Banned Books Project- Of Mice and Men

For Banned Books week I decided to read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. This book has been challenged across the world for violence, language, racial slurs, and sexually explicit scenes. Despite the numerous amount of challenges, this book still remains a key novel on the reading list of middle school and high school English classes.

Reading Banned Books: Huckleberry Finn

My high school English Lit. class read this book a few years ago, and it prompted thoughtful conversations about censorship and authorial intent. It's been challenged for obvious reasons: the use of racial slurs and the way the main character, Huck Finn, speaks about his slave friend Jim. This is a particularly difficult section from the second chapter where Huck is describing a prank that his friend, Tom Sawyer, has pulled on Jim, which leads Jim to believe that witches have been messing with him. I have to say, even though I love Twain, and in particular this book, this was very hard to read! I actually intended to read a larger selection, but I had to stop.

Reading Banned Books: Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games

Despite its popularity, or perhaps because of it, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has been on the ALA's list of top 10 frequently banned books three times, mostly for violence and being 'unsuited for age group.' This is an excerpt from chapter 25 of The Hunger Games. It showcases some of the violence that had parents upset as well as the reminder that to the audience, the killing was all for entertainment.

Reading a Banned Book: Sherman's Alexie's 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian'

In celebration of Banned Books Week 2015, here's a brief reading from the first chapter of Sherman Alexie's young adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Alexie is a funny writer, but not everyone likes his brand of humor. Judge for yourself.

Update: Banned Books Week 2015

It's almost that time of year again. September is more than back to school and football, it's also a time when readers, librarians, journalists, and other interested thinkers and book lovers celebrate banned books.

Information and useful links to Banned Book Week 2015 can be found here: Banned.

Flashback: A Reading from a Banned Books, 2011

Flashback: A Reading from Lolita, Banned Books Week 2011