Banned Books Week-September 22-28, 2019

Most Challenged Books  for 2018 are:

   1.     George by Alex Gino (Juv. G4932g)

       Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character

2.       A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller (Juv. B9425d.)
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints

3.       Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey  (Juv. P638a)
Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple

4.       The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Juv. T4542h)
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references

5.       Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (Juv.  Juv.T2714d)
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes

6.       Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Juv. Juv. A8254t)
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide

7.       This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki (Juv. T1533t)
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations

8.       Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner (Juv.S291s)
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture

9.       The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (Juv. A3847a)
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint

10.   This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten (Juv. P6854t)
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

11.   Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (Juv.L6662t)
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

Source: https://bannedbooksweek.org/american-library-association-names-top-11-challenged-books-of-2018/
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks
Starred books are on previous lists

For  More Books:  http://tinyurl.com/njcuedbooklist. Click Censored Books link
:

Suppose a book is challenged in a school, public library or academic library?
Each school should have a selection policy, contact the Principal or School Librarian/Media Specialist.
Use this Toolkit if there is no selection policy or policy for reconsideration of materials:
http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit

Remember these if you need help

Office for Intellectual Freedom

Assistance and Consultation

The staff of the Office for Intellectual Freedom is available to answer questions or provide assistance to librarians, trustees, educators and the public about selection and reconsideration policies. Areas of assistance include policy development, state laws, and professional ethics. Inquiries can be directed via email to oif@ala.org or via phone at (312) 280-4226.

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund http://cbldf.org/

The CBLDF assists librarians by providing access to resources and writing letters of support in cases where comics are challenged. In the past year the CBLDF has participated in helping several challenges and stands ready to address new ones when they occur. CBLDF is also an active sponsor of Banned Books Week and the Kids Right To Read Project, initiatives that create tools and perform activities that advance the freedom to read.

Don't forget to read their brochure!

https://issuu.com/cbldf/docs/cbldf_defendbannedcomics_2018_final

Banned Books Week- Top Ten Banned/Challenged Books- 9/23-29/18

Top Ten for 2017

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials in 2017. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:

1. Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher   Juv.A8254t
   Originally published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it discusses suicide.
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie  Juv.A3847a
   Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit.
3. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier   Juv.T2714d
   This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered “confusing.”
4. The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini  
   This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.”
5. George written by Alex Gino  Juv.G4932g
   Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child.
6. Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth Juv. 613.9.S587s
   This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex educationand is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.”
7. To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee
   This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word.
8. The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas
   Despite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curriculums because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and because of drug use, profanity, and offensive language.
9. And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole
   Juv.R523a                                                                                                                                     Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship.
10. I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas                      Juv. 306.76H5474i
    This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.

Source: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10#2017

and not to forget Graphic Novels

Banned and Challenged Comics

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund keeps lists and case studies of banned and challenged comics. They have many other resources as well 

For information and case studies of banned and challenged comics and graphic novels see http://cbldf.org/banned-challenged-comics/

The list includes these; reasons for the challenges are in parenthesis:

Amazing Spider-Man: Revelations by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita, Jr., and Scott Hanna

(Sexual overtones)

Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa  

Juv. 952.04 .N163b

(Violence, discrimination)

Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again  by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

(Sexism, offensive language, and unsuited to age group)

Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Boland

(Advocates rape and violence)

Blankets by Craig Thompson

 PN6727 .T48 B58 2003

(Obscene images)

Bone by Jeff Smith

Juv. S65212b

(Promotion of smoking and drinking)

The Diary of a Teenage Girl by Phoebe Gloeckner

(Sexual content)

Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama

(Violence and nudity)

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

 Juv.T2714d

(Sexual content)

The Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa

Juv.K495

(Nudity, sexual content, and unsuited to age group)

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

PN6727.B3757.Z46 2006

(Obscene images)

The Graveyard Book ( Graphic Novel)by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell

(Violent imagery)

Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes

(Profanity, coarse language, and brief non-sexual nudity)

In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

Juv. S4745i

(Nudity)

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill

(Sex scenes)

Maus by Art Spiegelman

Juv. S755m

(Anti-ethnic and unsuited for age group)

Neonomicon by Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows

(Sexual content)

Palomar by Gilbert Hernandez

(Sexual content, child pornography)

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Juv.955.05.S353pr

(Profanity, violent content)

Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon

Juv. V3644p

(Sexual content)

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

PN6727 .V387 S24 2012

(Sexual content, anti-family, nudity, offensive language, and unsuited for age group.) 

Sandman by Neil Gaiman and various artists

PN6728 .S26 G35 1991

(Anti-family themes, offensive language, and unsuited for age group)

SideScrollers by Matthew Loux

(Profanity and sexual references)

Stuck in the Middle, edited by Ariel Schrag

(Language, sexual content, and drug references)

Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse

(Depiction of homosexuality)

Tank Girl by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett

(Nudity and violence)

This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

Juv. T1533t

(Sexual content, unsuited to age group)

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Juv. M8212w

(Unsuited to age group)

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra

Juv.V3644y

(Sexual content)

AND
Take the New York Times Banned Books Week Quiz!
https://www.nypl.org/bannedbooks