It's Banned Books Week!

It's National Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read.

According to the American Library Association, here are the top 10 banned books in 2007 (annotated by me):

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
I've read this and it is one of the cutest children's stories EVER. What's not to love about penguins in love who want a baby?

2. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
I read this many years ago, probably in sixth grade or so--I'm surprised it's still on the list.

3. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language
I haven't read this one, but it sounds really good.

4. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
This is a fantastic series...really interesting world, complex characters, strong female characters, good writing.

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism
I read this years ago, as well. It's such a part of our culture--a friend just made a joke about painting a fence that referenced this book last weekend--I'm not sure how you could ban it.

6. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
Another book I read many years ago; I'm ashamed to admit I don't remember it, so I'll have to add it to my library request list.

7. TTYL, by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
I haven't read this, but something tells me I'm not quite the right age for it.

8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit
I remember being amazed by this, but it's another one I need to re-read.

9. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
I haven't read this, but given my professional field, I probably don't need to.

10. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
I haven't read this, but I like the title...maybe it'll be another library book.

I took a look through the list of top-ten banned books since 1991, and I've read and love many of them. As an avid reader, I know I first grappled with many serious issues through books...I can't understand why parents would prefer their child to learn about sex by, say, having it, or reality tv, instead of reading Judy Blume? I mean, they do know that pretending it doesn't exist doesn't actually work, right? Oh wait...no, that's why we still have abstinence-only education. Anyways, I don't have a week to write about all the books I love on the banned books list, but one of these days I'm going through it, or perhaps the Radcliffe top 100 list, and read all the ones I haven't yet.

Banned Books Week always makes me think of another favorite, Farenheit 451, which may be at the root of my love for dystopian novels.