BOOKS CHALLENGED OR BANNED 2014-2015 Robert P. Doyle 2 BOOKS CHALLENGED CHALLENGED OR OR BANNED, BANNED, 2O14–2O15 2O14–2O15 Books Challenged or Banned in 2014-2015 Banned Books Week 2015 is celebrating more than thirty years of the freedom to read. This freedom, not only to choose what we read, but also to select from a full array of possibilities, is firmly rooted in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Although we enjoy an increasing quantity and availability of information and reading material, we must remain vigilant to ensure that access to this material is preserved. Would-be censors who continue to threaten the freedom to read come from all quarters and all political persuasions. Even if well intentioned, censors try to limit the freedom of others to choose what they read, see, or hear. Sex, profanity, and racism remain the when the person is a lone protester, the primary categories of objections, and censorship attempt is real. Someone has most occur in schools and school tried to restrict another person’s ability libraries. Frequently, challenges are to choose. Challenges are as important motivated by the desire to protect to document as actual bannings, in children. While the intent is commend- which a book is removed from the able, this method of protection contains shelves of a library or bookstore or from hazards far greater than exposure to the the curriculum at a school. Attempts to “evil” against which it is leveled. U.S. censor can lead to voluntary restriction Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, of expression by those who seek to avoid in Texas v. Johnson, said, “If there is a controversy; in these cases, material bedrock principle underlying the First may not be published at all or may not Amendment, it is that the Government be purchased by a bookstore, library, or may not prohibit the expression of an school district. idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” It should be noted that this bibliography Individuals may restrict what they is incomplete because many prohibitions themselves or their children read, but against free speech and expression they must not call on governmental or remain undocumented. Surveys indicate public agencies to prevent others from up to 85 percent of actual challenges reading or viewing that material. to library materials receive no media attention and remain unreported. The challenges documented in this Moreover, this list is limited to books list are not brought by people merely and does not include challenges expressing a point of view; rather, they to magazines, newspapers, films, represent requests to remove materials broadcasts, plays, performances, from schools or libraries, thus restricting electronic publications, or exhibits. access to them by others. Even when the eventual outcome allows the book to stay on the library shelves and even BOOKS CHALLENGED OR BANNED, 2O14–2O15 3 This bibliography represents books challenged, restricted, removed, or banned in 2014 and 2015 as reported in the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom from May 2014 to March 2015 and in American Libraries Direct (AL Direct) . (Dates prior to May 2014 indicate the controversy began earlier, but continued into 2014 or 2015.) Alexie, Sherman handles parents’ objections. The The Absolutely True Diary challenged contemporary young adult of a Part-Time Indian book is a National Book Award winner. THORNDIKE PRESS; LITTLE, BROWN It tells the story of a teenager who grows Pulled from the Meridian, Idaho, high up on the Spokane Indian Reservation school supplemental reading list (2014) but leaves to attend an all-white high after some parents complained that the school in a farm town. The book has novel “discusses masturbation, contains strong language, including racial slurs. profanity, and has been viewed as Source: May 2014, pp. 80-81; July-Sept. 2014, p. 119; anti-Christian.” School board members Nov. 2014, pp. 162, 174-76; March 2015, p. 47. rejected a committee recommendation Cast, P. C., and Kristin Cast that the book should stay on the The House of Night series tenth-grade English supplemental ST. MARTIN’S PRESS reading list with parental permission Challenged at the Austin Memorial required. Challenged at the Cedar Grove Library in Cleveland, Tex. (2014), along Middle School in Wilmington, N.C., with other young adult books that have a (2014) because “the book contains vampire theme. A local minister requested numerous depictions of sexual behavior, that the “occultic (sic) and demonic room as well as instances of racism, vulgar be shut down, and these books be language, bullying, and violence.” purged from the shelves, and that public Attached to the complaint was a funds would no longer be used to petition signed by 42 members of the purchase such material, or at least complainant’s church, Soldier Bay require parents to check them out for Baptist. The complainant is not the their children.” parent or grandparent of a child at Source: AL Direct, August 27, 2014. Cedar Grove. District policy states that parents or guardians who do Crutcher, Chris not approve of school reading Chinese Handcuffs materials may request GREENWILLOW PRESS alternative texts. Suspended Challenged, but retained in the from the Highland Park, Tex., Waukesha, Wis., West High School Independent School library (2014) despite concerns about District’s approved book “extreme violence.” A 1990 ALA Best list (2014) by the school Books for Young Adults, the novel superintendent. The addresses issues of suicide, drug and decision sparked a backlash and alcohol abuse, and sexual abuse drew national attention. The superin- including gang rape. tendent then reinstated the book. In Source: Nov. 2014, pp. 171-72. February 2015, the school district trustees approved policy changes on how the district selects books and 4 BOOKS CHALLENGED OR BANNED, 2O14–2O15 Danforth, Emily M. Geisel, Theodor Seuss handles parents’ objections. The The Miseducation of Hop on Pop: The Simplest Seuss challenged contemporary young adult Cameron Post for Youngest Use book is about a boy who has dated and BALZER + BRAY RANDOM HOUSE been dumped by multiple girls named Removed from the Cape Henlopen Challenged, but retained at the Toronto, Katherine; it includes sexual references. school district’s summer reading list in Canada, Public Library (2014) despite Source: Nov. 2014, pp. 162, 174-76; Lewes, Del. (2014), due to language a patron’s concern that the book March 2015, p. 47. deemed inappropriate for entering high “encourages children to use violence Green, John school freshmen. The book is set in rural against their fathers.” The patron The Fault in Our Stars Montana in the early 1990s. The parents requested that the library apologize to DUTTON BOOKS of the main character, a teenage girl local fathers and pay damages resulting Pulled from library shelves at the Frank named Cameron Post, die in a car from the book’s message. Written in Augustus Miller Middle School in Rancho accident before finding out she’s gay. 1963, the classic children’s picture book Cucamonga, Calif. (2014), because the Orphaned, the girl moves in with her ranked sixteenth on Publishers Weekly’s subject matter involves teens dying of old-fashioned grandmother and ultra- 2001 list of the all-time best-selling cancer who use crude language and conservative aunt; she falls in love with hardcover books for children. Based on a have sex. Removed from the Riverside, her best friend—a girl. Selected for the 2007 online poll, the National Education Calif., Unified School District middle 2013 Best Fiction for Young Adults list Association named the book one of its schools (2014) after a parent complained by the Young Adult Library Services “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.” the teen love story was inappropriate for Association, the list includes recom- Source: AL Direct, April 30, 2014. that age group. The New York Times best mended books for ages 12-18 that meet seller was released in June 2014 as a “the criteria of both good quality literature Geisel, Theodor Seuss PG-13 movie. In 2014 Green was and appealing reading for teens.” If I Ran the Zoo RANDOM HOUSE included in Time magazine’s list of the Source: July-Sept. 2014, pp. 118-19. Challenged, but retained at the 100 most influential people in the world. DeClements, Barthe Vancouver, Canada, Public Library Source: Nov. 2014, p. 159; AL Direct, Sept. 24, 2014. Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You (2014) despite a line in the poem about Green, John VIKING KESTREL helpers who “all wear their eyes at a Looking for Alaska Challenged by a parent in Rosemount- slant,” accompanied by illustrations that DUTTON BOOKS Apple Valley-Eagan, Minn., elementary are racial stereotypes of Asians. The Challenged, but retained in the school libraries (2014) because it uses book is often credited with the first Waukesha, Wis., South High School the “r-word” (retarded) to refer to printed modern English use of the word (2014) despite claims the book is “too students with special needs. “nerd” in a sentence. The library will no racy to read.” Awarded the 2006 Michael Source: May 2014, p. 79. longer read it at storytime or promote L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young it other than as resource material in a Adult Literature, this coming-of-age Doctorow, Cory study of how the portrayal of other story traces the journey of Miles Halter, Little Brother cultures has changed over time. TOM DOHERTY ASSOCIATES a misfit Florida teenager who leaves the Source: AL Direct, May 14, 2014. Cancelled as the approved reading safety of home for a boarding school in assignment in the Pensacola, Fla. (2014), Green, John Alabama and a chance to explore the One School/One Book summer reading An Abundance of Katherines “Great Perhaps.” program by a high school principal DUTTON BOOKS Source: Nov.