Banned Books Giveaway Hop - GIVEAWAY through October 1st

I am participating in the Banned Books Week Hop being hosted by Jen from I Read Banned Books and Kathy from I am a Reader, Not a Writer !  Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Some of my thoughts from a post last year in which I reference the banning of Speak by Laure Halverson:

I'm a parent; I try to raise my children with good Christian values - values such as moral character, empathy, decency and kindness to others.  I DO screen watch they watch and what they read ... however, I don't presume that my opinion is the same as someone else's and I don't try to foist my opinion off as the only truth.

The truth is, some books and movies are OK for certain kids of an age, and some AREN'T good for other children of the same age.  It depends on the mindset of the children.

A book that encourages young girls to speak out about bad things that happen to them, including rape, is NOT a book that I'd censor for my girls.  I WANT my girls to know that sometimes bad things happen, even if I pray that those things never happen to them.  I DON'T want them to be ashamed and blame themselves if something DOES happen.

So, of course, I'm buying "Speak" .. it will be part of my Ban This! and The ALA Banned Books Week.  "Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.  Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States."

Bebe Boy James and I just finished reading Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson as a read-together - one of the titles from the 2003 Banned and Challenged book list.  Now, I must admit, the book DID make me cry .. it did  .. but I couldn't for the life of me see WHY it would be banned or challenged for a middle reader.  It's sad, and the dad cusses a couple of times, but that's it.

Here are a couple of examples of banned or challenged classics:

Catch-22, by Joseph Heller
Banned in Strongsville, OH (1972), but the school board's action was overturned in 1976 by a U.S. District Court in Minarcini v. Strongsville City School District. Challenged at the Dallas, TX Independent School District high school libraries (1974); in Snoqualmie, WA (1979) because of its several references to women as "whores."

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Banned in Ireland (1932). Removed from classrooms in Miller, MO (1980), because it makes promiscuous sex "look like fun." Challenged frequently throughout the U.S.as required reading.  Challenged as required reading at the Yukon, OK High School (1988) because of "the book's language and moral content." Challenged as required reading in the Corona-Norco, CA Unified School District (1993) because it is "centered around negative activity." Specifically, parents objected that the characters' sexual behavior directly opposed the health curriculum, which taught sexual abstinence until marriage. The book was retained, and teachers selected alternatives if students object to Huxley's novel. Removed from the Foley, AL High School Library (2000) pending review, because a parent complained that its characters showed contempt for religion, marriage, and family.  The parent complained to the school and to Alabama Governor Don Siegelman.  Challenged, but retained in the South Texas Independent School District in Mercedes, TX (2003).  Parents objected to the adult themes—sexuality, drugs, suicide—that appeared in the novel.  Huxley's book was part of the summer Science Academy curriculum.  The board voted to give parents more control over their children's choices by requiring principals to automatically offer an alternative to a challenged book.  Retained in the Coeur D’Alene, ID School District (2008) despite objections that the book has too many references to sex and drug use.
 
(I'm going to be reading Brave New World this week) as my official Banned Books week read.)

I will be giving two winners (International entry wherever The Book Depository ships) their choice of any of the books on the Banned and Challenged lists (1st winner - hardcover; 2nd winner - paperback).

Top 10 challenged books by year:

   2010: 1) And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson; 2) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie; 3) Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley; 4) Crank, by Ellen Hopkins; 5) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins; 6) Lush, by Natasha Friend; 7) What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones; 8) Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich; 9) Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie; 10) Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

   2009: 1) ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle; 2) And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson; 3) The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky; 4) To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee; 5) Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer; 6) Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger; 7) My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult; 8) The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler; 9) The Color Purple, by Alice Walker; 10) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

   2008: 1) And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; 2) His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman; 3) ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle; 4) Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz; 5) Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya; 6) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky; 7) Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar; 8) Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen; 9) The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini; 10) Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper

   2007: 1) And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; 2) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier; 3) Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes; 4) The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman; 5) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain; 6) The Color Purple, by Alice Walker; 7) ttyl, by Lauren Myracle; 8) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou; 9) It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris; 10) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

   2006: 1) And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; 2) Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar; 3) Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; 4) The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler; 5) The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison; 6) Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz; 7) Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher; 8) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky; 9) Beloved, by Toni Morrison; 10) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

   2005: 1) It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie H. Harris; 2) Forever, by Judy Blume; 3) The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger; 4) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier; 5) Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher; 6) Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds; 7) What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones; 8) Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey; 9) Crazy Lady!, by Jane Leslie Conly; 10) It’s So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie H. Harris

   2004: 1) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier; 2) Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Meyers; 3) Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael A. Bellesiles; 4) Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey; 5) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky; 6) What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones; 7) In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak; 8) King & King, by Linda deHaan; 9) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou; 10) Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

   2003: 1) Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; 2) Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling; 3) Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck; 4) Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael Bellesiles; 5) Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers; 6) Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous; 7) It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris; 8) We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier; 9) King & King, by Linda de Haan; 10) Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson

   2002: 1) Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling; 2) Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; 3) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier; 4) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou; 5) Taming the Star Runner, by S.E. Hinton; 6) Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey; 7) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain; 8) Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson; 9) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor; 10) Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George

   2001: 1) Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling; 2) Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck; 3) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier; 4) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou; 5) Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene; 6) The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger; 7) Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; 8) Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous; 9) Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers; 10) Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause

You can also reference any of the following pages:

Banned or challenged classics
Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2010-2011 (PDF) 
Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2009-2010 (PDF)  
Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2008-2009 (PDF)
Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2007-2008 (PDF)
Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2006-2007 (PDF)
Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2005-2006 (PDF)
Books Challenged and/or Banned - 2004-2005 (PDF)

Because this is a hop, all you have to do is comment with your book of choice from any of the above lists to enter.  You can get an extra entry for following (email/Twitter/GFC) - TWO extra entries if you are an old follower or subscriber.  Make a separate comment for each entry and include your email address something like this:  knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com.

Have fun and enjoy the giveaway!  And don't let OTHER people dictate what you can or cannot read!

Visit the other blogs on the hop: