Next week, September 25-Oct 2, is the annual “Banned Books Week”, created by the American Library Association.

I love Banned Books Week. In fact, I love checking in on their lists throughout the year. They keep track of the most banned and challenged books of the year and of Classics. The idea of banning books is so insane to me. I appreciate that the ALA takes the time to celebrate our first amendment right of free speech by calling out to all those books that get a bad wrap. They are most often challenged for the following three reasons.

the material was considered to be “sexually explicit”

the material contained “offensive language”

the materials was “unsuited to any age group”

Usually, these books are challenged in an effort to “protect” children from unsuitable material. But reading over the list of books, you have to be amazed at what people think is harmful to children. For example, the number one book that has been banned and challenged in the last 10 years is Harry Potter. Harry Potter? Really people? A series that sold more copies than any other and inspired a new generation of children to love reading? Also on the children’s book front, in the top 25 is “The Giver”, which was actually a Newbery Medal winner and I think is one of the most wonderful books out there.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure many of the books on the list are inappropriate for children. I read “Lolita” last year, and I don’t think it was appropriate for me. But, I think it is up to parents to decide what their child should or should not read. The idea of banning a book is perverse. Everyone should have the right to choose.

I’m also amazed at the number of books that I read in high school that are on the list. “Lord of the Flies”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, and the number one banned classic? “The Great Gatsby” (which I could easily live in a world without, but that is another story).

Celebrate Banned Book Week by finding one of these controversial books and enjoying it. Many are beautiful and are favorites of mine. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, “Gone with the Wind”, “1984”, “Slaughterhouse 5”, “James and the Giant Peach”, or “Flowers for Algernon”.

Celebrate Free Speech and stand against censorship of the creative mind.

Bet you didn’t think that reading was such a patriotic act.

To learn more, visit the ALA website and learn more about Banned Books Week. http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm 

I would love to know what your favorite banned books are. Feel free to comment.