"Of all the dystopian novels we had to read in high
school, BRAVE NEW WORLD
scared me the most. There was something chilling about the clinical manner in
which the novel’s society was based, the comatose state into which people
willingly went in order to escape feeling anything unpleasant, the purposeful
and relentless drive for constant consumption of goods, the denial of the
individual. I suppose I saw much of our own world in the novel when I first read
it in 1997. I see even more of our world in it now.
We live in a world where everything is at our fingertips. Innovations in
technology have advanced the medical field, the entertainment industry, and made
goods and services available to us that we never dreamed possible. Though I know
that many of these innovations are to our advantage, a part of me worries the
more plugged in we are to technology, the more tuned out we become to each
other. Brave New World serves as a reminder that we should be a society that
embraces our humanity and celebrates individuality. It is a warning against the
alternative--a scary, technological nightmare with entertainment and pleasure at
its center." ~Crissy Hamilton, Dallas Book Club Coordinator
"CATCH-22 is a
gruesome, terrifying, and farcical novel that is just so true. It takes soldiers
from all walks of life, throws them together, and shows how different people
adapt to the horrors and realities of war. CATCH-22 is a book
that I never would have picked up on my own, but I still have my copy from high
school and I never intend to let it go. I'm a very literal black and white
person and CATCH-22 really
helps me see all the gray in the world. Things are never what they seem and
bureaucracy will always do its best to screw you over." ~Ande Flanagan,
Fresh Fiction Author Advocate
"THE CATCHER IN THE
RYE by J.D. Salinger makes frequent appearances on the Banned Book list. It
is also frequently cited by the famous and the infamous as being a source of
inspiration and a much loved book. Film directors like Jim Jarmusch and Wes
Anderson with their films about quirky outsiders and vision quests owe a debt of
thanks to Salinger's story of Holden Caulfield and his journey. I first read THE CATCHER IN THE
RYE as a first year literature major. For a classic, it's not as
intimidating as something like WAR AND PEACE. The thing I
love about THE CATCHER IN THE
RYE is that it takes the classic 'hero's journey' story and makes it about
an ordinary person, rather than a warrior or knight, but with a touch of the
extraordinary in the things that happen on the journey." ~Miranda Owen,
Fresh Fiction Reviewer
"FAHRENHEIT 451 by
Ray Bradbury made a very big impression on me in high school, particularly
because the teacher couldn't "assign" it for the class. It was included on a
list of suggested reading for our Satire class, and I knew that my dad had a
copy. After reading it I approached my teacher to discuss the book and that was
the first time I really understood the word 'irony'. A book about banning books
was banned from our school. It is scary to think we may one day see this book
come to life." ~Christina Fashant, Fresh Fiction Reviewer
"Among other statements, THE GIVER declares the right
to express and experience all life has to offer, and that, to me, speaks to the
true message of Banned Books Week: We have the right to learn from the triumphs
and heartaches of this life through stories, even when the content of those
stories is uncomfortable to some.
The characters in THE
GIVER are forced to take injections that strip them of emotions, and it
takes place in a society in which one individual is called to carry the burden
of all mankind’s memories, while the rest of society knows nothing of the world
that came before. Through following the main character’s journey toward becoming
that sole person to know the world’s history, I found myself questioning the
purpose of memory and pain. This book helped open my eyes to the precious nature
of human minds, and to the beauty that lies in remembering what it’s like to
exist, in both good times and bad.
This story shows that repression saps the color from our lives, and takes away
our humanity with it. By banning THE GIVER and other books
that challenge us to question our societies, moral codes, and hearts, we strip
people of their chance to feel human. We especially steal from students what
might help prepare them for the difficult world around them.
THE GIVER should never be
banned, because it expresses the truth that memories and emotions are
valuable—even the painful ones." ~Pasha Carlisle, Fresh Fiction Features
Editor
"My absolute favorite banned book is Dr. Seuss GREEN EGGS AND HAM. When I
read that it had been banned in China for its portrayal of early Marxism I was
absolutely flabbergasted. What I have always thought of as a children’s book, I
now find out it reeks of political no-nos.
GREEN EGGS AND HAM is a
story that is perfect for little children, young adults and grown-ups. Who
amongst us cannot and will not finish the sentence when someone says “I do not
like them, Sam I am”? This book was written 54 years ago and I think, just as
popular now as it was then. And the strangest part about this being a banned
book was as soon the author died, the ban was lifted. So I have to ask, was it
the book they banned or did they just not like Dr Seuss as an author.
Even after reading this is a banned book, I will continue to keep this book on
my shelf and will continue to read it to my grandchildren and great
grandchildren because I many not like to eat green eggs and ham but I definitely
love to read about them."~Pat Richardson, Fresh Fiction Reviews Managing
Editor
"Well, I could probably write a whole essay on this
list of banned books, but I'll keep it short. The Harry Potter series
should not be banned because it's a compelling fantasy series for people of all
ages that draws together like-minded readers and families. FOREVER by Judy Blume,
while not a literary masterpiece, is one of the books that I used to sneak and
read, flipping to the pages with all the good sex scenes. All teenagers should
have a book like this. Lastly, my dad used to read to me every night growing up
until he decided I got too old to be read to, and that I might be better of
reading on my own. The book that determined that was ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT'S ME
MARGARET."~Katherine Petersen, Fresh Fiction Reviewer
"I glanced at the list of banned books and wasn’t
surprised when I found so many of my favorites on there. But there’s one book
that will always stand above the rest. I was in the sixth grade when I first
read Harper Lee’s TO KILL A
MOCKINGBIRD. Atticus Finch is the hero to which I hold all other heroes
accountable, and I wanted to be Scout’s friend. I also wanted Scout’s name. It
was the first book that made me cry about the terrible things we do to one
another. It was a book that helped formed my views of the world and how I treat
others." ~Candace Havens, Fresh Fiction Columnist
"Each year, I'm astounded by the books some people (usually parents or
'concerned adults') put on a list to be banned or censored by educators and
schools. Books I generally think as classics or I wish I had read when I was
young are included in the roster of those forbidden works. When I see TO KILL A
MOCKINGBIRD or HUCKLEBERRY FINN, I just
shake my head. Both of those books were important to my understanding of the
world outside of a small farming community in central Pennsylvania.
The population of the area I grew up in was very small, although, as any other
child, I didn't realize how confined it was until I grew up. As a child, people
with differences were either 'English' or from another religion, such as
Lutheran or Methodist, very racy, or gasp even Presbyterian! I was taught
to categorize all fellow Anabaptists by the way the women wore their coverings:
full hair coverage, a little cap with strings, or not at all!
Imagine the world of Alabama, which came to life through the eyes of Scout
Finch. In some ways, she was exotic to me just because she lived in a town! I
mean, my only playmates were sisters, brothers, cousins or cows. I was more
interested in her family and town setting the first time I read TO
KILL A MOCKINGBIRD than in the trial or Atticus. And her father wasn't a
farmer. Very exotic! Later, I realized all the lessons Scout and I absorbed from
the story-telling were more important to the person I became. And isn't that
what books should do? Inform and expand our experiences."~Sara Reyes, Fresh
Fiction Founder
"Many of the books I love are, or have been banned books at one time or another.
The one that instantly comes to mind is TO KILL A
MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. It makes my soul shrivel a little to think that
this insightful book is so misunderstood. Most of the objections to TO
KILL A MOCKINGBIRD have to do with its graphic display of racism. It also
has some very explicit language. The people who ban it miss the point. They read
it like a copy editor looking for 'bad' words and statements. They do not read
for meaning. This book takes a moral stand against all the things it is censored
for. The voice of Atticus Finch, the small town lawyer, is the true voice of the
book. He is maybe not able to make a big difference in the way people think, but
he stands up for what is right and just no matter what the cost. A noble message
indeed." ~Dot Dittman, Fresh Fiction Reviewer
"I can remember the first time I met Lennie Small
and George Milton, the pair of migrant workers at the center of John Steinbeck’s
classic OF MICE AND MEN. I
was in fifth grade, young I know, but their shared story impacted me from the
get go. I may not have fully understood what the Great Depression was or why
these two men traveled from ranch to ranch searching for work, but I did
understand their tragedy and hardship. That’s what makes a great book,
especially when it gets challenged by people who just don’t understand. The book
was rough, full of hard men and tantalizing women living alongside each other in
the desolate landscape of post-dust bowl California.
When I revisited the book in high school and again in college, my relationship
to this banned book changed. Now these tragic figures took on an even more real,
more romantic feeling. They struggle, they strive to better themselves, but in
the end even two friends couldn’t take care of each other for long. OF MICE
AND MEN ends in death, but each time you go back to the novel you hope that
this time Lennie’s fate won’t be sealed with George’s. You hope that they make
better choices, safer choices. But they don’t, and the iconic relationship
between Lennie and George dissolves like dust in a storm." ~Gwen Reyes,
Fresh Fiction Events Coordinator
"ONE FLEW OVER THE
CUCKOO'S NEST by Ken Kesey, a tale interwoven with humor, wit, and sometimes
heartbreak. This book is as clear to me today as it was so many years ago when I
read it. It shows how far we as a society have come in treating mental illness.
It is an inspiring and uplifting story, it is a classic book, and it was a
blockbuster movie, winning 5 Academy Awards.
Murphy is the main character opting to be committed to a mental asylum rather
than serve time in prison for a crime he committed. He tangles with the head
nurse, Nurse Ratched, and challenges her at every turn. Who is really crazy at
this asylum...the inmates or the tyrannical Nurse Ratched whose actions were
brutal and unforgiving? A moving tale about individualism versus establishment,
it will leave you cheering until the last page. A must read." ~Pat Pascale,
Fresh Fiction Reviewer
One of my other fav frequently banned books is The Chocolate War. Had to read it for a young adult literature class & loved it. (Miranda Owen 1:59pm September 26, 2014)
I have not read all of the books on the above compilation but I have at least heard of all of them. It continues to amaze me that people are still trying to stifle the expansion of the minds of young people. I, too, loved Green Eggs and Ham as well as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I read Dr. Seuss to all of my children when they were growing up and credit him with instilling an early reading interest in them. My youngest daughter, who is now in college, showed me a PowerPoint Presentation last night that she is doing for a public speaking class. Her topic: Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz. Harold was a story she loved from the time she read it in the 2nd grade. She still loves that series. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous found its way to me when I was 19 and I finished it in a day. It is an excellent book showing some hard truths. Poor Lois Duncan seems not to have been able to do anything right as she appears on the Banned List more than once. However, I found both Killing Mr. Griffen and Daughters of Eve quite entertaining. I actually loved most of Ms. Duncan's books as a teenager. I am greatly puzzled as to why The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold appears on this list. It was an intense and beautiful book! Finally, how can anyone find fault with R.L. Stine's deliciously scary series Goosebumps? The people banning these books, in my opinion, have some very serious issues with knowing how to have fun. (Lynn Cunningham 3:05pm September 26, 2014)
My goodness! I have read and enjoyed all of these books and none were banned in Canada when I did read them long ago. Some groups have even objected to books by Margaret Laurence, a famous Canadian author, and they are all so wonderful!
Books need not be banned; however, thoughtful analysis and good good reviews can be helpful in guiding readers. (Audrey Lawrence 4:09pm September 26, 2014)
I can not believe Green Eggs and Ham was banned. (Vicki Hancock 6:00pm September 26, 2014)
In this day and age, when "anything goes," including all forms of sex, for example, I can't, for the life of me, understand why anyone would put any books on the banned list. Other than for reasons of being "Politically Correct," which is nothing more than the new catchphrase to try and snag voters, these books are a form of our past - our History, and should be preserved to show how we thought and lived back then, and how far we have come. Nobody has the right to take ANY book off of our shelves!! If that is the case, I could start thinking of a few that I feel are teaching the very young wrong ideals!! (Peggy Roberson 10:41am September 27, 2014)
I was stunned when I saw some books that were banned. Besides how does anyone have the right? It's a personal choice! (Vicki Hancock 7:22pm September 27, 2014)
I have read a good number of these books (the older ones, that is!!) when I was in high school. It was required reading by my favorite teacher, who made it clear that banned books should be required reading. Still reading them to this day! (Sandy Kenny 11:09pm September 27, 2014)