Banned Book Week started in 1982 and occurs each year in the end of September to highlight the value of free and open access to information. In 2019, it takes place Sunday, September 22nd to Saturday the 28th.

Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider controversial. Banned Book Week celebrates freedom to read and informs us of attempts to censor information in libraries and schools.

Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles lists of challenged books as reported in the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country. This year ALA’s Banned Book Week slogan is “Censorship leaves us in the dark. So, keep the lights on.” All public libraries strive to to be this light every year for anyone who needs information. For more information on the Library Bill of Rights, visit http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations.  Go to your local LMLS library and support Banned Books!

Recently, the ALA announced the top 11 most challenged books for 2018. Please visit the library catalog to locate a copy of the book at a Lower Merion Library. Here they are:

 

George by Alex Gino (Scholastic)
Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character

 

 

 

 

 

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller (Chronicle Books)
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Underpants series, written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic)
Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Balzer + Bray)
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (GRAPHIX)
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Razorbill)
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki (First Second)
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skippyjon Jones series, written and illustrated by Judy Schachner (Dutton Books for Young Readers)
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture

 

 

 

 

 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint (This book seems to be on the list every year. I personally love this book and think middle schoolers everywhere could learn a thing or two from this story.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten (Magination Press)
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

 

 

 

 

 

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of these books are about or mention LGBTQ people – a controversial topic in today’s headlines. It’s important that libraries protect the freedom of information for everyone. These books can be found at your Lower Merion Libraries. So visit us, check them out and see what the fuss is all about!

By Valerie Vitale, Library Assistant I, Gladwyne Library

Banned Book Week

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Banned Book Week started in 1982 and occurs each year in the end of September to highlight the value of free and open access to information. In 2019, it takes place Sunday, September 22nd to Saturday the 28th.

Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider controversial. Banned Book Week celebrates freedom to read and informs us of attempts to censor information in libraries and schools.

Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles lists of challenged books as reported in the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country. This year ALA’s Banned Book Week slogan is “Censorship leaves us in the dark. So, keep the lights on.” All public libraries strive to to be this light every year for anyone who needs information. For more information on the Library Bill of Rights, visit http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations.  Go to your local LMLS library and support Banned Books!

Recently, the ALA announced the top 11 most challenged books for 2018. Please visit the library catalog to locate a copy of the book at a Lower Merion Library. Here they are:

 

George by Alex Gino (Scholastic)
Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character

 

 

 

 

 

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller (Chronicle Books)
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Underpants series, written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic)
Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Balzer + Bray)
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (GRAPHIX)
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Razorbill)
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki (First Second)
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skippyjon Jones series, written and illustrated by Judy Schachner (Dutton Books for Young Readers)
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture

 

 

 

 

 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint (This book seems to be on the list every year. I personally love this book and think middle schoolers everywhere could learn a thing or two from this story.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten (Magination Press)
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

 

 

 

 

 

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of these books are about or mention LGBTQ people – a controversial topic in today’s headlines. It’s important that libraries protect the freedom of information for everyone. These books can be found at your Lower Merion Libraries. So visit us, check them out and see what the fuss is all about!

By Valerie Vitale, Library Assistant I, Gladwyne Library

Banned Book Week