Celebrate the Freedom to Read with Banned Books Week!

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN

Since 2010, Sherman Alexie’s first YA novel, THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN has been on the Top Ten Challenged Book List. The reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I laughed until I cried, and then cried because Arnold’s story is heart-breaking, hopeful, and beautiful. I read everything by Sherman Alexie because his talent for creating raw, poignant, and haunting characters is extraordinary.

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE

In 2001 and 2002, the Harry Potter series was the number one most challenged book/series according the ALA. In 2003, it was the second most challenged book. The reasons: anti-family, occult/Satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence.

A life without Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger is unfathomable. This is a story that has surpassed being a best-seller and entered into cultural memory. People know Harry Potter even if they’ve never read the book or watched the movie. What I love most about Harry Potter is how the series evolved and grew alongside the readers. This is a series I never tire of, but my favorite book is HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN!

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER made the Top Ten list in 2004, 2006-2009, and 2013. Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group.

Without a doubt, this is the novel people most often recommend to me. “Have you read it? It changed my life. I love it.” More often than not, they say this with a hand pressed over their heart as if remembering the intense emotions of the first time they read it. I love how the story is told through Charlie’s letters and yes, I read it with a hand pressed to my heart as if trying to stop it from breaking along with Charlie’s.