BANNED BOOK WEEK September 24TH-30TH
The 2016 Top Ten List of Most Challenged Books includes these titles:
- “This One Summer,”written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: Challenged because it includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes. - “Drama,”written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: Challenged because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint. - “George,”written by Alex Gino
Reasons: Challenged because it includes a transgender child, and the “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels.” - “I Am Jazz,” written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
Reasons: Challenged because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints. - “Two Boys Kissing,” written by David Levithan
Reasons: Challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content. - “Looking for Alaska,” written by John Green
Reasons: Challenged for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation.” - “Big Hard Sex Criminals,”written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
Reason: Challenged because it was considered sexually explicit. - “Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread,” written by Chuck Palahniuk
Reasons: Challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being “disgusting and all-around offensive.” - “Little Bill” (series) written by Bill Cosby and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
Reason: Challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author. - “Eleanor & Park,” written by Rainbow Rowell
Reason: Challenged for offensive language.
Attempts to silence diverse voices by banning books pose a serious threat to democracy, and in response, the ALA is encouraging the public to participate in the Stand for the Banned Read-Out. During Banned Books Week, participants are encouraged to film themselves reading from banned books or sharing how unrestricted reading has impacted their life. The submitted videos will be uploaded to the ALA’s Banned Books Week YouTube channel. Also for the first time, ALA is hosting a Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament, a national effort that invites readers to post banned book-themed action items on Twitter with the hashtag #RebelReader.
First observed in 1982, Banned Books Week reminds Americans not to take the freedom to read for granted. This year’s Banned Books Week theme is “Words Have Power. Read a Banned Book.” The words in banned and challenged books have the power to connect readers to diverse perspectives. When books are threatened with removal from library shelves, your words have the power to challenge censorship and to safeguard the freedom to read.
Additional information regarding Banned Books Week, the Stand for the Banned Read-Out and other events is available at www.ala.org/bbooks .