# Explain these "challenged books" to me. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942 "2003-11-07T18:49:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/1 "2003-11-07T18:49:20Z")
I was looking over [this list](http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Offices/Intellectual_Freedom3/Banned_Books_Week/Related_Links7/100_Most_Frequently_Challenged_Books_of_1990-2000.htm) of the 100 most frequently challenged books, and… I don’t get it. There are maybe five or ten of them that I’ve never heard of or never read, and a few that are fairly recent, like Harry Potter so I obviously didn’t read them when I was very young, but the vast majority of those books I had on my bookshelf as a young pup. For example, anything by Mark Twain or John Steinbeck, _To Kill a Mockingbird_, and _Julie of the Wolves_ were all among my favorite childhood books. I remember reading _I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings_ in, what, fifth grade? Can someone tell me why these books are challenged? I know the complaints against Huck Finn, but _Of Mice and Men?_ And why _Julie of the Wolves_? I just read that again last week for about the nine millionth time. Of the titles that include the word “sex” or are clearly about homosexuality, I can see why someone would want them kept off the shelves\*, but some of the titles make zero sense to me. Clearly, there’s something I’m missing. ~mixie \*NOT an agreement, just a statement that the reasoning is obvious in this case. Just like it’s obvious why some get hysterical over Harry Potter. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/2 "2003-11-07T18:57:54Z")
You’re looking for rational explanations for overreactions and hysteria? Simple fact is some people just can’t wait to be offended by something so when they find it (or hear a half assed version of what the book supposedly says) they get their group (whatever it happens to be church, a conservative group, or a touchy feely liberal group. Did I miss any?) To throw fits and try to get the book banned. Heck Stephen King books were banned from my High school library for awhile. I think the big complaint was he used the ‘n’ word in The Shinning or something. One of my teachers even called him up and there’s a tapped interview with him you can check out in the library that she made. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/3 "2003-11-07T19:01:06Z")
Well, the book-banners would like to get rid of any book that doesn’t hew to their narrow little world view. Some of the objections come from the extreme right, some come from the extreme left. If the book uses the “N” word, for instance, it is bound to be challenged by the Left. If the book involves sex in any way, it will be challenged by the right. Harry Potter gets it from both sides, as the Right sees it as glorifying witchcraft, and the Left sees it as denigrating witchcraft. Any book worth banning is a book worth reading. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/4 "2003-11-07T19:15:01Z")
Well, right, **Darkhold** , I’m not looking for “rational” here, just explanations. What’s objectionable about _Of Mice and Men_, _To Kill a Mockingbird_, _I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings_, _Julie of the Wolves_, etc? I’m not asking for rationalizations, just curious as to why anyone would object to these books. Okay, so some people don’t want their kids reading about homosexuality, some people object to the Judy Blume books because they’re about the uncomfortable parts of adolescence and talk about sex and such, etc. There’s something I’m missing–what’s objectionable about the above books? Or _How to Eat Fried Worms_ by Thomas Rockwell, or _Jump Ship to Freedom_, or _Bridge to Terabithia_? \*_silenus_–fully agreed. If I had the money, I’d go right now and order two copies of every one of these books for my local library. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/5 "2003-11-07T19:16:19Z")
Oops, **silenus** , too. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/6 "2003-11-07T19:27:19Z")
try this site. [http://title.forbiddenlibrary.com/](http://title.forbiddenlibrary.com/) it seems to have alot of the books you mentioned with short reasons. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/7 "2003-11-07T19:27:29Z")
It has been years since I have read **Julie of the Wolves** but wasn’t there a rape? I have read most of the books on the list other then the few sex ones. A few of the banned books (specifically **The Color Purple** and **The Outsiders** ) were required reading when I was in school. Anyone know why people would ban **How to Eat Fried Worms** or the Shel Silverstein books? ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/8 "2003-11-07T19:36:04Z")
try this site. [http://title.forbiddenlibrary.com/](http://title.forbiddenlibrary.com/) it seems to have a few of the books you mentioned with short reasons. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/9 "2003-11-07T19:38:40Z")
Silverstein gets slapped for “encouraging the defiance of authority” or some such drivel. That, and it encourages kids to use their imaginations, which is a capital crime to all book burners. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/10 "2003-11-07T19:39:50Z")
Sorry about the double post. I guess I’m lucky it wasn’t more it ‘timed out’ about five times. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/11 "2003-11-07T19:51:15Z")
**In Conceivable** –you’re right, Julie runs away from an arranged marriage at 13 when the boy gets teased for not having sex with her, and attempts to rape her. Thanks for the link, **Darkhold** , some of those listings absolutely floor me. Here are some of my favorites: _My Friend Flicka_. Mary O’Hara. Harper; Lippincott. Removed from fifth and sixth grade optional reading lists in Clay County, Fla. schools (1990) **because the book uses the word “bitch” to refer to a female dog** , as well as the word “damn.” (bolding mine) _Where the Sidewalk Ends_. Shel Silverstein. Harper. Challenged at the West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wis. school libraries (1986) because the book “suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents.” _A Wrinkle In Time_. Madeleine L’Engle. Dell. \Challenged in the Anniston Ala. schools (1990). The complainant objected to the book’s listing the name of Jesus Christ together with the names of great artists, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders when referring to those who defend earth against evil. _Zen Buddhism: Selected Writings_. D.T. Suzuki. Doubleday. Challenged at the Plymouth-Canton school system in Canton, Mich. (1987) because “this book details the teachings of the religion of Buddhism in such a way that the reader could very likely embrace its teachings and choose this as his religion.” The last thing we need are a bunch of peaceful Buddhists running around. The horror. It also lists objects to the _Little House_ books, for the love o’god, as well as several books by Roald Dahl ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/12 "2003-11-07T20:46:24Z")
this is my fave so far _A Light in the Attic_. Shel Silverstein. Harper. Challenged at the Cunningham Elementary School in Beloit, Wis. (1985) because the book “enourages children to break dishes so they won’t have to dry them.” Removed from Minot, N.Dak. Public School libraries when the superintendent found “suggestive illustrations.” Challenged at the Big Bend Elementary School library in Mukwonago, Wis. (1986) because some of Silverstein’s poems “glorified Satan, suicide and cannibalism, and also encouraged children to be disobedient.” I never knew it was such a racy book. ---
**Author:** ![CakeOrDeath666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CakeOrDeath666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CakeOrDeath666)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/13 "2003-11-07T21:20:24Z")
Here we’ve gotta do coursework on Of Mice And Men. you may have just given my sister a brilliant idea to base her coursework on, and she says thank you. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/14 "2003-11-07T21:36:15Z")
Death and the portrayal thereof is another popular reason for protests against books. It might traumatize the kids, you see. That’s why _Bridge to Terabithia_ is on the list. Scary issues are also bad. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/15 "2003-11-07T22:08:08Z")
“Where’s Waldo?” Are these people high? I find it telling that so many of the books on this list were books that forced me to confront so many of my own fears and insecurities when I was young, particularly “Are You There, God?..” by Judy Blume. I remember fully two thirds of these books with a fond nostalgia. (I didn’t read the Beauty series by Anne Rice til I was 30-but I certainly learned a lot from it) ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/16 "2003-11-07T22:16:31Z")
I think this one is my favorite: > [@](#): > > Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne Frank. Modern Library. … Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of this book because it is a “real downer.” ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/17 "2003-11-07T23:43:33Z")
Actually, I would’ve been happy if _The Color Purple_ was banned. I had to read it for English and hated every minute of it. I’m only half-kidding. I really do wish I hadn’t had to read it. ---
**Author:** ![Sonyadora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sonyadora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonyadora)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/18 "2003-11-08T00:30:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll. Ace; Bantam; Crown; Delacorte; Dover; NAL; Norton; Penguin; Random; St. Martin. Banned in China (1931) for portraying animals and humans on the same level, “Animals should not use human language.” :dubious: okaaay…you might want to get that stick removed from your ass (this from a culture with plenty of mythological talking animals…) > [@](#): > > Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl. Bantam; Knopf; Penguin. Removed from a locked reference collection at the Boulder, Colo. Public Library (1988), where it had been placed because the librarian thought the book espoused a poor philosophy of life. Let me get this straight, a book that encourages honesty, humility, restraint, and hopefulness espouses a poor philosophy of life? > [@](#): > > Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury. Ballentine. Ironically, students at the Venado Middle School in Irvine, Calif. received copies of the book with scores of words–mostly “hells” and “damns”–blacked out. The novel is about book burning and censorship. Thankfully, after receiving complaints from parents and being contacted by reporters, school officials said the censored copies would no longer be used Yet more proof that there are no lengths people won’t go to to make asses of themselves. > [@](#): > > The Graphic Work of M.C. Escher. M.C. Escher. Pan/Ballentine. Retained after being challenged at Maldonado Elementary School in Tucson, Ariz. (1994) for “pornographic”, “perverted”, and “morbid” themes. I guess they think good art should match your sofa. Pornographic? I don’t think I’ve even seen nudity in an Escher print… > [@](#): > > King Lear. William Shakespeare. Airmont; Methuen;NAL; Penguin; Pocket Bks. Now considered to be among Shakespeare’s greatest works, Lear was performed in drastically adapted form–Nahum Tate’s Restoration version eliminated characters and boasted a happy ending in which Lear is restored to the throne and Cordelia survives. The play was subject to political censorship when it was banned from the English stage from 1788 to 1820, out of respect to King George III’s alleged insanity. The tragic ending of King Lear was not restored until 1823, and the character of the fool was finally reintroduced in 1838 Barf. > [@](#): > > Raisin in the Sun. Lorraine Hansberry. Random. The Ogden, Utah School District (1979) restricted circulation of Hansberry’s play in response to criticism from an anti-pornography organization. Did they read the same play I read? Of all the reasons to find Raisin in the Sun objectionable, my brain hurts trying to figure out this one. Now I’m itching to find a longer list of banned works and the rationale behind the censorship, because Forbidden Library just boogles the mind. I’ve often heard people say kids shouldn’t read _Of Mice and Men_ because it would disturb them. Duh nimrod, it’s supposed to be disturbing. If kids can’t get over it richer for the experience then I’d say they had pretty deep emotional issues well before reading Steinbeck. Then there are the claims of racism for _To Kill a Mockingbird_ and _Huck Finn_. I don’t think we’re reading the same book here, although to be fair I’m sure I’d be more put out by the “n” word if I were black. I don’t know what all this non sense around Silverstein and Dahl is. Do people assume children have zero ability to think for themseves? I’ve owned Shel Silversteins books since the age of 6 and I never did anything like breaking the dishes on purpose \* because I understood it was supposed to be funny!\* Jokes people. Jokes that appeal to kids. Is this so complicated? :Goes off to beat people with her hardback of _Don Quixote_: ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/19 "2003-11-08T00:36:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Maureen \* > \*\* > (I didn’t read the Beauty series by Anne Rice til I was 30-but I certainly learned a lot from it) \*\* What did you learn? Be sure to be very detailed in your answer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942/20 "2003-11-08T01:35:16Z")
The one thing about the forbidden library list is that it lists books that people asked to be removed from off the required reading list right next to books to books that people tried to (and successfully) banned. There is, to me, a difference between saying “Kids should not have to read these books” and “Kids should not be allowed to read these books.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-these-challenged-books-to-me/211942.md?page=2)