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Banned Books Week Banner

"A Light in the Attic" Shel Silverstein
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" Judy Blume
"Anastasia Krupnik" Lois Lowry
"Final Exit" Derek Humphry
"Girls and Sex" Wardell Pomeroy PhD
"Jack" A.M. Homes
"Deenie" Judy Blume
"The Chocolate War" Robert Cormier
"A Day No Pigs Would Die" Robert Newton Peck
"Alice" Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
"American Psycho" Bret Easton Ellis
"The Boy Who Lost His Face" Louis Sachar
"Bridge to Terabithia" Katherine Paterson
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" Mark Twain
"How to East Fried Worms" Thomas Rockwell
"Bumps in the Night" Harry Allard
"Blubber" Judy Blume
"Native Son" Richard Wright
"Carrie" Stephen King
"Asking About Sex and Growing Up" Joanna Cole
"Flowers for Algernon" Daniel Keyes
"It's Perfectly Normal" Robie H Harris
"Running Loose" Chris Crutcher
"Of Mice and Men" John Steinbeck
"Jump Ship to Freedom" James Lincoln Collier
"Heather Has Two Mommies" Leslea Newman
"Fallen Angels" Walter Dean Myers
"In the Night Kitchen" Maurice Sendak
"More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" Alvin Schwartz
"On My Honor" Marion Dane Bauer
"Sex" Madonna
"The Catcher in the Rye" J.D. Salinger
"The House of the Spirits" Isabel Allende
"Beloved" Toni Morrison
"The Headless Cupid" Zipha Keatley Snyder
"Summer of My German Soldier" Bette Greene
"Athletic Shorts" Chris Crutcher
"The Shelters of Stone" Jean M Auel
"Ordinary People" Judith Guest
"Daddy's Roomate" Michael Willhoite
"The Drowning of Stephan Jones" Bette Greene
"Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat" Alvin Schwartz
"Guess What?" Mem Fox
"Goosebumps" R.L. Stine
"Julie of the Wolves" Jean Craighead George
"The Color Purple" Alice Walker
"Killing Mr. Griffin" Lois Duncan
"Brave New World" Aldous Huxley
"The Bluest Eye" Toni Morrison
"Crazy Lady" Jane Leslie Conly
"The New Joy of Gay Sex" Dr. Charles Silverstein
"We All Fall Down" Robert Cormier
"Annie on My Mind" Nancy Garden
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" Mark Twain
"Mommie Laid an Egg" Babette Cole
"The Arizona Kid" Ronald Koertge
"Always Running" Luis J. Rodriguez
"The Goats" Brock Cole
"Go Ask Alice" Anonymous
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" J.K. Rowling
"To Kill a Mockingbird" Harper Lee
"Bless Me, Ultima" Rudolfo Anaya
"Boys and Sex" Wardell Pomeroy PhD
"The Anarchist Cookbook" William Powell
"The Stupids Have a Ball" Harry Allard
"A Wrinkle in Time" Madeleine L'Engle
"My Brother Sam is Dead" James Lincoln Collier
"Kaffir Boy" Mark Mathabane
"The Dead Zone" Stephen King
"Sex Education" Jenny Davis
"Little Black Sambo" Helen Bannerman
"Women on Top" Nancy Friday
"The Giver" Lois Lowry
"The Face on the Milk Carton" Caroline B Cooney
"Where Did I Come From?" Peter Mayle
"The Outsiders" S.E. Hinton
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" Maya Angelou
"James and the Giant Peach" Roald Dahl
"Halloween ABC" Eve Merriam
"The Great Gilly Hopkins" Katherine Paterson
"The Terrorist" Caroline B Cooney
"Forever" Judy Blume
"Song of Solomon" Toni Morrison
"Slaughterhouse-Five" Kurt Vonnegut
"The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" A.N. Roquelaure
"The Pigman" Paul Zindel
"Fade" Robert Cormier
"Private Parts" Howard Stern
"The What's Happening to My Body Book for Boys" Lynda Madaras
"The Handmaid's Tale" Margaret Atwood
"Lord of the Flies" William Golding
"The What's Happening to My Body Book for Girls" Lynda Madaras
"The View from the Cherry Tree" Willo Davis Roberts
"The Pillars of the Earth" Ken Follett
"Where's Waldo?" Martin Handford
"The Witches" Roald Dahl
"Tiger Eyes" Judy Blume
"Family Secrets" Norma Klein
"Cujo" Stephen King
Banned Books Week Banner by DML East Branch.
During Banned Books Week, we show our support of the intellectual freedom and the freedom to read. One of the reccuring images we have used each year is this banner we created with 99 of the 100 most banned books for the years 1990-2000. There are a surprising number of literary classics, children's books and books we've all grown up reading at home, in the library and at school. Authors like Roald Dahl, Stephen King, Judy Blume and Chris Crutcher even have several titles on this list!

Can you figure out which book is missing? (lulu852 was the first to guess the answer HERE.)

What is your favorite Banned Book?
How many have you read?
Pretty soon the list for years 2000-2010 will be released, what are your guesses about the books we'll see on that list? One thing we're fairly certain of, Harry Potter (series) will feature pretty high on the list!

Your library will always support your choice to read, and your choice to not read any of these books. We feel the best way to support your freedom to read is to make sure no one else makes that choice for you. Stop by your local library and enjoy your freedoms, and all that the library has to offer! 
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Comments

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anton hazewinkel  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Freedom Lost In Censor's Knocking Repression (FLICKR), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

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TerenceKearns.com  Pro User  says:

That's an awesome banner. It must have taken a long time to put this presentation together.

Nice work.

may I suggest, add a tonne of tags to it and add it to a tonne of groups. A little effort here will help your existing effort go a lot further.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

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ccrfence52 says:

I always thought that "Fahrenheit 451" would be up there.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

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meghan_dunlay says:

Go Harry Potter!! haha almost every Judy Blume book is up there
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

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Bobgafford says:

The Holy Bible?
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

Fahrenheit 451 is one of the more commonly banned books, but surprisingly not one of the top 100 for the years 1990-2000.

Judy Blume's count never ceases to amaze us. She gets special kudos for being on there the most times!

And the Bible, though it gets challenged occasionally, has so many different publications that it's challenges are split so many different ways.

Eric-I have a couple personal favorites on this list: Brave New World, James and the Giant Peach, and of course Slaugherhouse-Five
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

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Mary & Matthew says:

I have read 7 out of 99, but hadn't heard of 75% of them - they appear to be mostly childrens books. What would be the difference between a School's governing body deciding to ban abook and simply deciding to stock a different one? - There are a lot of books to choose from on all manner of subjects, and people have a duty to think about what to give their children, if parenst disagree with a school, then let the childen read at home.

I guess in the UK we are less paranoid/concerned about what our kids read. I have read all of the Harry Potters (mostly when I am tired and can't be bothered with something of a higher quality). I have also read the first few left-behind series before giving it up as poor writing as well as theological heresy. A year later, in our Bible-loving Holy-spirit-filled local church we have had a lot more spoken about regarding the damage that the left-behind series can do with it's plausible but wrong theology, (whereas Harry potter is plainly fiction).

Whatever you read, whatever you listen too and whatever you watch will affect you, it helps to know that. It is also good to decide not to accept some influences.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

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amyc500 (FamilyTrees)  Pro User  says:

"Where's Waldo?" ?!?!! You've got to be kidding me... !

My guess for the missing book would be either "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" or "The Satanic Verses."

--
Seen in Ohio Libraries (?)
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

"Where's Waldo" had a little drawing on the beach scene of a lady jumping up topless while someone was spilling water on her. It's since been republished and covered up! So to see this you'd have to get one of the original copies.
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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nyalibrarian says:

-quote-
"My guess for the missing book would be either "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" or "The Satanic Verses." "

Both good guesses, and both are books that have been banned a number of times in a number of places. But nope, that one isn't the one missing from the list.

-Signed-
Kevin, an Employee at the DML East Branch
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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imageining  Pro User  says:

I've read at least 13 of these... and those mostly for school. It is surprising how many books are still banned nowadays, especially considering that anyone can go to their local library/bookstore or order them online.

--
Seen in Four Freedoms (?)
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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hannahc565 says:

this amazes me. I have read ten of these, and my two favorite writers have books on his list. (Madeliene L'Engle and Margaret Atwood).

Oh, and is the missing book "Bless Me Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya?
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

Nope, not "Bless Me Ultima," it's already on the flag! Keep guessing though. We want someone to guess it before Banned Books Week 2007, which is from September 29-October 6. For more information, go to www.ala.org/bbooks
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

Also, tune in to the Dayton Metro Library's website during Banned Books Week 2007 to see our living BBW display LIVE! Find it from 9:00a.m. to 8:30p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:00a.m. to 5:30p.m. Friday and Saturday to watch us! www.daytonmetrolibrary.org
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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quilted_kat  Pro User  says:

quote: I've read at least 13 of these... and those mostly for school. It is surprising how many books are still banned nowadays, especially considering that anyone can go to their local library/bookstore or order them online. ----------

You've caught on to the main point: anyone can go to their public library or a bookstore and buy any one of these books. Banning a book in the United Stated doesn't mean that you can't read it (it's still a free country), but the fact that it has been challenged somewhere means that somebody is trying to decide for you what you should or should not be able to read. And I've read all 100!
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

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fourlittlewitches says:

I have read about 58 of these books/series. And thats not counting every book in the series. Some for school but most for fun. I am suprized that HP and the Earth Childern serieses are on this. They are GREAT books!!!!!
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

58 books isn't shabby at all! Harry Potter's been receiving complaints from the minute it hit the shelves basically. With the vast number of people who've read the books, and all of them virtually immediately, it was easily expected, poor boy wizards, they just can't get a break...
Earth Children is on there for different reasons, primarily for sexual content rather than occult (like Harry). Still, the EC series has sold heavily over the years, much like Harry.
Sometimes it seems like the Banned Books lists show trends of what people want to read rather than what people are trying to censor.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

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Luna42 says:

Hmm.. Let me guess.. Is it BFG? I loved that book when I was a kid. It's not up there, I don't think.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

Not BFG either! It's a tricky one, and there have been plenty of good guesses. BFG has a pretty funny reason for challenging:

1987 - Amana, Iowa first grade curriculum - "...too sophisticated and did not taech moral values."

Imagine, removing a book because it's too sophisticated!
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

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lulu852 says:

I just wanted to add my two cents.

When I became a teacher eight years ago I made it my mission to have as many "banned books" in my classroom library as appropriate. (Some of them are a bit mature for my students.) I can’t imagine my library without Judy Blume, Maurice Sendak, Roald Dahl, Louis Sacher and even Heather has Two Mommies. I have never made a big deal about the content of these books and I have NEVER had a single complaint. In fact I have 30 copies of James and the Giant Peach and read it with my class every year.

Incidentally I can remember my elderly school librarian introducing me to the Judy Blume books in the early 80’s and my mother purposefully walking past protesters at a bookstore with me in tow.

I would agree that The BFG is MUCH to sophisticated for first grade but that would not be a reason to remove it from the school completely.

I think that people should understand that even though these books are "banned" it does not mean they don't appear in public schools. Most of the childrens' books on this list are not only in classrooms but in the school library. I have never had a school district, I have worked at three in two different states, tell teachers that they could not use a book.

Lulu

Is the missing book Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen??
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

-quote-
Is the missing book Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen??


That's absolutely right! The reason that Cohen's book was left off was two-fold. The rpimary reason was that we just couldn't get a good high-resolution copy of the cover (finding a copy of the book was work enough!) and the second reason, I found out when setting up the image, was that there would only be room for 99 books (counting 3 double-wide kids books). So this is no way a way to exclude Cohen's extremely interesting book.


-quote-
I can’t imagine my library without Judy Blume, Maurice Sendak, Roald Dahl, Louis Sacher and even Heather has Two Mommies. I have never made a big deal about the content of these books and I have NEVER had a single complaint. In fact I have 30 copies of James and the Giant Peach and read it with my class every year.
...
I think that people should understand that even though these books are "banned" it does not mean they don't appear in public schools. Most of the childrens' books on this list are not only in classrooms but in the school library.


Very good point. All of these books are available in various formats still. True, you may not be able to find a true bound copy of The Anarchist Cookbook, but you can still access it online. Nearly all of these are still in your local public/school library. If not, well, just ask for them!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

This list is from the years 1990-2000. Given all the titles that are added as the years progress, do you see any major changes in the ALA's list for the next 10 years (2000-2010)? Give us your thoughts on what trends we might expect, or just make wild predictions!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

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Rawbert A. Wagner  Pro User  says:

I didn't see the Anarchist Cook Book in there

Oops, after enlarging, it's right there in the middle.

It's sad, I've read a lot of these books and I really do not see why they are banned. Even as projects for school, we had to re-do the covers of many of these books to give them a fresh take.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

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Just a Photography & Photos Lover says:

Wow!

writertabish.blogspot.com
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Flosss says:

I live in an English speaking country and most of these books have been around me all my life and I made no special effort to get hold of them. I am a church going Christian. I am not promiscusous, or psychotic, or planning the downfall of western society. I am registered to vote and take an active role in my society (well, I spend a lot of time in the the pub, does that count!). ...and yet I have read 31 of these books.

I do think that had my Mum known what Judy Blume was writing about sex and puberty she might have stopped me reading them as a teenager! but that would her choice as my parent. Considering how important individual freedom is to the constitution how can US society allow the powers that be to take such a parental role and tell them what to read? Quite weird.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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-Marlith- says:

Beautiful banner
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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sauj  Pro User  says:

An excellent response to the censorship of today.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

Did I happen to mention that you can get your own copy of our banner/flag in Second Life? It's true, just look me up Tad Little, and I'll send you a goodie bag with the flag in it.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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jesse.millan  Pro User  says:

banning books is a sad business. I've read 13 of these
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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sauj  Pro User  says:

Is it possible to get a copy of this if you're not on Second Life... I'm not on second life...
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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sammwichface says:

omg they banned judy blume books?
seriously!
they are sooo not worth being banned. i looove blubber!
and i mean i've read three of the books up there IN SCHOOL.
bridge to terabitha
a wrinkle in time
and to kill a mocking bird (my new favourite book)
i have read most of the ones up there
minus the sex ones. like the girls and sex book. never read it. dont want to.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

That's awesome that you've had the opportunity to read some of these amazing books in school. And as for not wanting to read some of the books on there, that's a personal choice. We all support your personal choice of what to read or not read. What's important is that you have the CHOICE - that there's no one telling you that you can't read those books. Keep up the reading!

-Kevin @ the East Branch
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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corynvall says:

I'm not american... but funny list though, just read 9 of them
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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mary kate ★ says:

I've read about 11 or 12 of those, and plan on reading more.
but banning books is almost as bad as burning them.
and about half of those my school has on it's recommended reading list. It makes it seem like expanding your knowledge and having an open mind is a bad thing. And if someone tells me not to read a book, I would want to read it even more.
And kids need to know whats going on with puberity and such, how can books explaining it in a non scientific and easy to understand way be looked down on?
American Psycho is a tad 'mature,' but its still good literature.
I personally own like 300 books, and I cherish everyone, and just because I'm still in highschool doesn't mean other people need to be telling me what to read.

I'm also a faithful Church-goer, and reading books about Harry Potter, or magic or the devil wouldn't 'corrupt' me. I just want to expand my knowledge, and to me, being ignorant is worse than anything really.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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mary kate ★ says:

And I agree with DML- taking it off the shelves would make people go looking for it.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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naomijuma.xxo25 says:

are those really banned book in the states?
If so then why is there Shel Silverstein because that I saw that one in the mall in Sterling Heights Michigan?
or is that only in some states?
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

are those really banned book in the states?
If so then why is there Shel Silverstein because that I saw that one in the mall in Sterling Heights Michigan?
or is that only in some states?

Actually, no, nearly all of these books will be readily available in most communities. Each of these books have had groups attempt to remove them from local libraries, school libraries and entire communities. We're trying to raise awareness that even thoughone group or individual may have a personal reason for disliking a book, the community still has the right to read the book at will.

-Eric
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

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Noel_Hynd_books  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Readers & Writers, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

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ellenemme says:

i love this! I've read a lot of these books and based on appropriateness by age, I understand, but they all have serious academic value. Esp when used to discuss topics, not ban them and pretend they don't exist. But then again, I suppose that's a defining staple of our society...
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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gutsandgrace  Pro User  says:

should i be proud of how many of these i have read, own and can quote from memory? well, i am.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

should i be proud of how many of these i have read, own and can quote from memory? well, i am.

YES! You should definitely be proud that you've read many of these classics, many of these excellent pieces of literature, and even be proud of reading the "filth" (not my quote) that are Stephen King's books. Anytime you decide for yourself what appropriate reading is, you are making an excellent decision. It's when a concerned individual begins making that choice for everyone else that a poor decision is being made.

-Eric
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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Timothy Y. says:

Wow, A Light in the Attic? That's silly. It's banned because of that poem about the girl who dies since she doesn't get a pony, not doing dishes, and stuff about supernatural junk. My high school banned the book "Whale Talk" because the parents didn't like that. Censorship is crazy sometimes...
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

You're telling us Timothy! Chris Crutcher, the author of Whale Talk agrees with the sentiment that censorship is crazy. He even posted the banner (above) on his website last year, showing his support of intellectual freedom. :)

-Eric
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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ivybaby16 says:

What a shame...a whole new generation of children are going to miss out on so much...
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

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Nikita! says:

Wow, I've read 21 of those.... Shel Silverstein is a fave, as is Toni Morrison. Judy Blume and Lois Lowry are amazing children's authors. Blume's book Anastasia Krupnik had a major impact on me as a child.
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

Many of these are the books I read as a younger me as well. The first true piece of literature I read was Tom Sawyer, and I can remember just how easily I slipped into that world Twain created. It is part of what drove me to keep reading more challenging books. What amazes most of the people who see this list is the disproportionate number of books that are/were used as examples of exemplary literature in schools and other institutions.

At times it is almost too much to absorb!
-Eric
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

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giantessfootlover says:

is the missing one " the Anarcists cook book" =)
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

is the missing one " the Anarcists cook book" =)

Nope, You can find The Anarchist Cookbook in the 4th row, pretty close to center.

Someone has actually already figured out the answer to our riddle, if you're curious, you can see the answer HERE.

What are your guesses for the top 100 for 2000-2010 which will be released in a few short years?
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

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grammy librarian says:

I've read at least eight of these books (kind of hard to read some of the titles, even after enlarging the image), all of which are great books and the list includes what may be my favorite book of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird.

People who try to censor books have such small minds.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

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faegirl  Pro User  says:

As a new library science student, I adore this and have set it as my background on my screen. Lovely idea!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

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Fer Jimenez  Pro User  says:

very interesting!

Hi! I am manager of a group called Books / books / books and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

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jstories65 says:

As a writer I'm always glad to see things like this, and folks like you keeping the jerks of the world on their toes.

But in the interests of honesty, we really need to be more specific about what we're talking about here. There is no censorship if we're talking about the government preventing something from being read. Also, these books are no doubt "challenged," but while I would never challenge one of them, this is the taxpayer saying "I don't want my tax money going to promote this kind of thing."

Those folks have every right to challenge any book bought with their taxes--heck, I can think of a few (say, terrorist manuals) I'd challenge if they were to appear in my local taxpayer-funded library.

Those folks ALSO have to be told, repeatedly, that that's not how our system works--the tax money is given to those whose job it is to decide what goes into a public library and what doesn't, and if those making these decisions do so based on some political bias, for example, that can be taken into consideration when their job performance is evaluated.

I don't think there's anything wrong with ASKING why a controversial book was bought; similarly, I don't think there's anything wrong with taxpayer-funded employees explaining themselves and their choices. None of this means any of these books should be banned, but we do have to be considerate of all taxpayers, not just those adhering to our personal philosophies--unless we want to forego taking taxes from those "other" folks.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

@jstories65

Very good points. "Censorship" and "ban" are, in our opinion, ugly and emotive terms that are used when a dry, objective term would work best. We've been talking about these terms for quite some time, and agree that though they're not words we like to use, they are two words that apply to certain situations. "Censorship" can take place at a nation-wide, state-wide, or even at a community-wide level. Thankfully, our system of government allows us to recognize censorship when it happens, and gives citizens the means to eliminate it. One of the more interesting occurances of censorship in the United States was from the 1950s when US Customs seized more than 500 copies of Ginsberg's "Howl". As I said though, we are fortunate as a nation to have the tools and resources as citizens to ensure censorship is not an on-going practice.

Libraries appreciate public input on just about anything, especially print and A/V materials. Our aim is definitely to appeal to all persons, tax-paying or not (children are HUGE supporters of libraries!) with our collections, but we're also given the task of making sure our collections are well-rounded. One can't make a well-rounded collection through removal of materials, but one can when they continually add materials from all view points. The best input a library can get is a suggestion, or list of suggestions, of materials to add to our collection. Libraries and their staff love books (and other library materials) so much so that I see library staff all but glow when given suggestions of items to add to our collection. Someone very involved in libraries once wrote that the best response to bad speech is better speech, not silence, and our Supreme Court has long upheld that idea.

Thanks for the great comment! We wish you the best on your novel. :)
-Eric
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

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Dylerpillar  Pro User  says:

Figgy Newman (SL) approves of this banner! :P
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Chauncy.Primm says:

i read "lord of the flies" and "i know why a caged bird sings" in high school, i had no idea they had been banned at one point in time.
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

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lauren.shiv says:

Why would some of these children books like Tom Sawyer would be banned??
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

@lauren.shiv

In the case of Tom Sawyer you see complaints made about the book due to the shift in our perception of each other. Back when Twain wrote Tom Sawyer, certain language was used to identify ethnic and racial groups that we wouldn't use today. Historically they're accurate in their talk, but when viewed today, that's not something that's acceptable to be said, and sadly that's not something that's easy to come to terms with when you might be very emotional about the use of certain words.

Additionally Tom Sawyer is about a very rebellious boy, and his best friend who is even more rebellious. Both are portrayed as mischievous boys, and some parents have felt that reading about mischievous boys might affect their own children's attitudes.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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SammiluvsJB says:

This is so sad that people are even banning classic books! i read the comment about 'where's waldo' and gosh its such a miniscule picture, the whole entire book shouldn't be banned!
Also I can't believe 'A light in the attic' is banned! I always read that in elementary school!? WTH!!
I understand some of the books being banned but some amazing books are being taken of the "ok" list for very small things.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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SammiluvsJB says:

sorry to comment again but I have read only 5 books and my favorite book has to be 'flowers for Algernon,' I love it! The story is so touching :D (in my opinion)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kaycie Thing says:

i can't believe some of the books on this list x___x
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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nate444 says:

i love it!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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mylove_phamthuynga says:

Ag
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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Sarah™ says:

Jesus. I've read about 15 or 20 of these and I'm only 14. ^_^
I have to say "Heather Has Two Mommies" should be a book that parents are not afraid to let their children read. My mom gave me that book back in 3rd grade because a girl in my class had "two mommies" and I didn't understand and my mom didn't really know how to explain it to me.
My favorite above all is "Go Ask Alice" though. That book is terrific. Another book my mom recommended to me. She read it back when she was like 16 or 17 because HER Mom told her it was a good book. lol. I guess Go Ask Alice is just the Universal book of women in my family. everyone from my Nona to myself and back again has read it. Books should never be banned. Most of the books I read are challenged books, and they are usually 10 times better than books that are "Committee Approved". Sorry. Wanted to vent. :)
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

"Most of the books I read are challenged books, and they are usually 10 times better than books that are "Committee Approved"." - Sarah™

We couldn't have said it better ourselves : )
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ana Santos  Pro User  says:

The Witches was the greatest book I read in my entire childhood! (besides Harry Potter)

I would think the Golden Compass trilogy would be somewhere up there. It was released in 1995 and it was all about going against the church and performing the original sin. I loved that book, too. =)
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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Liz Wall  Pro User  says:

I own and love so many of these books. I didn't realize alot of these had made the banned list.
But...
Where's Waldo??
Really???
WHY
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

"Where's Waldo" had a little drawing on the beach scene of a lady jumping up topless (shown from the side/back) while someone was spilling water on her. It's since been republished and covered up! So to see this you'd have to look at one of the first few printings of the book.

The Golden Compass trilogy has been challenged frequently, but apparently not as much as these titles have been.
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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therealshawnshawn  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Political Art Now, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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imightbeapryl  Pro User  says:

Hello. My summer plans include reading/re-reading as many banned books as I can. I would love to be able to post your art work on my blog...i would of course give you full credit for it. Please let me know if you have any objections.

thanks!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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DaniL_15 says:

I'm in grade 9 and I've already read most of those books.
Also, at least 10 of those books are part of my schools curriculum (The Giver, Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies...). I guess Canada has less "censorship" than the US.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

Keep supporting intellectual freedom, and the freedom to choose for yourself and your children! There have been some pretty disappointing events taking place recently in West Bend WI - Link -

Our hearts go out to the community and the library in West Bend. The best way to support your freedom to read is to make sure no one else makes that choice for you.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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VintageCheese says:

Wow, I've read NINE of those books
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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kimarama says:

I very recently started a blog about banned books. You can find it here: thedailybanning.blogspot.com/

I would love to use your photo of the banned books shaped like a flag as the banner for my blog. Photo credit would be provided to you. Please let me know if this is acceptable or if you have terms for use, etc.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Joe Ekaitis  Pro User  says:

Oh, the irony.

Your humble author was told his traditionally published book is unfit for library acquisition because it wasn't approved by magazines like American Library Association (ALA) Booklist, School Library Journal and Publisher's Weekly.

So, who's REALLY banning books these days?
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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DML East Branch  Pro User  says:

@Joe Ekaitis
I'm sorry to hear that the library you spoke with wasn't able to purchase copies of your book. I can't speak to their specifics, but it sounds like they're limited in the amount of materials they can purchase, and prefer to hold to purchasing materials that are reviewed in critical review journals. Keep asking around and I'm sure you'll find plenty of libraries that will purchase copies of your book.

@DaniL_15 and @VintageCheese
Great! The best thing we can do to remove the taboo of these books being challenged is to read them and understand them.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Joe Ekaitis  Pro User  says:

DML East Branch:

Actually, I tried to donate the books. Another librarian, who accepted a copy for his own branch, says it's standard operating procedure for system-wide acquisitions: no review, no consideration at all. And since a dozen or so media conglomerates get all the review space in most issues of the library review magazines, books from independent royalty-paying publishers are effectively and summarily banned. The whole thing turns Banned Books Week into a seven-day exercise in self-congratulatory hypocrisy.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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POONDOG64  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called NO WORLD FOR TOMORROW, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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leroi jones, jr. productions  Pro User  says:

thank you.
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

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ohsodramatic08 says:

they BANNED Where's Waldo?!
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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