Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie Discusses Book Banning and Censorship

By |2020-01-02T15:10:01-05:00September 16th, 2014|Blog|

Sherman Alexie is one of the most frequently challenged authors in America. Just this year, NCAC intervened in three separate challenges to Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, most recently in Idaho. In this new video, Alexie discusses book banning, censorship, and the erotic novel to which one would-be book banner compared his young adult novel.

Potential Challenge to Absolutely True Diary in Same NC County Where Color Purple Was Under Threat

By |2019-03-07T22:49:27-05:00June 4th, 2014|Incidents|

No lie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian will likely face another challenge, this time in Brunswick County, North Carolina, where the The Color Purple was challenged earlier this year. NCAC sent a letter in the Color Purple case and the book was ultimately kept. A formal challenge has yet to be filed regarding Absolutely True Diary, though NCAC sent the below [...]

Yet Another Challenge to Sherman Alexie’s ‘Absolutely True Diary’ in Sweet Home, OR

By |2020-01-03T14:37:48-05:00February 11th, 2014|Incidents|

NCAC's Kids' Right to Read Project activated to advise a reconsideration committee in Sweet Home, OR to retain the use of Alexie's popular young adult novel in 8th grade classrooms. Parents and other citizens whose children do not even attend Sweet Home Public Schools have complained about the book's content. Before the book was taught, teachers in Sweet Home Middle [...]

Dozens Speak in Support of ‘Absolutely True Diary’ in Billings, MT

By |2020-01-03T14:34:09-05:00November 11th, 2013|Incidents|

NCAC and partners sent a letter to the Billings School District on Monday defending Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The book is taught in 10th grade classrooms. At a well-attended school board meeting this week, many supporters of the book spoke out in its defense. 

Sherman Alexie Talks to NCAC About Being Banned

By |2020-01-03T13:50:12-05:00February 19th, 2013|Blog|

Photo: Rob Casey Sherman Alexie tells the Write Stuff about how it feels to be challenged, why he’s determined to keep writing controversial books for teens, and the upcoming sequel to his oft-banned, award-winning novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Little, Brown). I'm sure you hear about the impact True Diary has on kids all [...]

WATCH: Awesome Teen Films About Book Censorship

By |2019-03-20T13:24:02-04:00January 11th, 2013|Blog|

It's that time of year -- yesterday we announced the semifinalists for the 2012 Youth Free Expression Film Contest and we couldn't be more excited. Reasons why we're excited: 1. Theme: Banned Books. This year's films asked students to respond to the prompt "You're Reading WHAT?!?" and talk about attempts to censor teens' reading choices - something dear to our [...]

Sherman Alexie: “I love to scare the already terrified assholes”

By |2020-01-03T13:49:38-05:00October 12th, 2012|Blog|

Guernica magazine featured a great interview with frequently challenged and banned author, Sherman Alexie. Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has appeared on the ALA's most challenged list in both 2010 and 2011; the Kids' Right to Read Project has defended the book in Missouri, Oregon and Washington state, to name just a few. In the interview, Alexie answers [...]

Free Access to the Missourian’s Challenged Books Report

By |2019-03-14T17:46:47-04:00October 2nd, 2012|Blog|

Not long ago, The Missourian published its excellent J-student project of tracking and reporting on book challenges and bans across the state of Missouri.  This week, the newspaper -- which uses a subscriber access model -- will be allowing all visitors to read and access the reporting, for free! Click here to read about what types of books were challenged in [...]

A Triumph in Massachusetts: Alexie’s Work Remains In Curriculum

By |2020-01-03T13:43:15-05:00November 4th, 2011|Blog|

It has been a formidable year for Sherman Alexie, whose Young Adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has been challenged several times, due to would-be censors' unease about sexual and violent content. Alexie’s book was challenged in Helena, Montana, swapped out of the curriculum at Hastings Middle School in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, banned from classrooms in Prineville, [...]

Victory in Richland, WA! “…Part-Time Indian” Restored To Curriculum

By |2019-03-15T17:05:12-04:00July 12th, 2011|Blog|

The Richland, WA school board has overturned a previous vote that removed Sherman Alexie's award-winning Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian from the district's high school curriculum. The book will now be available to all high school classes! NCAC congratulates the board members who reversed their previous votes, after reading the book for themselves. According to the Richland News [...]

Letter to Helena, Montana Review Committee on Sherman Alexis’ Novel

By |2016-02-02T10:58:58-05:00December 13th, 2010|Incidents|

The NCAC wrote this letter in response to a parent's challenge.     Dr. Susan Watne Review Committee for Helena Public Schools Helena, Montana mailto:[email protected]   Dear Dr. Watne and Members of the Review Committee for Helena Public Schools,   We write concerning the challenge to Sherman Alexie’s acclaimed novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  We understand [...]

Sherman Alexie Novel Officially Banned from Missouri School

By |2019-03-15T15:26:26-04:00September 9th, 2010|Blog|

A disappointing ruling came out last night regarding Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in Stockton, Missouri. The Stockton School Board voted 7-0 holding firm in its decision to remove the book from school classrooms, notwithstanding pressure from many educators to keep it. The board also ruled in favor of banning the book from the high [...]

A Microcosm of Censorship

By |2020-01-03T13:26:08-05:00March 18th, 2009|Blog|

We’ve noticed that the State of Oregon has been a hotbed for censorship incidents lately.  Here’s what’s been happening around the state: A Portland fifth grader has decided not to perform his act about President Barack Obama in his elementary school’s talent show after the principal forbade him from wearing a mask that depicts Obama during the performance.  The principal [...]

High School Censorship Poll

By |2019-03-07T22:31:36-05:00December 12th, 2008|Blog|

[polldaddy poll=1188091] Sherman Alexie book pulled Student sues for Facebook suspension RENT cancelled by director Bumper sticker suspension upheld Censored Girl, Interrupted replaced

Kids’ Right to Read Project Opposes Banning of ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’

By |2020-01-03T14:08:38-05:00December 12th, 2008|Incidents|

School officials in Crook County, OR, removed The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie from ninth grade English classes at Crook County High School after one parent complained about a passage that discussed masturbation.  The Kids' Right to Read Project sent a letter to the Crook County superintendent and school board, opposing the book's removal.

The Absolutely True Story of a Book Banning

By |2020-01-02T15:33:32-05:00December 11th, 2008|Blog|

Sometimes, book banning is as simple as: Parent complains to school board about book (offending excerpts in hand). School board member agrees book is “inappropriate.” Good-bye, good literature. The Crook County School Board in Prineville, Oregon, did just that with nationally-renowned author Sherman Alexie’s National Book Award-winning young adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  The book [...]

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