Since 1982, banned book week has been observed by libraries and schools alike (ALA, 2007). I find the concept of banned or challenging books fascinating. About ten years ago, I sat on a library committee at my daughter's elementary school. At least once a month, a parent would challenge a book in our school library. For the most part, the challenges seemed to represent the parents' fear of something. There are two challenges that stand out in my mind: Freaky Friday, by Mary Rodgers and the Amber Brown Series, by Paula Danzinger. For those of you not familiar with the books, Freaky Friday was written in the early 70's and is about a girl and her mother who switch places. The Amber Brown Series was written in the late 90's. The main character is an elementary school girl whose parent's recently divorced. Both books were written for elementary school children. I am sure many of you are wondering what is challenging about either of these books? I felt the same way when I saw them on our agenda. Freaky Friday was challenged because the parent felt the teenage girl in the book was disrespectful to her mother. She told us that she works hard to instill discipline and order in her home and she feared that a book like this could negatively influence an impressionable child. She was very passionate with her plea that we remove this book from the library. In the end, the book remained in our library. The Amber Brown Series was challenged because of the divorce theme. The parent stated that she did not believe in divorce and did not want her daughter exposed to such topics. Again, this challenge was denied and the series stayed in our library. As you can see, both mothers were afraid for their children. One was afraid that their child could be negatively influenced and the other was afraid her daughter would learn about the concept of divorce. I believe we should rename the concept to "Feared Books." What do you think?
For more information about banned book week visit http://www.ala.org/.
American Library Association (ALA). (2007). Why books banned week? Background. Retrieved on March 6, 2008 from http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/backgroundb/background.htm
4 comments:
The idea of people wanting to ban books has always driven me crazy! I know as a media specialist, I am going to have challenges with that. My opinion is that kids see so much horrible stuff on television and in video games, that reading about something does not even come close to the graphic visual images that they get. I can't believe the books you mentioned, you would think people would have bigger fish to fry.
I think the idea of banning books is not a good idea. For one reason, people will ready whatever they want, no matter if the book is banned or not. It's the way human kind works. The Church banned lots of books and still hasn't apologized to individuals that they either condemned or put under lock and key due to their view the book is harmful to their eyes. Galileo's family was recently received an apology, but they didn't step close to saying they were wrong in the first place. There will always be a debate over who has the authority of books, but at some point, people need to step back and realize that its freedom of expression.
Parents who challenge books do often act out of an honest fear or concern for their children. Unfortunately many go about voicing their concerns in over the top ways.
Feared books indeed. I cannot believe there was a challenge to Freaky Friday. I think there is an incredible sense of entitlement behind the motivation of would-be book banners, something definitely beyond fear. Fear suggests a realistic sense of place in Darwinian order. Self-righteousness is not a biological impulse.
Jean
www.italiangreyhounds.org/errata/
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