Some things are just sick. The list of banned books is one of them. Lets take a little look at a few shall we?
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Ok, who are we kidding here? I’ve had to read this one dozens of times growing up.
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Traditional High School Reading
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Even the most conservative body in the civilized world approves. Saying it’s a good thing for kids to read it. Hmm…
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
I’ve got this one on my bookshelf. I read it in 5th grade. In a Catholic Elementary School. Class Reading.
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
I’ve had to read this one too in High School. Required reading for pretty much all American students for a long time.
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Here’s another we had to read in 8th grade. In a Catholic School. In Class Reading. Read, and discuss.
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
Another silly one, considering everyone had no problem in a conservative Catholic elementary school.
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Pretty standard reading for High School students in America. I was able to dodge this one.
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Read it… Catholic School… Go figure.
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
5th Grade.. Catholic School. Required in class reading.
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Has anyone with a High School diploma gotten away without sitting through the book or the movie?
88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
I can’t even comment on this stupidity anymore.
The ones where I even mention the grade, it’s because I had to write down the homeroom on the inside of the front cover. Which also shows the grade. So I know exactly when I read it. This is by no means a complete analysis. I just picked a few I thought would be fun to mention.
And America is still a land of the free?
Here’s a great idea for a new law: Any school district who bans a book is prohibited by law from teaching that America is a ‘free’ nation. The word ‘free’ may not be used in association with ‘America’ (or any comparable terms).