Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop
Posted on September 15, 2017 September 14, 2017 by Marlene Harris
Welcome to the Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop, hosted by Bookhounds.
While this hop is a couple of weeks early (Banned Books Week officially begins Sept. 24) its theme is evergreen.
I firmly believe in everyone's right to read whatever they want. As Ben Franklin said in the movie 1776, "there's nothing so dangerous that it can't be talked about". Or, to carry the metaphor a bit further, can't be read about.
This does also mean that people have the right not to read about whatever they don't want to. But their rights end at my nose. Just because someone does not want to read a particular type of literature or a particular book, that does not mean that other people don't have an equal right TO read that literature. Banning a book removes it from everyone, not just those who don't want to read it.
To give a very hypothetical hypothetical, I do not like inspirational literature, and I don't read it. However, my desire not to read that one particular type of literature does not and should not affect anyone else's right to adore it.
However, most current examples of book challenges involve books for children, whether in school or at the public library. "What about the children?" is one its most successful rallying cries. And parents do have a right to control what their own children read. But the emphasis on that sentence is the bit about "their own children". Just as parents who think completely differently from them, or in some cases parents of children who see themselves or their families represented in the books that other parents want to ban, actively desire that their children read books that reflect their experience, or what they believe is the world at large.
Sometimes Heather really does have two mommies. Sometimes two boys really do kiss. But as this list of the Ten Most Challenged Books of 2016 shows, not everyone wants to see the world as it really is, and wants to keep their heads in the sand as long as inhumanly possible.
This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes
Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint
George written by Alex Gino
Reasons: challenged because it includes a transgender child, and the "sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels"
I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
Reasons: challenged because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints
Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan
Reasons: challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content
Looking for Alaska written by John Green
Reasons: challenged for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to "sexual experimentation"
Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
Reason: challenged because it was considered sexually explicit
Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk
Reasons: challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being "disgusting and all around offensive"
Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby and and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
Reason: challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author
Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell
Reason: challenged for offensive language
There are many more resources about banned and challenged books at the American Library Association's Banned Books Week site.
So celebrate your freedom to read by picking up a banned or challenged book. Or settle in for a Harry Potter re-read. The Harry Potter series has the number one spot on the banned and challenged list for the entire 2000-2009 decade!
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113 thoughts on "Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop"
Cali W. says:
Harry Potter is pretty surprising. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
I've known about it for awhile now, but I thought it was pretty surprising that Harry Potter was on the list.
Megan S. says:
Elenor and Park – I had no idea that one was on the list!
Mary Henaghen says:
Elenor and Park really surprised me.
Zaira F says:
I'm surprised to see Eleanor & Park on the list!!
Actually there are quite a few but Harry Potter also surprised me as well.
Eleanor and Park surprised me greatly.
Harry Potter!? 😆
kim pickett says:
Harry Potter. That's crazy!
Samantha D says:
Honestly I'm never surprised anymore when it comes to books being banned. My elementary school removed all the Harry Potter books because so many religious parents wanted them out.
Honestly, I'm not surprised by anything. People are so quick to judge and look to "protect" children from what they see as different or controversial.
I was surprised that Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell was on the list, I thought it was a pretty light hearted book.
Wendy Caddy says:
I'm surprised Harry Potter is on the list.
not really any
Ellen Stafford says:
Harry Potter was a big shock!
Seriously, I'm not all that surprised about any of the books. If you look at past banned books, people have always had an amazing capacity to be offended/alarmed by just about anything.
(BTW, I just finished listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks, so I guess I unknowingly did my bit to protest.)
Judy Cox says:
I guess Harry Potter really surprised me, but so many of them I do not understand why they are on the lists!!
Most of them suprised me. People can be so close minded.
Susan Meek says:
I just don't get this kind of censorship. Yes, my mom told me I couldn't read certain books–UNTIL I was older. When I went back and read them I understood why, that I was too young to understand the book/situation. But never censor!
Did know that Twilight by Stephenie Meyer was one of the Top 10 in 2010 for a banned book. WOW!!
Beth T says:
I was surprised to find out that children's books have been banned, such as the Wizard of Oz and Winnie the Pooh.
"What book are you most surprised to see on the Banned and Challenged Books lists?" I dunno. I'm not too familiar with any of the books. I read yesterday about how people tried to make trouble about a picture book that used punctuation symbols in place of the "s-h" word. Ridiculous.
Darcus says:
I was kind of surprised about Winnie The Pooh. A lot of people keep mentioning Harry Potter to me but I remember when all the fuss was going on about the series and I actually have a friend that had her books burned by a stepparent when they realized that she owned them.
From the books listed on this post, "Harry Potter"– absolutely! That's just… Hm. I'm playing Devil's Advocate with this in my mind, and it's sort of interesting to think about. Good food for thought. 🙂
Uhunoma Aguebor says:
I was really surprised to see Eleanor & Park on the list!
Michelle Hooper says:
GabyN says:
Harry Potter. Hard to believe that in this modern times the series was still banned.
Debra Holloway says:
I was most surprised to see a classic book banned, In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
Richard Brandt says:
Little Bill – I hadn't expected to see a bookmbanned because of its author rather than its content, but then maybe I shouldn't haven been too surprised.
Vicki Wurgler says:
Harry Potter- that surprised me
I've known about Harry Potter for quite a while but it still baffles me that a series that's loved by so many people is considered banned. Other than that I was surprised to find "George" on the list… if we live in a world where people can't be represented in books for all ages then how will we ever accept each other fully?
Victoria K says:
Drama surprised me – My kids love that book.
Looking For Alaska surprised me.
Rita Wray says:
I'm surprised by both Harry Potter and Eleanor & Park. People are so touchy about everything these days. Still it's good to discuss these issues to try to reach consensus or at least understand where the other point of view is coming from.
Olga Gracia says:
I'm really surprised to see Harry Potter in the list 🙁
Jodi Hunter says:
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Eleanor and Park, Vampire Academy series and The Hunger Games. Maybe not surprising, because after things like the latest Presidential election I'm quite cured of that, but they really do hammer the point home. Nothing's safe: if it makes you think even a little bit, it's dangerous.
Sandrine says:
Looking for Alaska written by John Green Oo' I've heard of it but its ban surprized me
Robin Blankenship says:
The Popularity Papers surprised me./
I'm definitely surprised to see Harry Potter.
Lily M. says:
I'm surprised that Eleanor & Park was on there.
Amanda Frank says:
Little Bill shocks me. If we are going to start banning books based off their authors there are going to be a lot more banned books out there.
Morgane Gilson says:
I'm really surprised about Eleanor and Park!
Antonela says:
I agree with most comments about Eleanor and Park! I'm not surprised about HP since I remember a scene where a priest told a group of children that it was evil (talk about prejudices)!
Julie Lundstrom says:
Eleanor & Park surprised me that it was on the list.
Dinky says:
For me, the most surprising is the Harry Potter series which is my all time favourite
Amber Terry says:
I was surprised to see the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine on the "frequently challenged" list! Those books were such a huge part of my childhood…I can't imagine not having read them.
(Thanks for the chance to win!)
Carolsue says:
Eleanor and Park surprised me that it was on there
Edye says:
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I'm surprised to see the Little Bill series on the list, with the reason cited as the author's criminal allegations. Surely he's not the only author who has been accused of a crime!
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emily l says:
It's sad to see so many books banned because of GLBT themes. Glad to see Bill Cosby's book on there, though. He shouldn't be profiting at all, knowing what he's responsible for.
Betty Curran says:
The Harry Potter series was most surprising.
LB says:
Goosebumps and Eleanor and Park
Harry Potter for sure!
Adrienne Gordon says:
Shannon Baas says:
I don't think books should be banned for any reason but am surprised to see Little Bill on here.
alice minx says:
Harry Potter and Goosebumps seem odd for banned books.
Honestly I am surprised that Harry Potter is challenged.
Evie says:
Eleanor & Park. Thanks for the giveaway!
Ann Fantom says:
I'm most surprised to see that the Harry Potter series of books is on the banned book list.
It's surprising that Harry Potter is on the list.
Ashley C says:
I had no idea that Harry Potter was on the list! I love Harry Potter books/movies/theme park rides/etc. and we are religious people! I just don't think a bit of magic in a book is harmful!
polly says:
I am really surprised that Harry Potter made the list
PATTY NIEDERT says:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I love her writing. Being an adult, I'm able to handle offensive words. If you don't want to read anything offensive, the don't.
Debbi Wellenstein says:
I'm always surprised to see To Kill a Mockingbird on any banned books list.
Harry Potter and the Half–Blood
Judith R. says:
I was surprised to see In Cold Blood by Truman Capote on the list of banned books because it's a non-fiction book.
Donna Clifford says:
Eleanor and Park
Azeem Isaahaque says:
I was surprised about Harry potter
Kristen J. says:
Harry Potter, specifically the first one, is really surprising. Most of the reasons seem to be from people who know nothing about them.
I know Shel Silverstein always shows up and it always baffles me.
Madonna says:
I found it strange that Little Bill was on there. Its not like children have even heard of the controversy about Bill Cosby and I knew we used to just love the Little Bill books when my daughter was younger.
Valentina B. says:
I was surprised about Eleanor & Park.
Courtney H says:
Jan Lee says:
Brave New World being on the banned list as it was a required book in a college level class I had 🙂 I thought it was a good book, lol
darby says:
Eleanor & Park
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) says:
Eleanor and Park surprises me, but then I haven't read it, so that could be why.
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Amy Craft says:
My daughter and I are both shocked to see Harry Potter on the list.
Harry Potter is the book that surprised me the most.
Beverly Gordon says:
out of that list finding Alaska but the most shocking f or me was harry potter
Jeanna Massman says:
It surprised me to see Harry Potter on the list.
susan smoaks says:
i was surprised that harry potter is on the list.
Julie Waldron says:
I'm surprised to see Little Bill (series) on the list. My girls used to watch that show when they were little.
Joana Bento says:
Looking for Alaska by John Green. I don't see how some people can be so prude in order to ban a book like this
beth shepherd says:
Looking for Alaska is surprising to me.
Jessica Whitehouse says:
I have read several banned books, including 1984, The Giver, Lord of the Flies , and the Hunger Games series. My favorite challenged book is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Lauren U says:
The Namesake. Why would that be banned?!?!?
Daniel M says:
Heather B says:
I am surprised to see Little Bill on the list really. Of course what Crosby did was in appropriate but it has nothing to do with the book.
I'm really surprised to see Eleanor & Park on the list.
Renee Grosskreuz says:
Harry Potter surprised me!
Harry Potter is a big surprise to me.
Kathy Pease says:
I am surprised to see Two Boys Kissing
Brandy Schwartz says:
I was really surprised to see Harry Potter on the list. I can't believe that series is banned?!
Eleanor & Park seems the most surprising.
Kyl Neusch says:
clynsg says:
There were a couple–Little Bill (largely because they were superimposing the alleged actions of the author onto the series, not because of anything in the books themselves) and Harry Potter.
Aly P says:
Eleanor & Park and Harry Potter
Buddy Garrett says:
Little Bill was a surprise.
Jerry Marquardt says:
Eleanor & Park looked very shocking to be on the list.
I am surprised The Lovely Bones is on there.
Jillian Too says:
Harry Potter surprised me.
Anne Higgins says:
What? Harry Potter? WOW!
On the 2016 list I would say the little bill series. i mean seriously folks if we banned books based on the authors life and the what they did it didn't do, I really don't think there would be a book left on the shelf.
AEKZ2 says:
I'm most surprised to see Captain Underpants! That's so funny!
krystal wethington says:
Harry Potter. Thats just odd.
Sand says:
So many of them. I think it's crazy that Harry Potter is banned!
Karen D says:
I've heard of the complaints about Harry potter before, but I was really surprised to see A Wrinkle in Time on the list.