{"id":13714,"date":"2018-09-24T14:22:44","date_gmt":"2018-09-24T19:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=13714"},"modified":"2018-09-24T14:22:44","modified_gmt":"2018-09-24T19:22:44","slug":"banned-books-week-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=13714","title":{"rendered":"Banned Books Week 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

$\"\"$ It\u2019s the end of September again, so it is time to remind all of you about the important work the American Library Association does in the form of Banned Books Week. For those unfamiliar with the event, you must be new to my site. Welcome! Here\u2019s a brief description from the ALA:<\/p>\n

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Highlighting the value of free and open access to information, Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community \u2013- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types \u2013- in shared support of the freedom to seek, to publish, to read, and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.<\/p>\n

By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme is \u201cBanning Books Silences Stories\u201d. You can learn more about the impact of Banned Books Week by visiting the site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials in 2017. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:<\/p>\n

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Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher<\/strong>
\nOriginally published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it discusses suicide.<\/p>\n

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie<\/strong>
\nConsistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit.<\/p>\n

Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier<\/strong>
\nThis Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered \u201cconfusing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini<\/strong>
\nThis critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to \u201clead to terrorism\u201d and \u201cpromote Islam.\u201d<\/p>\n

George written by Alex Gino<\/strong>
\nWritten for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child.<\/p>\n

Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth<\/strong>
\nThis 2015 informational children\u2019s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex education and is believed to lead children to \u201cwant to have sex or ask questions about sex.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee<\/strong>
\nThis Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word.<\/p>\n

The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas<\/strong>
\nDespite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curriculums because it was considered \u201cpervasively vulgar\u201d and because of drug use, profanity, and offensive language.<\/p>\n

And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole<\/strong>
\nReturning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children\u2019s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship.<\/p>\n

I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas<\/strong>
\nThis autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.<\/p>\n

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