- Even in America, books are frequently challenged and removed from schools and public libraries.
- Every year, the American Library Association puts on Banned Books Week to draw attention to this fact.
- Some of the books they include on their list of most frequently challenged are some of the greatest, most beloved, and entertaining books there are.
Book censorship in the United States has a long and ignoble history. The Puritans burned books they disagreed with, Darwin was banned in Tennessee classrooms, and in 1992 41% of all attempts by censors to remove books from libraries had some measure of success. To help bring attention to this shameful phenomenon, the American Library Association puts on Banned Books Week every year to draw attention to some of the most frequently banned and challenged books in the United States.
Here, we have ten of the most frequently challenged books in the United States, why they are challenged, and why you ought to read them.
Harry Potter (series)
Topping the list of the most frequently challenged books for the first decade of this century, the Harry Potter novels are among the most beloved works of children’s literature of the last few decades.
Why are they challenged? Attempts to remove the books tend to invoke the book’s use of magic to claim that they encourage witchcraft or bad behavior. These allegations also prevented J.K Rowling from getting a Presidential Medal of Freedom during the Bush years. Other attempts to keep the books off the shelves argue that the books are too scary for children.
Why should you read it? Not only are they fun books to read, but a study revealed that people who read the book are more empathetic towards stigmatized groups than those who do not read them are. They are frequently used to help encourage children to read more, and even adults will find the later books worth their time.
To Kill A Mockingbird
Another challenged book which often appears in the top ten most challenged books list, To Kill A Mockingbird is a heavyweight contender for the title of The Great American Novel. Published during the civil rights movement, Harper Lee’s masterpiece continues to inform discussion of racial issues today.
Why is it challenged? The book is challenged for its “offensive language,” “racism,” and being “unsuited” to the age group schools tend to offer it to. In 2016, the public schools of Accomack County, Virginia successfully removed the book from classrooms over the use of racist language.
Why should you read it? The book is a classic and shows us a side of American history most of us would like to pretend never happened in intimate detail. It explores themes of innocence, racial justice, hypocrisy, class, social norms, courage, and morality in a way few other novels can. It does this in a very readable style with unforgettable characters, including a young Truman Capote.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
Judy Blume has the honor of being the author with the most books on the frequently challenged list. This book, her third, focuses on a young girl named Margaret who is struggling with issues of faith, family, and growing up. It was placed on Time’s list of the top 100 English language novels of the last century.
Why is it challenged? The book deals frankly with Margaret’s religious issues and her concerns over menstruation. As such, it has been dubbed “sexual,” “amoral,” “anti-Christian,” and “profane” by would-be censors.
Why should you read it? Judy Blume has a knack for approaching difficult subject matter in a way that young adult readers can fully appreciate without dumbing it down or glossing over unpleasant concepts. It is well written and addresses issues that are perpetually relevant.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Another one of the leading contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, Huck Finn has found itself in the middle of controversy since the day it was published.
Why is it challenged? When it was first published, libraries refused to stock the book because of its crude humor and realist style. Twain himself recorded that “the Concord library has condemned Huck as ‘trash and only suitable for the slums.” Today, the chief complaint against the book is its frequent use of racial slurs and stereotypical depictions of several characters.
Why should you read it? Huck Finn is, without a doubt, one of the greatest American novels ever written. It turns a critical eye on American culture, racism, and personal identity with results that are both scathing and often hilarious. It shows Mark Twain’s brilliance at full tilt, and you can’t really hope to understand American literature without reading it.
R.L. Stein’s series of spooky children’s stories is the second-best selling book series of all time. They are fun tales that never get too scary or serious, and purposely avoid instances of death, drugs, or depravity.
Why are they challenged? The supernatural elements of the stories and scary tone have gotten the books challenged by buzzkills ever since they came out. The controversy has begun to die off though; it fell from the 15th spot on the 1990s list to 94th for the early 2000s list.
Why should you read them? They are entertaining kids’ books that can give a good fright without relying on anything too terrifying or offensive. The series is also an excellent tool for encouraging children to read.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou’s autobiographical coming of age story has captivated millions since it was first published in 1969. It is the first of a series of autobiographical books she wrote, and easily the most well-known. It is a gripping story of struggle and personal development that can inspire any reader.
Why is it challenged? The book is often called sexually explicit, includes references homosexuality, and includes the use of racist language.
Why should you read it? It is one of those rare biographies that also reads well as a piece of literature. It confronts issues of racism, sexual assault, illiteracy, personal identity, and growing up in a difficult environment with all the beauty of Angelou’s prose.
Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Patterson’s classic story of two children who invent a magical kingdom to play in, Bridge to Terabithia has appeared on countless middle school reading lists since it was first published in 1977.
Why is it challenged? The bizarre list of reasons for challenges to the book includes offensive language, violence, Satanism, and the promotion of secular humanism.
Why should you read it? It is an excellent children’s book, it won the 1978 Newbery Medal, that brilliantly deals with issues of death, grief, and friendship in a way that is neither patronizing nor sanitized.
Brave New World
Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel of hedonism, genetic engineering, conformity, and mass consumption has been knocked off countless times since it was first published in 1931. Based on what he thought the America of the 1920’s would decay into, it remains a haunting vision of things that may still come to pass.
Why is it challenged? It has been most frequently challenged for its depiction of drug use and sex. The school district of Miller, Missouri banned the book for making promiscuous sex “look like fun.”
Why should you read it? The book shows us how what we love can come to control us if misused and investigates the dark side of genetic engineering and modern technology. It forces the reader to confront questions of what utopia actually is and at what price we are willing to accept a world where everybody really is happy all the time.
It’s Perfectly Normal
Author Robie Harris’ children’s book on sex, puberty, and relationships was perhaps doomed to appear on the most frequently challenged list. It is an extremely detailed book that covers a wide variety of topics, much to the irritation of the puritanical.
Why is it challenged? The book is quite detailed, and many challenges relate to it being rated as appropriate for children as young as ten. Its use of cartoon illustrations has also drawn ire, and it has occasionally been called “pornographic” as a result. It also references the existence of homosexuality.
Why should it be read? Given the rather pathetic state of sex education in this country, the book’s honest and detailed explanations offer a needed alternative to the abstinence-only programs which tend to be inaccurate and unable to achieve their goals.
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck’s 1937 book about migrant farm workers in California predates his other classic, The Grapes of Wrath, by two years. It is technically a novella, as it weighs in at a mere 30,000 words.
Why is it challenged? The book’s ability to present profound ideas in an accessible manner makes it a staple of many high school reading lists. It has been scorned and banned for profanity, using the Lord’s name in vain, sexual themes, racism, being depressing, and being anti-business.
Why should you read it? If you want a work of classic literature that is also easy to understand, you can’t do much better than this. It hits many of the major themes in Steinbeck’s later work inside of two hours reading time. It is also an excellent work onto itself that is worth the time of any reader.
- Hata nchini Marekani, vitabu mara nyingi hupingwa na kuondolewa katika shule na maktaba za umma. Kila mwaka, Shirika la Maktaba la Marekani hufanya Wiki ya Vitabu Vilivyofungwa ili kuvutia uangalifu juu ya ukweli huu. - Baadhi ya vitabu wanavyotia kwenye orodha yao ya vitabu vinavyopingwa mara nyingi zaidi ni baadhi ya vitabu bora zaidi, vinavyopendwa zaidi, na vyenye kufurahisha zaidi. Udhibiti wa vitabu nchini Marekani una historia ndefu na yenye aibu. "Wapuritani walichoma vitabu waliovipinga, Darwin alikatazwa katika madarasa ya Tennessee, na katika mwaka wa 1992 asilimia 41 ya majaribio yote ya kukata vitabu kutoka maktaba yalifanikiwa.""" Kwa mfano, kila mwaka, Shirika la Maktaba la Marekani (ALA) huandaa wiki ya vitabu vilivyopigwa marufuku ili kuwakumbusha watu kuhusu vitabu vilivyopigwa marufuku nchini Marekani. Hapa kuna vitabu 10 vya kawaida vinavyopingwa na wasomaji wengi, na kwa nini unapaswa kusoma. Harry Potter (mfululizo) Kuongoza orodha ya vitabu vya mara kwa mara changamoto kwa ajili ya muongo wa kwanza wa karne hii, Harry Potter riwaya ni miongoni mwa kazi ya kupendwa zaidi ya watoto fasihi ya miongo michache iliyopita. Kwa nini wao hupingwa? Jitihada za kuondoa vitabu huwa na kuomba matumizi ya kitabu cha uchawi kudai kwamba wao kuhamasisha uchawi au tabia mbaya. Madai hayo pia yalimzuia J.K. Rowling kupata medali ya uhuru ya rais wakati wa miaka ya Bush. Jitihada nyingine za kuondoa vitabu hivyo kwenye rafu zinasema kwamba vitabu hivyo vinawaogopesha sana watoto. Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? Si tu kwamba vitabu hivyo ni vya kufurahisha kusoma, lakini utafiti ulifunua kwamba watu wanaosoma vitabu hivyo wana hisia-mwenzi zaidi kuelekea vikundi vilivyoathiriwa kuliko wale ambao hawavisomi. Mara nyingi vitabu hivyo hutumiwa kuwahimiza watoto wasome zaidi, na hata watu wazima watapata kwamba vitabu vya baadaye vinafaa wakati wao. Kuua Mockingbird: Kitabu kingine kilichopingwa ambacho mara nyingi huonekana katika orodha ya vitabu kumi vya juu zaidi, Kuua Mockingbird ni mgombea wa uzito mkubwa kwa jina la The Great American Novel. Ilichapishwa wakati wa harakati za haki za kiraia, kitabu hicho cha Harper Lee kinaendelea kuchochea majadiliano juu ya masuala ya rangi leo. Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Kitabu hicho kinapingwa kwa lugha yake ya "kushambulia", "ubaguzi wa rangi", na kuwa "haifai" kwa kikundi cha umri ambacho shule huwa zinatoa. Shule za umma za Accomack County, Virginia, ziliondoa kitabu hicho katika madarasa yao kwa sababu ya matumizi ya lugha ya ubaguzi wa rangi. Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? Kitabu hiki ni cha kawaida na kinatuonyesha upande wa historia ya Marekani ambao wengi wetu tungependa kudai haukuwahi kutokea kwa undani. Inachunguza mandhari ya kutokuwa na hatia, haki ya kikabila, unafiki, darasa, kanuni za kijamii, ujasiri, na maadili kwa njia ambayo riwaya nyingine chache zinaweza. Inafanya hivyo kwa mtindo unaosomeka sana na wahusika wasioweza kusahaulika, ikiwa ni pamoja na Truman Capote mchanga. Je, Wewe Upo, Mungu? Ni Mimi, Margaret Judy Blume ana heshima ya kuwa mwandishi na vitabu vingi kwenye orodha ya mara kwa mara changamoto. Kitabu hiki, cha tatu, kinazungumzia kuhusu msichana anayeitwa Margaret ambaye anashindana na masuala ya imani, familia, na kukua. "Times iliiweka katika orodha ya ""100 ya bora Kiingereza lugha riwaya ya karne iliyopita.""" Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Kitabu hicho kinazungumzia waziwazi masuala ya kidini ya Margaret na wasiwasi wake kuhusu hedhi. Kwa hiyo, imeitwa <unk> kijinsia, <unk> <unk> amoral, <unk> <unk> anti-Christian, <unk> na <unk> profane <unk> na wataka kuwa censors. Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? Judy Blume ana kipaji cha kukaribia mada ngumu kwa njia ambayo wasomaji wachanga wanaweza kuthamini kikamilifu bila kuifanya iwe ya kawaida au kufunika dhana zisizopendeza. Imeandikwa vizuri na inazungumzia masuala ambayo ni ya maana daima. "Huckleberry Finn, mwandishi wa vitabu vya kisasa, ni mmoja wa washindani wakuu wa jina la ""The Great American Novel"" na ameonekana kuwa na ushawishi mkubwa katika historia ya Marekani." Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Kitabu hicho kilipochapishwa kwa mara ya kwanza, maktaba zilikataa kukiweka kwenye hifadhi kwa sababu ya ucheshi wake mbaya na mtindo wake wa kweli. Twain mwenyewe alirekodi kwamba "maktaba ya Concord imemkataa Huck kama 'chafu na inafaa tu kwa slums.' Leo, malalamiko kuu dhidi ya kitabu ni matumizi yake ya mara kwa mara ya matusi ya kikabila na picha za kawaida za wahusika kadhaa. Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? Huck Finn ni moja ya vitabu bora zaidi vya Marekani. Inaangalia kwa uangalifu utamaduni wa Marekani, ubaguzi wa rangi, na utambulisho wa kibinafsi na matokeo ambayo ni yenye kuchoma na mara nyingi yenye kuchekesha. Inaonyesha Mark Twain's kipaji katika mwelekeo kamili, na huwezi kweli matumaini ya kuelewa fasihi ya Marekani bila kusoma. R.L. Mfululizo wa Stein wa hadithi za watoto wa kutisha ni mfululizo wa pili wa vitabu vinavyouzwa zaidi wakati wote. Ni hadithi zenye kufurahisha ambazo hazipati kamwe kuwa zenye kuogopesha au zenye uzito sana, na kwa makusudi huepuka visa vya kifo, dawa za kulevya, au upotovu. Kwa nini wao hupingwa? Vitu vya ajabu vya hadithi na sauti ya kutisha vimefanya vitabu hivyo vikabiliwe na buzzkills tangu vilipojitokeza. Hata hivyo, baada ya kuanguka kutoka nafasi ya 15 katika orodha ya miaka ya 1990 hadi nafasi ya 94 katika orodha ya miaka ya mapema ya 2000. Kwa nini unapaswa kuziandika? Ni vitabu vya kufurahisha vya watoto ambavyo vinaweza kuogopesha vizuri bila kutegemea chochote chenye kutisha au chenye kuudhi sana. Mfululizo huo pia ni chombo kizuri cha kuwatia moyo watoto wasome. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ni kitabu cha hadithi ya maisha ya Maya Angelou ambacho kimesababisha watu wengi kuvutiwa na hadithi hiyo tangu kuchapishwa kwake mwaka 1969. Ni ya kwanza ya mfululizo wa vitabu autobiographical aliandika, na kwa urahisi maarufu zaidi. Ni hadithi yenye kuvutia ya mapambano na maendeleo ya kibinafsi ambayo yaweza kumchochea msomaji yeyote. Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Kitabu hicho mara nyingi huitwa cha wazi cha kingono, kinajumuisha marejeo ya ushoga, na kinajumuisha matumizi ya lugha ya ubaguzi wa rangi. Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? Ni mojawapo ya masimulizi hayo ya maisha yasiyo ya kawaida ambayo pia husomwa vizuri kama kitabu cha fasihi. Inakabiliwa na masuala ya ubaguzi wa rangi, unyanyasaji wa kingono, ukosefu wa kusoma na kuandika, utambulisho wa kibinafsi, na kukua katika mazingira magumu na uzuri wote wa maandishi ya Angelou. Bridge to Terabithia ni hadithi ya Katherine Patterson ya watoto wawili ambao huunda ufalme wa kichawi wa kucheza, na imeonekana kwenye orodha nyingi za kusoma za shule za kati tangu ilichapishwa kwa mara ya kwanza mnamo 1977. Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Orodha ya sababu za kushangaza za changamoto kwa kitabu hicho inatia ndani lugha yenye kuudhi, jeuri, Usatani, na kukuza ubinadamu wa kilimwengu. Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? "Kama kitabu cha watoto, kitabu hiki kilishinda tuzo ya Newbery Medal mwaka 1978 na kinaelezea kwa ufasaha masuala ya kifo, huzuni na urafiki kwa njia ambayo haipendezi wala haipendezi.""" "Aldous Huxley, mwandishi wa ""Dystopian Novel"" ya ""Brave New World"" alitoa maoni yake juu ya maisha ya watu wa kawaida, na pia juu ya jinsi ya kufurahisha maisha yao, na jinsi ya kuwa na maisha ya kawaida, na jinsi ya kufurahia maisha ya kawaida." Kulingana na kile alichofikiria Amerika ya miaka ya 1920 ingeharibika, inabaki kuwa maono ya mambo ambayo bado yanaweza kutokea. Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Mara nyingi imechambuliwa kwa sababu ya maonyesho yake ya matumizi ya dawa za kulevya na ngono. Wilaya ya shule ya Miller, Missouri ilipiga marufuku kitabu hicho kwa sababu ilifanya ngono isiyo ya kawaida <unk>ionekane kuwa yenye kufurahisha.<unk> Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? Kitabu hiki kinatuonyesha jinsi kile tunachokipenda kinaweza kuja kutudhibiti ikiwa kitatumiwa vibaya na kuchunguza upande wa giza wa uhandisi wa maumbile na teknolojia ya kisasa. "Kama msomaji, lazima kukabiliana na maswali ya nini utopia ni kweli na kwa bei gani sisi ni tayari kukubali dunia ambapo kila mtu ni kweli furaha wakati wote. """ Kitabu cha watoto cha mwandishi Robie Harris kuhusu ngono, kubalehe, na mahusiano labda kilikuwa kimeamriwa kuonekana kwenye orodha ya mara nyingi zaidi ya changamoto. Ni kitabu chenye maelezo mengi sana ambacho kinashughulikia mambo mbalimbali, jambo linalowakasirisha sana watu wa dini ya ki-Puritani. Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Kitabu hicho ni cha kina sana, na changamoto nyingi zinahusiana na kuwa kimepimwa kuwa kinafaa kwa watoto wenye umri wa miaka kumi. Matumizi yake ya michoro ya katuni pia imevutia hasira, na mara kwa mara imeitwa "pornographic" kama matokeo. Pia inarejelea kuwepo kwa ugoni-jinsia-moja. Kwa nini inapaswa kusomwa? Kwa kuzingatia hali mbaya ya elimu ya ngono nchini, maelezo ya kitabu hiki ya uaminifu na ya kina hutoa mbadala unaohitajika kwa programu za kujizuia tu ambazo huwa hazifai na haziwezi kufikia malengo yao. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika kitabu cha ""Mice and Men"" cha John Steinbeck cha 1937 kuhusu wafanyakazi wa mashamba waliohamia California, kitabu hicho kilitolewa miaka miwili kabla ya kitabu chake cha zamani ""The Grapes of Wrath.""" Kwa kweli, ni riwaya ndogo, kwa kuwa ina maneno 30,000 tu. Kwa nini inashutumiwa? Uwezo wa kitabu hicho cha kuwasilisha mawazo ya kina kwa njia inayoweza kufikiwa hufanya iwe msingi wa orodha nyingi za kusoma za shule za sekondari. Imechambuliwa na kupigwa marufuku kwa sababu ya matusi, kutumia jina la Bwana bure, mandhari za kingono, ubaguzi wa rangi, kuwa yenye kushtua, na kuwa dhidi ya biashara. Kwa nini unapaswa kuisoma? Kama unataka kazi ya fasihi ya kawaida ambayo pia ni rahisi kuelewa, huwezi kufanya mengi bora kuliko hii. Inagusa mandhari nyingi kuu katika kazi ya baadaye ya Steinbeck ndani ya muda wa kusoma saa mbili. Pia ni kazi bora yenyewe ambayo inastahili wakati wa msomaji yeyote.