Banned Books

Remembering Banned Book Crusaders: Barney Rosset

By |2019-02-25T12:37:25-05:00October 4th, 2012|Blog|

 “If you have freedom of speech, you have freedom of speech,” publishing legend Barney Rosset was quoted as saying. Rosset was responsible for the publication of many celebrated works of American literature, especially those that pushed the envelope in terms of sexual content. A staunch defender of the freedom to read, Rosset risked his reputation, business, and life on his [...]

Video: Adorable Children Reading From Banned Books

By |2020-01-05T23:18:54-05:00October 4th, 2012|Blog|

On September 23, we brought our Banned Books Library to the Brooklyn Book Fest and let passersby read to us from some of their favorite titles. Better than cat videos, that's for sure! Check out the whole playlist on our YouTube channel. Want to participate in the Banned Books Week Virtual Readout? Shoot your own video! Click here for more [...]

Read the ACLU of Texas’ Banned Books Report

By |2020-01-03T13:48:08-05:00October 3rd, 2012|Blog|

The ACLU of Texas published their 16th annual Banned Books Report for the occasion of Banned Books Week this week and it both looks amazing and has great content. In addition to detailed information about books that were challenged and banned across the state in 2012, the report has a great interview with writer and activist Tony Diaz. Diaz joined NCAC and [...]

Graphic Novel “Sidescrollers” Cut from Enfield Summer Reading List

By |2019-03-14T17:46:34-04:00September 5th, 2012|Blog|

A parent of an incoming freshman in Enfield, CT took a complaint about the graphic novel Sidescrollers to the district Board of Education and succeeded in having the book axed from the list. In addition, the board decided to take responsibility for creating the reading list out of the hands of its teachers and funnel it through a board committee and [...]

Missourian Publishes “Unfit to Read” Banned Book Project

By |2019-03-14T17:46:47-04:00August 29th, 2012|Blog|

A belated update, but one worth taking a second look at if you've seen it already. Missouri School of Journalism Associate Professor Charles Davis organized a group of students in working on an awesome project about book challenges in schools from across the state. Using Freedom of Information Act Requests, the participants gathered data on censorship issues in Missouri and [...]

News Round-up: Book Challenges, Huck Finn Racism and Whoopi

By |2020-01-03T13:47:59-05:00July 17th, 2012|Blog|

The news is blossoming today with book challenge-related stories, and we thought we'd take a moment to share. 1.) A teacher's aide in Dubuque, Iowa was fired (though she apparently about to quit anyway) after disrupting classes by insisting that Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a racist book that shouldn't be taught in schools. Afterward, a judge [...]

(Banned) Books that Shaped America at LOC

By |2021-12-14T10:58:05-05:00June 22nd, 2012|Blog|

On June 25, the Library of Congress will open its summer exhibit "Books That Shaped America."  The exhibit will be on display through the end of September in the Southwest Gallery, located on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, DC. Many books on the list of notable tomes won't surprise you. And it certainly didn't surprise [...]

Goodbye Jean Craighead George, “Julie of the Wolves” author

By |2020-01-03T13:47:34-05:00May 17th, 2012|Blog|

It's been a rough week for the world of arts and letters--Maurice Sendak, Carlos Fuentes, now Donna Summer. And the great and prolific author Jean Craighead George, who died yesterday at the age of 92. I doubt Craighead George's name is as immediately recognizable to the general public, but as one of the many people who grew up on her [...]

Three Cheers for Broken Arrow School Board!

By |2019-03-15T17:10:50-04:00May 17th, 2012|Blog|

After a busy week working to fight back against book bans and challenges, we were thrilled to see some good news. A Tulsa school district recently heard a parent's challenge to the book Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford.  The parent who challenged the book called the book "vulgar, vulgar, vulgar," objecting to its references to masturbation, pornography and an [...]

Video: “Fifty Shades of Grey” Fans Speak Out Against Library Ban

By |2019-03-07T23:31:52-05:00May 11th, 2012|Blog|

We spoke to fans of Fifty Shades of Grey about libraries that have banned their beloved trilogy, and erotica in general. This video was shot at an appearance by Grey author E.L. James at the Union Square Barnes & Noble in NYC. What do you think about libraries that have chosen to exclude all erotica, even while they carry works [...]

US Government, Sponsor of Book Censorship

By |2016-01-14T12:56:34-05:00January 24th, 2011|Blog|

NCAC occasionally publishes guest blogs on topics related to free speech. The views in these articles do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAC, however they raise important issues for discussion. By Vel Nirtist How do you keep the unwashed masses known as the "public" from highly prestigious and quite remunerative pursuit known as "public debate" which rightly belongs [...]

Song of Solomon Prevails in Franklin Township!

By |2020-01-03T13:38:14-05:00July 9th, 2010|Blog|

After a long and drawn-out challenge process, this week Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon finally prevailed in Franklin Township!  The denouement to this extended drama came down to a special convening of the Franklin Township school board set for this past Monday evening (July 6th).  No one knew how it would turn out.  New members of the school board, whose [...]

“Christian Taliban” to Host Halloween Book and Music Burning

By |2020-01-03T13:36:09-05:00October 15th, 2009|Blog|

The Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina will be spending this Halloween burning books and music its deemed Satan's work - including all non-King James versions of the Bible. Attendees will enjoy barbeque chicken and all the sides while they burn works written by the Pope and Mother Teresa among others. Pastor Marc Grizzard says there is a [...]

Kids’ Right to Read Project Opposes Censorship in Ohio Schools

By |2019-03-07T23:01:08-05:00October 5th, 2009|Blog|

On September 29th, Wyoming City Schools' School Board voted to back Superintendent, Gail Kist-Kline's plan to re-evaluate every non-textbook teachers recommend to students. Staff members will now be asked to rate books based on a new 4-point criteria, which inclues the extent to which a book "could create controversy among students, parents and community groups. However, removing books from reading [...]

NCAC staff and readers testify for Banned Books Week

By |2020-01-03T13:36:03-05:00October 1st, 2009|Blog|

"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing." - To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee Thanks to everyone who participated on twitter, facebook, and this blog with listing your favorite banned books!  You wrote about books you read in high school and those that changed your perspectives.  You testified about [...]

Banned Books Week Book Censorship Update

By |2020-01-03T13:36:02-05:00September 30th, 2009|Blog|

Some good and bad news for you today, folks, on the fifth day of Banned Books Week… First the good news: In Pennsylvania, Downingtown West High School followed model procedure in addressing a challenge against Laurie Halse Anderson’s Twisted.  We are please to report school officials and parents resolved the issue amicably through discussion.  For more information click here. Also [...]

Kids’ Right to Read Protests Efforts to Censor YA Author Ellen Hopkins

By |2019-03-07T23:01:06-05:00September 28th, 2009|Blog|

Its Banned Books Week and yet efforts to censor books in the U.S.A continue. In fact, just this past week, Ellen Hopkins, author of the Banned Books Week Manifesto was censored in Norman, Oklahoma. According to Ms. Hopkins, "I was supposed to do a school visit at Whittier Middle School. A parent went in complaining about content in CRANK and [...]

The Kids’ Right to Read Project Confronts Censorship in PA

By |2019-03-14T17:33:59-04:00September 24th, 2009|Blog|

On Monday, we reported on the Kids' Right to Read Project's response to a challenge in North Pocono High School against Laurie Halse Anderson's book Speak.  We have since learned North Pocono is not the only place in PA where Ms. Anderson's writing may be censored. Her novel, Twisted, which tackles serious teenage concerns about sex, alcohol, grades and family [...]

KRRP Protests Book Censorship in Pennsylvania and California

By |2020-01-03T13:35:55-05:00September 21st, 2009|Blog|

The Kids' Right to Read Project is urging the general public to speak out against book censorship at two high schools, one in Pennsylvania and the other in California where Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak and Jeannette Wall’s The Glass Castle are being challenged. KRRP is calling on supporters of free speech to advocate for students’ right to read everywhere, especially [...]

Author of the Banned Books Week Manifesto Censored!

By |2020-01-05T23:18:54-05:00September 17th, 2009|Blog|

Ellen Hopkins, author of numerous Young Adult titles as well as most recently, the Banned Books Week Manifesto is being censored in Norman, Oklahoma. Hopkins was scheduled to speak at Whittier Middle School on September 22nd about her experiences as an author writing about real life issues facing youth today. However, her talk was reportedly cancelled by the district's superintendent [...]

To you zealots, bigots and false patriots….

By |2019-03-15T18:22:51-04:00September 2nd, 2009|Blog|

Touch every book. Char every page. Burn every word to ash. Ideas are incombustible... The NCAC is excited to present the Banned Books Week 2009 Manifesto written by Ellen Hopkins, author of several verse novels on teenage struggles, including Crank, Burned, Impulse and most recently, Tricks. We here at the NCAC want to know what you are doing this year [...]

Land of Free Expression…? Map of Book Censorship in the USA Suggests Otherwise

By |2020-01-05T23:18:42-05:00August 13th, 2009|Blog|

Being so busy with campaigns promoting “freedom and democracy” in the Middle East and central Asia, it’s hardly surprising that most of us here in the United States are unaware of an archaic and abominable practice that continues here at home - book banning. The Kids’ Right to Read Project (KRRP), a collaboration of NCAC and the American Booksellers Foundation [...]

Litchfield teacher resigns amid short story controversy

By |2019-03-13T18:18:06-04:00June 30th, 2009|Blog|

On June 18, the School Board of Campbell High School in Litchfield, New Hampshire decided to remove four short stories from the “Love/Gender/Family” unit of an English class.  Early last week, Kathleen Reilly resigned from her position as English department head, citing a desire to teach elementary school in a different district. Reilly, who had taught at the high school [...]

Free speech advocates make some noise, and books will remain on shelves in West Bend

By |2020-01-03T13:28:22-05:00June 4th, 2009|Blog|

The West Bend, Wisconsin public library battle finally ended Tuesday with the best decision possible.  The Library Board voted unanimously to keep the challenged books on the shelves, “without removing, relocating, labeling, or otherwise restricting access,” according to the West Bend Daily News. An inspiring demonstration of support for free speech among West Bend community members influenced the decision.  Last [...]

Locker lending library of banned books makes reading cool

By |2020-01-03T13:28:16-05:00May 28th, 2009|Blog|

The Canturbury Tales, Candide, the Holy Qur’an, The Evolution of Man, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:  all these titles are on the list of books banned at a Catholic high school somewhere in the U.S.  But that also means you can find them among the texts of Kat Atreides’ covert lending library, which she runs out of her [...]

The Week in Book Censorship

By |2020-01-03T13:19:45-05:00February 6th, 2009|Blog|

It has been a busy week for book censorship. On Tuesday, MSNBC reported that The Bookseller of Kabul, a nonfiction account of life inside an Afghan household, was removed from a high school in Wyandotte, Michigan. The book had been assigned for an 11th grade honors English class at Roosevelt High School. MSNBC quotes a former teacher at the school: [...]

John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, salutes North Dakotans for defending his book

By |2019-03-13T15:17:46-04:00January 23rd, 2009|Blog|

According to The Bismarck Tribune, author John Berendt has a new respect for North Dakota, after his book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was first pulled, then reinstated in the Beulah High School library. While he was initially shocked at the book's removal after parent's complained about "pornographic" content, he followed the news and comments and was [...]

Banned Books Week

By |2019-03-07T21:51:59-05:00October 2nd, 2008|Blog|

In keeping with the theme of banned books. I've selected I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou written shortly after the Civil Rights era and was inspired the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was nominated for a National Book Award in 1970 and remained on The New York Times paperback bestseller list for two [...]

Not in Front of the Children: A Reply to the Critics

By |2017-07-05T16:52:30-04:00October 1st, 2001|Blog|

A number of critics have taxed Not in Front of the Children with being insufficiently sensitive to the concerns of parents about sexual explicitness and graphic violence in popular culture. It's true that the book doesn't decry all the gross and offensive entertainment that is available—there is already a vast literature on that subject. My purpose instead was to stimulate [...]

Pornography Law Goes too Far

By |2017-06-08T11:31:59-04:00October 17th, 1997|Blog|

LOS ANGELES TIMES Friday, October 17, 1997 The first round of papers has been filed in a federal appeals court in San Francisco challenging the constitutionality of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996. At the same time, the new movie version of Vladimir Nabokov's book Lolita, starring Jeremy Irons, is opening all over Europe, even though it is not [...]

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