As Banned Books Week approaches, I always like to see a list of the year's most provoking titles. This year, the week to showcase challenged or banned titles begins September 22. The event began in the early 1980s when there was a surge of opposition to books in schools and libraries. While most challenges come with good intentions (protecting children), to remove others' access to materials is censorship, a violation of the First Amendment. I found this great excerpt on the American Library Association's website.
The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:
- the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
- the material contained "offensive language"
- the materials was "unsuited to any age group"
Although this is a commendable motivation, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights states that, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment.
As Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., in Texas v. Johnson , said most eloquently:
If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.
As a media specialist for middle-grade students, it can be tricky to navigate the "appropriateness" of some books, as the maturity and reading levels at this age group can vary greatly. While most books in our media center are geared for this age-group, we also have select high school and adult level level reads available. Although I try my best to be sure students are selecting wisely, even award-winning classics have a history of rocking the boat. Here are the top five most challenged classics:
1. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
3. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
4. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
5. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
During Banned Books Week, our media center will highlight some of the novels which have been challenged over the years, bringing awareness to the stories and the controversies they have stirred.
