Banned Books Week

Which of these books have you read?

• Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• Forever by Judy Bloom
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Giver by Lois Lowery
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe
• 1984 by George Orwell
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Osseini
• Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

All of these popular books have at some time been banned or challenged. Over the centuries there have always been books that challenge the norm and push the limits of traditional thought. They have been removed from libraries or classrooms and even refused publication. The authors have also often been ostracized and those who were in possession of the books were at time accused of treason or heresy, condemned to death, torture, prison time and other severe punishments.

During this week of Banned Books Week (September 24-October 1, 2011) we want to remember that danger exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society. Books have always and will always be a means of sharing ideas.

This would be a great discussion to have with students.