American Library Association: Most Challenged Books
I am doing my solo project on one novel, The Pigman by Paul Zindel. It was published in 1968 and is number 44 on the American Library Associations most challenged books in 1990 through 2000. I chose this novel because it interested me when I was in middle school. When I saw it on the ALA website I didn't quite understand why this book would be challenged. I did a little more research and all I could find was various non-creditable sources stating the book might be challenged because of the idea of two kids going into a strangers home. However, this novel in particular was written in the 60's, which at the time, it was not so strange for people to invite strangers into their household. No one was afraid of murders and kidnappers didn't create a strong enough presence to exist as a constant worry with the American people in this time period. Another reason maybe because of the underage drinking, smoking, and vandalism. Take a step back to the time period, the drinking age in the late 60's was lowered to 18 in 29 different states ("History of the 21 Minimum Drinking Age"). Now the main character, John, would still have been too young, but it wasn't rare for teens to be in possession of beer, much like today. John also smokes, as did most everyone in this time period. Smoking wasn't considered dangerous at this time since, 50% of Americans smoked, putting this bad habit in a book during this time period was not unusual. To address the vandalism, John explains how he use to put firecrackers behind the toilets in the boys restrooms as a prank. This was a small act of vandalism on the school, he explained how it was childish and grew out of it. Considering all these things, it proposed a questionable doubt around parents.
Books are banned for the following reasons: drugs, violence, sex, vandalism, homosexuality, and profanity. There have been organizations attempting to take books off the shelves since the beginning of arts and literature. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, became a banned book due to its contents of racial discrimination and violence. Catcher in the Rye is a book about a teenage book dealing with anger and alienation, but is published for adults. These two classic novels are challenged by different religions groups and parents that don't believe they are appropriate for adolescents in middle school and high school. Public libraries have a problem because they have to move books that are directed to teens to the adult section. Teachers also have to get permission slips for students to read classic literature in certain states so parents don't sue the school, however, even in like of these measures Parents have challenged many books for being inappropriate for their children to read in school.
"History of the 21 Minimum Drinking Age." madd. MADD. Web. 29 Apr 2013. <http://www.madd.org/underage-drinking/why21/history.html>.
Books are banned for the following reasons: drugs, violence, sex, vandalism, homosexuality, and profanity. There have been organizations attempting to take books off the shelves since the beginning of arts and literature. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, became a banned book due to its contents of racial discrimination and violence. Catcher in the Rye is a book about a teenage book dealing with anger and alienation, but is published for adults. These two classic novels are challenged by different religions groups and parents that don't believe they are appropriate for adolescents in middle school and high school. Public libraries have a problem because they have to move books that are directed to teens to the adult section. Teachers also have to get permission slips for students to read classic literature in certain states so parents don't sue the school, however, even in like of these measures Parents have challenged many books for being inappropriate for their children to read in school.
"History of the 21 Minimum Drinking Age." madd. MADD. Web. 29 Apr 2013. <http://www.madd.org/underage-drinking/why21/history.html>.