 8:00 pm
I think some of the books that are challenged such as the one’s on sex should be challenged in certain situations. If your parents don’t want you exposed to that type of stuff because they know the affect it will have on you than it is okay to be censored. If your parents have already exposed you to these types of topics then should be able to see these books. But still if your parents have already exposed you to sex (by having the talk) you may not be wanted to read these books by your parents in the end it is your choice. -David
11
Steven
// Nov 14, 2006 at 8:28 pm
As I I read the titles of these books I can understand why people would want to ban them because they were unexceptable for some people. But I have also read many of the books on that list and I would have to say, some of those books were the best bppks I have ever read. Even though it had some mature content in it I would think 8th graders would be able to handle it. This is way to show how much you have and grown and matured.
One of the ways I thought was a good way to solve this problem was for the parents to take a vote. If the majority of the parents allow there child to read these books then I think they should be allowed to rread them.
12
Aliyah
// Nov 15, 2006 at 8:05 pm
I think that some of the books were as Alec said random they were different some were realstic and some werent. I also think that people should be able to read when they want because its a choice given to our society.
13
Valerie
// Nov 15, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Some of these books, like “Sex” by Madonna, at least have a reason for being censored, but “To Kill a Mockingbird”? “Bridge to Terebithia”? Come on, people! These are the absolute classics that children are encouraged to read for school! And some of them are just silly, like books of Shel Silverstein poems. What the heck is wrong with Shel Silverstein? Come on!
14
Troy
// Nov 15, 2006 at 11:25 pm
People try to hide or get rid of things for their own reason which could be, They just don’t think people are ready for something or its just not something to show, which it could leave a impression on minds. In my mind I think some of these books were ok. In by that term I mean its suitable for young readers, but then again its all about the content of a book. Some of the books which were more vulgar should be sensored if it has no meaning to it. But if its Vulgar and tries to get out a word or a meaning I think its fine. It also depends on what the person looking at the book wants to do. If he should read the book because he feels hes ready. Or leave the book alone because hes not ready. Everyone has a choice on what they can read or not read. I don’t think its good to have other people make that choice for them. If they weren’t ready they weren’t ready. Quote ” Learn from your mistakes. “
15
Nia Simmons
// Nov 16, 2006 at 6:57 pm
What it says about our society is that we don’t LIKE to think. We already don’t think. We get in DENIAL when something needs thinking. But yet we talk about things that don’t matter and aren’t worth the conversation. And finally when stuff comes up that needs thinking we push it aside.
We only think about what makes us happy.
Ignorance is Bliss.
And in a society like ours….we must surely be in BLISS. (or we’re blissful……I don’t know I’m not thinking straight now!!!)
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