So, this is a bit of a random topic, but I was just looking up The Giver and then I happened to wonder why it was banned. It turns out that it was because it didn't demonize suicide enough--apparently Jonas being totally shocked about it didn't cut it or something. But in the process, I found quite a few books that were banned for totally stupid reasons. These are my top three books banned for the stupidest reasons. You can decide for yourselves which one is the stupidest.
1. King and King, Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland
I don't know if you've read this book. It's a picture book, so I'm guessing you probably haven't recently. Basically, this is about a prince who has to find a princess to marry. He sees a bunch of princesses and none of them really interest him. Then he spots one of the princess's brothers and falls in love with him. They both get married and live happily ever after. (Well, it's a picture book. It's not like it's supposed to be a great story.) This was banned for showing homosexuality in a good light. Yes, I know. Apparently learning that homosexuality is not, in fact, an evil and disgusting thing at the age of seven is too young. Can we say stupid?
2. A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle
So, I'm guessing that even if you haven't read this book, you've heard of it, since it's, like, uber-famous. I would call it a classic. This book was banned for including the name of Jesus Christ in a list of great scientists, philosophers and writers who have supposedly fought evil. I mean, I don't pretend to understand Christianity or anything, but shouldn't saying that Jesus is a great evil-fighter be a compliment to him?
3. The Higher Power of Lucky, Susan Patron
Not sure if either of you have read this. I'm not really a big fan, but it's a pretty good book and it doesn't really have anything unspeakably horrible in its pages. So, can you guess the reason this book was banned? It is because, in the first page of the book, the word "scrotum" is used. (Just look it up.) It's not used in any horrible sex-ed-ish way. It is because this person is talking about her friend's dog being bitten in the scrotum by a rattlesnake. The 10-year-old heroine doesn't even know what it means. But according to these people, "you won't find men's genitalia in quality literature." Which, for one thing, is totally NOT TRUE. Maybe these people just haven't read any quality literature. And, for another thing, it is not a man's genitalia that they are talking about. It is a dog's genitalia. Kids with dogs can see their dog's scrotums every day. (Maybe next they'll ban dogs!) Plus, it's using it as a medical term. It's not like the person's friend is saying, "My doggie was bitten in the hynie by a rattlesnake! Tee hee!"
Hmm...maybe if these people would actually read the books they are trying to ban, the world would be a much better place.
Anyway, rant over. You can comment on which one you think is the stupidest if you want to make me happy. :3
Listening to "Let It Roll" by All Time Low (No, the title is NOT a hint for what I should do about banned books!),
Blue
introducing...the one...the only...
- Blue Bibliophile
- I cannot be put into words. Well, actually, I can, but I'm too lazy to bother. ;)
3 comments:
where did you find all of these?
*SCREAM* YOU ARE LISTENING TO ALL TIME LOW! I think that the people that banned these are very religious. Like I don't get why books are banned. They shouldn't I think unless it's like REALLY bad. But everyone has their opinions about what is bad. So books shouldn't be banned PERIOD. That's my opinion. But I have read 2 out of 3 of these books: A Wrinkle In Time and The Higher Power of Lucky. I remember The Higher Power of Lucky when I read at around the age of 9 or 10 I can't remember. What I remember about the use of the word 'scrotum' that it was very innocent. If they are banning The Higher Power of Lucky just because of the use of that word... why aren't teenage sex books banned?
Slip Jig-There's this blog that was made for the Read Banned Books challenge. bannedbookschallenge.blogspot.com.
urbanchick-Yes, yes, ok, I'm listening to All Time Low. No need to make a fuss about it...
But I totally agree with you. The thing is, I can see why people might not want their young kids to read stuff like Captain Underpants, and I respect that, but there's still no reason for them to go and try to stop everybody from reading it.
But I think the idea is that the age group that The Higher Power of Lucky was aimed at is apparently too young to learn what a scrotum is. Which is totally stupid--at that age they should know what a scrotum is so they'll know when to avoid it when they're older!
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