A Growing Trend? On July 31, 2022, the New York Times reported, Book-banning attempts have grown...

   

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A Growing Trend? On July 31, 2022, the New York Times reported, "Book-banning attempts have grown in the U.S. over the past few years from relatively isolated battles to a broader effort aimed at works about sexual and racial identity." According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were 729 known challenges across the nation (as recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom) in 2021. A challenge is a formal, written complaint filed with a library or school, requesting that a book be removed.** Of the 1597 books that were targeted in 2021, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are: 1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images 2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit 3. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit 4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit 5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda 6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term 7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women 8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit 9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content. 10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. The ALA also lists top "classics" that have been challenged throughout the years: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald . . . . The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee The Color Purple, by Alice Walker Ulysses, by James Joyce Beloved, by Toni Morrison The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding . 1984, by George Orwell . Lolita, by Vladmir Nabokov Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck Catch-22, by Joseph Heller Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley Animal Farm, by George Orwell **You can get more information and details here: American Library Association Challenged Books TOP TEN MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2021 Indian EL KWAYR ALA.ORG/BBOOKS ALAAmerican Library Association Here are the questions I want you to address: 1. Any surprises on either the 2021 or "classics" lists? What do you think of the reasons (listed below the 2021 book titles) for the concern? Have you read any of the books on either list? 2. Sometimes, in a Mass Communication course, books get lost in the shuffle because they're so "old school"--unlike a video game, movie, website, app, or television show, books are merely paper and ink (unless it's a digital copy). So what is it about a book that still gives it a perception of power in the 21st century? After all, if books were not thought to be influential, why would anyone make the effort to issue a challenge? 3. According to the ALA, "Books usually are challenged with the best intentions-to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information," and "parents challenge materials more often than any other group." As it pertains to books in schools and public libraries, what's the best way to balance freedom of expression and the protection of our youth? Is it as simple as Dav Pilkey suggests in the video? [We have a few parents in this course who may have firsthand knowledge of dealing with this issue]. You may also feel that when it comes to books, children don't need to be "protected"... A Growing Trend? On July 31, 2022, the New York Times reported, "Book-banning attempts have grown in the U.S. over the past few years from relatively isolated battles to a broader effort aimed at works about sexual and racial identity." According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were 729 known challenges across the nation (as recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom) in 2021. A challenge is a formal, written complaint filed with a library or school, requesting that a book be removed.** Of the 1597 books that were targeted in 2021, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are: 1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images 2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit 3. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit 4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit 5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda 6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term 7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women 8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit 9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content. 10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. The ALA also lists top "classics" that have been challenged throughout the years: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald . . . . The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee The Color Purple, by Alice Walker Ulysses, by James Joyce Beloved, by Toni Morrison The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding . 1984, by George Orwell . Lolita, by Vladmir Nabokov Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck Catch-22, by Joseph Heller Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley Animal Farm, by George Orwell **You can get more information and details here: American Library Association Challenged Books TOP TEN MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2021 Indian EL KWAYR ALA.ORG/BBOOKS ALAAmerican Library Association Here are the questions I want you to address: 1. Any surprises on either the 2021 or "classics" lists? What do you think of the reasons (listed below the 2021 book titles) for the concern? Have you read any of the books on either list? 2. Sometimes, in a Mass Communication course, books get lost in the shuffle because they're so "old school"--unlike a video game, movie, website, app, or television show, books are merely paper and ink (unless it's a digital copy). So what is it about a book that still gives it a perception of power in the 21st century? After all, if books were not thought to be influential, why would anyone make the effort to issue a challenge? 3. According to the ALA, "Books usually are challenged with the best intentions-to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information," and "parents challenge materials more often than any other group." As it pertains to books in schools and public libraries, what's the best way to balance freedom of expression and the protection of our youth? Is it as simple as Dav Pilkey suggests in the video? [We have a few parents in this course who may have firsthand knowledge of dealing with this issue]. You may also feel that when it comes to books, children don't need to be "protected"...