Welcome to the fourth (and late) edition of Banned Books Roundup! At the end of every month I will feature stories that all have one thing in common, book censorship. Because I focus mainly on YA literature, these banned sightings will, you guessed it, spotlight children and young adult literature censorship.
Here is what happened in October:
Banned Books Week: The Conspiracy to Shield Queer Books From Your Eyes - 10/1/2011
"The sad side of it is that for every parent who insists that books about drugs, violence or sex are inappropriate for schools, there are many more kids who need those books because those “hot-button issues” are more than issues to them — they’re daily realities."
ACLU counts fewer banned books in Texas, but still no process to reinstate them - 10/2/2011
"In its 15th annual report on banned, challenged or restricted books in Texas schools, the Americans Civil Liberties Union found the number of books banned by school districts has decreased in the 2010-2011 school year from the year before."
Mom Finds Erotica in Free Nook Selections - 10/4/2011
"An Allen woman says she wants a major book retailer to remove adult selections from its free e-books section. Carole Hayes said she noticed this summer that the Free Nook Books section on Barnes & Noble's website includes erotica such as "The Princess and the Penis."
Banned Books Week Read-Outs and More - 10/12/2011
Photos and slideshows from Banned Books Week across our nations libraries
'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' scenes with sex, alcohol, cursing under review at Palm Desert High School - 10/13/2011
"References to sex, homosexuality and alcohol and mild curse words were all highlighted as possible concerns in the script of a production that was scheduled and then put on hold at Palm Desert High School. Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” was suspended Sept. 30 — about two weeks after casting — over concerns with the script."
750 videos posted during banned books read-out - 10/13/2011
"More than 750 people read from their favorite banned books during the virtual read-out that took place on YouTube as part of the recently concluded Banned Books Week. People of all ages were filmed in bookstores, libraries and their own homes throughout the United States. They were joined by Whoopi Goldberg and many authors whose books have been challenged, including Judy Blume, Lauren Myracle, Jay Asher and Chris Crutcher."
We Read (and watch) Banned Books - 10/19/2011
"The Colgate Bookstore and Hamilton Theater announce the fall 2011 season of the Hamilton Book and Movie Club, beginning Thursday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m. The theme of the season is “Banned Books” – featuring novels that have been censored, banned or challenged and the movies inspired by them."
Off-color book stirs debate at Old Rochester junior high - 10/27/2011
"The classic debate over what's appropriate for school children to read and when has a new local chapter — at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School and in the pages of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian." A few parents are scheduled to meet with staff and School Committee members today about their concerns over the book's assignment, for the second year, in eighth-grade English."
If you know of a story that I missed, feel free to share!
Check out the tab above with Banned Books resources and grab a good banned book today.
