Banned Book Number 12: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
This book was challenged for being derogatory to African Americans.
One of my favorite books. Recently there was a reprint of the classic that changed “slave” to “servant” and eliminated The N-Word. This change makes the terrible history of the treatment of African-Americans in this country watered down. Read about the change from Time magazine.
Banned Book Number 11: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
This book was challenged for being sexually explicit, for “promoting” violence and inappropriate language.
Book was OK. I enjoyed the travel through the past, present and future as a way to convey a disjointed world around us.
I read this book a few weeks ago but was struggling to find something to write about. My first reaction was that it is a great reminder that in this world we are all connected. What you do somehow affects me and what I do affects you. It may be indirect but it is nice to think about how we are all moving and shaping this world.
Over the last week the book took on a new meaning for me. I don’t often feel hopeful but with events of the last week I couldn’t help but think of this book and have a twinge of hope. Maybe things or people that we think are lost forever somehow find a way back to us if we were meant to have them.
Book trailer for The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
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Banned Book Number 10: We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
This book was challenged for being sexually explicit and for “promoting” violence.
If you can get past the the early references to “current” pop icons of Madonna and Billy Joel then the rest of the story is worth your time. This story has one of the best endings I have ever read. It is bittersweet and true to life. Check it out!!
Banned Book Number 9: The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood
This book was challenged for being anti-religious and sexually explicit.
This has been my favorite read in this challenge so far. This was written over 25 years ago and it still has relative themes of an anti-woman world. I would suggest this book to everyone.
Banned Book Number 8: Lovely Bones Alice Sebold
This book was challenged for being anti-religious and for being unsuited for a younger age group.
Great first half, terrible second half.
Banned Book Number 7: Speak Laurie Halse Anderson
This book was challenged for offensive language and for being sexually explicit (girl discusses her rape.)
We are inside Melinda’s head for most of the story as she is trying to come to terms with the aftermath of her rape. Powerful story that can teach us all that the ones that push us away, might need us the most.
Banned Book Number 6: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
This book was challenged for offensive language and for being sexually explicit.
As a girl with a lot of junk in my trunk, I appreciate the narrators funny take on life as she tries to find herself and her place in the world. Great book!
