‘Banned Books Week’ remembers great titles
Banned Books Week (BBW) is celebrated the last week of September and is this year observed Sept. 27- Oct. 4. In an attempt to promote and protect free speech, BBW is an annual campaign, which began in 1982 and is sponsored by American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Library Association (ALA), American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers and National Association of College Stores. They are endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
According to the ALA website, “BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.”
Every year, hundreds of books are challenged because the book in question is considered too controversial. Often citing graphic language, sexually explicit content, or violence, those who challenge these books feel that others should not have access to them. Challenging a book is different from banning it because banning is the actual removal of the item from public access.
The most challenged book list is configured by the ALA using newspapers and reports submitted by individuals. All challenges are amassed in a database. Reports from newspapers are collected in the bimonthly Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom and are then complied in the Banned Books Week Resource Guide. All challenges reported by individuals are kept confidential; ALA releases only the title of the book being challenged, the state and type of institution.
Each February, the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the top ten most challenged books of the year. The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007″ consist of the following titles:
“And Tango Makes Three” -Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
“The Chocolate War”- Robert Cormier
“Oliver’s Ocean” -Kevin Henkes
“The Golden Compass” -Philip Pullman
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” -Mark Twain
“The Color Purple” -Alice Walker
“TTYL” -Lauren Myracle
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” -Maya Angelou
“It’s Perfectly Normal” -Robie Harris
“The Perks of Being A Wallflower” -Stephen Chbosky
The ALA has reported “And Tango Makes Three” has been the most challenged book since 2006 for its representation of homosexuality. Based on a true story, the book tells the story of two male penguins that, together, raise a baby penguin named Tango. While some consider it controversial, it has received several notable book awards including the ALA Notable Children’s Book, the Gustavus Myer Outstanding Book Award, the Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Book of the Year, the Cooperative Children’s Book Council Choice, and also was a finalist for the 2006 Lambda Literary Award.
There are many ways to become involved in this year’s BBW. ALA offers BBW Kits that include posters, buttons and bookmarks to help fight censorship. Also, simply organizing your own Read-Out! and opting to read a Banned Book is an easy way to promote awareness.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 26 2008. Filed under Features.
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