The Most Banned

Every year the American Library Association announces the top ten titles that have had the most "formal, written complaint[s], filed with a library or school, requesting that materials be removed or restricted because of content or appropriateness.”

It should be no surprise, then, that most of these books were written for the teen audience.

The ALA’s Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009 reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
   Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs



2. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
   Reasons: Homosexuality



3. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
   Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide



4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
   Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group



5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
   Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group



6. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
   Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group



7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
   Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence



8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
   Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group



9. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
   Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group



10. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
    Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

I've read seven of these. How many have you read? What do you think?

To learn more, including the top 100 challenged books of the decade click here.

Banned Books week is September 25 - October 2, 2010. Talk to your librarian if you'd like to do something special to celebrate challenged books that week.

via Entertainment Weekly

Libraries v. Schools

What do you think? Do you agree with him? Disagree?

From audiobooker.

C-SPAN StudentCam

Like making movies? How about documentaries?

Want a chance at winning $250-$5,000?

From their website:

"This Year's StudentCam Topic:
A message to the new President:

What is the most urgent issue for the new president to address after taking office, and why?

Students are asked to create a short (between 5 and 8 minutes) video documentary that explores an issue of national significance that they believe is in need of urgent attention from the new president of the United States.

Your documentary should include more than one point of view. YOU MUST USE C-SPAN PROGRAMMING TO ENHANCE YOUR DOCUMENTARY. Videos that do not use C-SPAN programming will be disqualified."

They are also on FaceBook.

Good Luck!

Teens expelled for silent protest

Students in Oak Harbor were expelled for refusing to take off t-shirts protesting a fellow student's expulsion.

Students demand free speech
By LIZ BURLINGAME
Whidbey News Times Reporter

“We felt if we were silent with this, no one would pay attention to us,” junior Justin Chambers said. “You need to be 40-years-old and carrying a suitcase for people to actually listen to you.”

How do you feel about this? Were these teens treated unfairly? Would you have done what they did? Why?