• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Big Girl Blue.com

Moe's Favourite Things

  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / BellaOnline / Revisiting Banned Books

Revisiting Banned Books

The last week of September an awareness campaign is run by the American Library Association to enlighten readers about freedom of speech. During this week you are encouraged to read books that have been banned in previous years.

Here are ten previously banned (or challenged) books for you to revisit this September (in order of year published):

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) – This well known literary classic was first published in 1884, eight years after its predecessor, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In this adventure Huck travels with an escaped slave named Jim. It’s been attacked for its “language” and “grammar” despite its realistic imagery of historical racial conflict and friendship beyond color.

The Awakening (Kate Chopin) – Can you imagine “vulgar language, sexual explicitness, or violent imagery that is gratuitously employed” in a novel first published in 1899? That’s what happens when a 28 year old mother of two decided not to conform to society’s (and her husband’s) expectations of a woman’s duties. It’s too bad that Chopin never got to enjoy the success of this literary work. This was her last novel and while today she is described as an “exquisite” writer, she had to virtually become a hermit in her time for the backlash it caused. She was clearly a woman and writer before her time.

The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) – This book was published in 1951 and despite being constantly attacked for its profanity and sexuality it has managed to maintain a consistent best seller status and cult following. Salinger took a few days from a 16 year old’s life and made it interesting to adults and their children.

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) – This racially charged novel was published in 1960. It’s narrated by the daughter of Atticus Fitch, a lawyer, who defends a black man charged for raping a young white child. Harper, who was born in Louisiana, has deep roots in the south which she brought to her writing. She won a Pulitzer Prize for this novel. It was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck in 1962. Celebrate both!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Ken Kesey) – This 1962 novel still stands strong after forty years. Even the movie (1975), starring Jack Nicholson, is still one of the best made films. Kesey brought love and compassion into an area of life that most of society had closed the door on, the mental ward. He gave faces, personalities, hopes, dreams, fears and voices to these characters. Despite being considered an “American classic,” this novel never won any awards.

Forever (Judy Blume) – It seems like you can’t grow up a teenager without having a healthy dose of Judy Blume mixed in. This is one of her more controversial novels because of its blatant teenage sexuality. It was published in 1975 and is still a popular and somewhat “romantic” read.

The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison) – This debut novel was first published in 1970. In it’s minute it is about a pubescent black girl’s desire to be pretty and those around her who refuse to let her believe it. Eleven year old Pecola dreams of having blue eyes. She’s learned that only beautiful people are treated well. And in her mind, to be beautiful she must have blue eyes. Oprah picked this book as part of her book club in 2000. Morrison has produced other racially charged and well received novels like Beloved which was made into a movie in 1998. Morrison won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993 for her body of work.

The Giver (Lois Lowry) – Twelve year Jonas is being given a gift from the “Giver,” the knowledge of what life was like before their current utopia. He is to carry this knowledge in case it is ever needed in the future. Once received, he realizes that he can not go on living the way he had. This 1993 novel about a “dystopian” society won the Newberry Medal in 1994.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (J. K. Rowling) – Imagine all the kids who wouldn’t be reading if J.K. hadn’t written and published this book (and subsequent ones) about a lovable young sorcerer and his friends. This book was published in 1997 (hard to believe isn’t it) and has remained on the best sellers list ever since.

Geography Club (Brent Hartinger) – Nothing has been more controversial than sexuality; especially if goes against perceived societal norms. This young reader about gay teens was published in 2004 and followed a young boy’s journey to prove to himself he wasn’t alone. It’s hard to believe something that was published so recently would be challenged.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

My Name is Moe

Moe Wood
Thanks for joining me on my journey. I hope you will leave a comment before you go. To learn more about me check out my "about me" page.

Connect with Me On…

FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYou TubeEmail Me

What I’m Obsessing Over Now

https://youtu.be/w7rewjFNiys

What’s Happening…

biggirlblue

Poached eggs Poached eggs
Peaceful morning by the water. Peaceful morning by the water.
Hey! Hey!
Hey! Hey!
The giant lilies opened while we were out. The giant lilies opened while we were out.
I haven’t seen these poppies for at least ten ye I haven’t seen these poppies for at least ten years. Now I have three.
We decided at the last minute to drive over to the We decided at the last minute to drive over to the grocery store parking lot to see a few of the fireworks. Look who was waiting for us to return.
Lots of flowers on our walk today. Butterflies sho Lots of flowers on our walk today. Butterflies should be here soon!
Little storm came through and left very quickly. Little storm came through and left very quickly.
Enjoy the little things, have a beautiful day. Enjoy the little things, have a beautiful day.
Bunny, take 2! Bunny, take 2!
Bunny! Bunny!
Garden update. Filling in! Garden update. Filling in!
Things are filling out in the garden. Today, I add Things are filling out in the garden. Today, I added mini rabbits I bought on FB marketplace. #gardening #birdbath #tulips #ferns #hostas #trillium #bleedinghearts #rabbits
Found this big guy hanging out on one of our cedar Found this big guy hanging out on one of our cedar trees watching ants go by. I told him to get to work but he just pretended I was talking to the rock behind him. He’s about the size of the palm of my hand. We used to have a fist size one for many years but I haven’t seen him in a long time. #toads #gardenfriends
Back in TO to get some stitches to fix the tear in Back in TO to get some stitches to fix the tear in my eye. Then Swiss Chalet! LOL it’s become a routine. PMH then SW. LOL
The new garden is coming along this spring! I just The new garden is coming along this spring! I just remembered I have glass rocks and bunnies to put in!
#succulents So tiny. So cute. #succulents So tiny. So cute.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Currently Reading

Marie Lu's Skyhunter
This ARC was gifted me to review and I have finally been able to crack it open. So far so good. Marie Lu Skyhunter

Stop Biting the Tail You’re Chasing

Tolerance
"No matter in what situations we find ourselves, when we don’t have so many opinions and preferences we naturally experience more peace of mind. We feel more agreeable, more comfortable, and more able to fit in with others. When we are more tolerant, not only do our minds’ stability and experience of meditation improve, but the conduct of our body, speech, and mind also improves because we stop being so reactive."
Find this book on Amazon.ca:

Or Amazon.com.

Expand Your Mind with a Quote

Quote Writing Prompt: read C. P. Snow quote, contemplate, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read this Amy Tan quote, contemplate it, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read Mary Kay Ash quote, contemplate, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read this Eric Berne quote, contemplate it, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read E. W. Howe quote, contemplate, then write for fifteen minutes.
Quote Writing Prompt: read this Ruth Benedict quote, contemplate it, then write for fifteen minutes.

Footer

My Current YouTube Addiction — Check out Trent and Allie

https://youtu.be/xgfw_ogCy7A

RSS Subscribe to my feed:

  • Evive Smoothies
  • MasterClass Steps Up Learning
  • Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow

Learn to Play Ukulele

https://youtu.be/MVqxKEaQHM0

· Copyright M. E. Wood© 2023 · WordPress ·

Take a Random Look ARound

anna scholz authors biw member interview biw tips body image books bras Etsy handbags igigi Interviews journaling ideas Lane Bryant lingerie literary fiction literature nail polish novels plus size active wear plus size career wear plus size clothing plus size clothing sales Plus size denim plus size dresses plus size halloween costumes plus size jeans plus size maxi dresses plus size party dresses plus size swimsuits plus size t-shirts plus size tops reading squidoo lens building tips swimwear Threadless tops visual writing prompts writers writer´s block writing advice writing lessons writing life writing prompts writing related books writing tips