Sunday, September 30, 2007

Banned and Challenged Books





First of all, I have already run into problems with this for my eight-year-old daughter. Her teacher has been hammered with complaints from parents for giving their children access to Harry Potter books, and books that contain magic because they think they are evil. When she has a play date I have to ask if it's all right that we have these books and movies in our home. I have the same problem with censorship of music. Blaming books, music, movies for person's behavior is ludicrous.

The books I have pictured here are on the ALA's challenged list. And Tango Makes Three is about two same-sex penguins who raise a baby together. The thing is, homosexuality is real, it is not going anywhere. Just like sex and drugs aren't going anywhere, hence the other book I have pictured. The Gossip Girls books, I have never read any of them. I hear they are full of sex and drugs. Are teens not exposed to this in other forms? The point is these issues will remain to be there regardless of the books. And what isn't evil? Who makes that choice for me and my children? Personally, I would prefer to read one of these books with my children (when old enough) and ask one another questions. A smart child is an informed child, with all choices laid out before them, a parent by his or her side explaining each choice without the labels.

Okay, I think that covers it.

Trish

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey gang! Great blog! Lisa, I LOVE the header you created! Want to get one on my blog but haven't figured out how to do it yet. Miss you guys! Trish, who has agents now, and WHAT book is coming out next fall, so I can keep and eye out and let everyone know?

I still think about Kimmi, Sid, Will, and Toby. You guys are great writers:)

L

Lotheus said...

When I was in the sixth grade, I read Brautigan's "The Hawkline Monster." Now, even at 12 years old, I could tell that this was one of the most mind-twisting, bizarre stories around. It was also sexually explicit and probably nothing I would give my 12-year-old to read, but I remember it now, 25 years later, as one of the books that made me want to write. I wanted to put something out there that people would want to read, and I don't know how that can be a bad thing. Of course, you haven't read my writing, either, so maybe it was a bad thing! :-)

Unknown said...

Laura! Hey girlfriend!!! How did you find us?
Drop me a line!

The book is Heidi's..FreezeFrame, due out in October 2008 from Laura Gehringer Books.

Anonymous said...

Lisa,

I totally will! I'd LOVE to catch up:) Thanks for letting me know about Heidi's book. SO exciting. What's up with Will and Toby? Any new stories?