Let me first explain what got me going on this quest for knowledge. I came across an article in my internet newspaper this morning. It was about how the novel Norwegian Wood had been removed from 10th grade honors English summer reading lists (with only a few more days before school starts, I might add) because it supposedly "graphic lesbian sex between a minor and an adult." Now I really want to read this book. I am curious and want to lend my own (expert) opinion to whether or not this book is appropriate for 15 year olds.
I plan to purchase the novel for my kindle later tonight, but first, I looked Norwegian Wood up on wikipedia (which, as we all know, is the best place to find simple summaries and celebrity gossip). NOWHERE in the summary was lesbian sex mentioned. From that summary, it seemed that the book was about how a group of young people deal with the suicide of their friend. After wiki, I searched some curriculum questions for Norwegian Wood.' They were very similar to curriculum questions I'd seen during my high school career for every book under the sun, from Jane Eyre to The Grapes of Wrath: How does so-and-so act when such-and-such happens? What is the main conflict? All these generic questions... Except one, which read "What does sex represent in the novel?" I like that question. Make kids think! They're so used to symbols being clouds and doors and roads and simple, predictible crap. So far, I really like the idea of this novel being on the reading list.
After that search, I wanted to look up some actual banned books (along with the reasons for their banning). Here's where it gets a little goofy:
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury were both banned for containing "rude language" (God damn), "sexuality," and portraying "offensive views of reality." Is anyone aware that both of these books fall in a category of literature called Dystopia, where the frankly messed up futuristic civilization is supposed to serve as a warning about what the future could hold????
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was banned for portrayal of "disturbing mental states" and "sexuality." It's a book about a girl struggling with depression after she is raped. Ya think maybe that's something teens should know about? How to deal with? How to get help? Maybe? And about the most sexual part of the book I remember was a line that went something like "and he unzipped my pants.."
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was banned because it contains "frightening concepts" and "sexual themes." First, it's the diary of a 13 year old. Yes, she wrote that her breasts get sore when she has her period. She's a girl. It's her diary. How scandalous... And as for the "frightening concepts," yes, she was in fact hiding from the mean nasty Nazis who eventually found her and took her to a prison camp where she died. That happens to be history, and I don't see that getting banned from schools any time soon.
The Koran was banned because it "contains language that goes against moral values." (which has become a pc way of saying "it's un-Christian"). Wow... I don't quite know what to say on this one...except that about two-thirds of the Koran contains the same stories as the old testament of the Bible...
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell was banned because it contains "sexual themes" and "homosexuality." The story is about two male penguins who sit on a rock because they think it's an egg and they want a baby. Eventually they find an abandoned egg, which hatches, and then they raise the baby. I don't know who decided the story is about sex (or homo sex), because I thought it was about penguins and a rock... :)
All 7 of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling were banned for "encouraging a wicca religion." Firstly, where in any of the HP books is any religion ever mentioned? Secondly, what exactly is wrong with a wicca religion?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Black Boy by Richard Wright, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain were all banned because they contain "inappropriate language" (the n-word). Anyone think a good addition to the curriculum might be a discussion on classism, history, and how language has changed over time? And really, should classic works of literature be denied to children because they contain a couple of not-so-nice words?
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown was banned for containing "immoral and deceitful themes." My favorite analogy for this book is the disney movie 'National Treasure.' Maybe some of the stuff in the story is sorta kinda maybe partially based on not-quite factual myth-like ideas. However, no one is running around saying that Ben Franklin was never ever ever a freemason and setting out to torch the director of the movie. Oh, and has everyone failed to notice that The Da vinci Code is A NOVEL? On the FICTION shelf?
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak was banned for containing "sexual themes." I will not deny that the cartoony illustrations in the book feature a slightly-more-detailed-than-barbie picture of a naked little boy. The book is about baking, not sex, though.
And, lastly, my favorite, and the most ridiculous banning: Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary was banned because it contained "inappropriate and slang" definitions for words. Wow. Sorry kids, we can't give you any words because some of them may not be good for you....Now why were Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 banned again?
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--all banned books and reasons came from the American Library Association (ala) website--
