Title: What Makes a Banned Book? | Education.com
Headings: What Makes a Banned Book?
What Makes a Banned Book?
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Content: But, explains the ALA, censorship can be subtle, almost imperceptible, as well as blatant and overt. Download Article
So what does it take for a book to make the "banned" list? Unfortunately, not much. Typically, a parent or patron finds offensive material in a book and deems it unworthy for people (usually children and young adults) to read. Books have been banned for the following reasons: offensive language, violence, having an occult theme or promoting the occult or Satanism, being unsuited for an age group, promoting homosexuality, racism, sexual education, being anti-family or promoting a religious viewpoint, and nudity. And if a book is challenged enough times, a school (or public) library usually feels pressure pull it from the shelves, at least for a time. Children’s author Betsy Franco’s anthology You Hear Me? Poems and Writing by Teenage Boys, was banned for language, sexual content, and references to drug use. Says Franco, “I purposely did not censor the book, which makes it authentic to teen readers.”