A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

in
A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet)
By Madeleine L'Engle

What would happen if you took Lovecraft and made him believe in the power of love? That's the heart and soul of this book, traveling across the stars on the wings of math, facing horrible abominations and alien figures, and finding out the universe ain't so bad after all. While my first reaction as an adult is to reject the ending as too neat, too concise and optimistic in how easily little Meg defeats the monster and saves her family, I see how a young child would love it. Thinking back, I do not remember much about the story when I first read it in sixth grade, but the love of math and the ideas of science that it implanted in me has always stuck. A quick, fun read, this book holds up as a fun entry for children but lacks a strong narrative for adults. Kinda gotta love a big, furry, tentacled, blind creature named Aunt Beast, though.

Banned

#22 on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000 from ALA, #90 for 2000-2009

Jerry Falwell Ministries claims it undermines faith and religious beliefs and contains offensive language

1985 - Florida - Challenged but retained at Polk City Elementary where a parent believed it promoted witchcraft, crystal balls, and demons

1990 - Alabama - Challenged at the Anniston schools for sending mix signals about good and evil, as well as a parent complaining the book listed Jesus Christ with other artists and thinkers.

1996 - North Carolina - Challenged but retained by the Catawba Count School Board in Newton after a parent requested for undermining religious beliefs.

Sources

Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: Challenging the Freedom to Read. 2014.

USAToday

Banned Books Project

Banned Books Awareness

SUVUDO

ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom

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"Dances and Dames"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard

in

When evil comes to pray on poor Dudley the Stork, he calls upon his animal friends to help him. Too bad they are all crazy idiots. The quick and funny ghost story is written for just beginning to read children as a first chapter book containing surprises with a bit of complexity in the language. Honestly, the twist at the end is not one I will spoil as written, but it is sure to make you say Hay! I hate puns. Stand out character is the medium Madam Creepy, the mystic alligator. The drawings are fun and in keeping with the artist and writer's other collaborations. A fun time.

Banned

  • #93 on the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009
  • occult and various supernatural issues, description of families in a derogatory manner and encourages disrespectful language and disobedience to parents
  • 1986 - challenged at Wasilla Library, Alaska, retained

"Dances and Dames"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy by R L Stine

in ,

Ready to get terrifying nightmares and the most heart-pounding terror of horror? Too bad, we read Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy by R L Stine.

Banned

1996 - Florida - Series was challenged at Bay County elementry schools for "satanic symbolism, disturbing scenes, and dialog"

1997 - Minnesota - Challenged but retained at the Anoka-Hennepin school system

Sources

CNN - Minneapolis, MN

Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: Challenging Our Freedom to Read. 2014.

"Dances and Dames"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park

in
Mick Harte Was Here
By Barbara Park

A young lady talks about her dead brother and we talk about death and FUN. It's pretty dark.

Banned 

1998 - South Carolina - Challenged but retained at Liberty Middle School Library in Seneca after a grandmother complained.

2004 - North Dakota - Challenged, but retained at the Centennial Elementary School library in Fargo after parents complained to school officials that the book contains themes and language inappropriate for elementary students.

Held at Cabell County Public Library

Sources

Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: Challenging our freedom to read. 2014.

Marshall University 

Bismark Tribune

"Dances and Dames"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Junie B Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park 10

in

Some talk about bears and read the best banned book ever.

Banned

ALA Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009

1998 - New Jersey - Challenged but retained at Harmony Township school after a parent complained that the book teaches extreme negative emotions (hate) are okay and that the book never resolves the issues it raises or gives ways to handle negative emotions.

Sources

Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: Challenging our freedom to read. 2014.

"Dances and Dames"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell

in ,

Turn the lights down low, light a campfire, and get ready to hear about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

Banned

1990 - Michigan - Challenged at Livonia schools because the poems frightened children

1992

Arizona - Challenged at Neely Elementary School in Gilbert for the occult, devil, and satanism

Connecticut - Challenged at West Hartford elementary and middle school libraries for violence and subject matter

Indiana - challenged in Union County

Washington - Challenged at Lake Washington School District in Kirkland as unacceptably violent for children

1993

Arizona - Complaints about violence and cannibalism lead to restricted access at the Marana Unified School District

Kentucky - Challenged by a parent at Happy Valley Elementary School in Glasgow for being too scary

1994 - Washington - Removed from Vancouver School District elementary school libraries after previous challenges - Evergreen School District libraries also challenged as being "far beyond other scary books"

2001 - Banned for violence, being unsuited to age group, and occult themes

2007 - Banned for insensitivity, violence, being unsuited to age group, and occult/Satanism.

2009 - Banned or challenged for occult/Satanism, religious viewpoint and violence.

2013 - Banned or challenged for being unsuited for age group and violence.

Sources

Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: Challenging Our Freedom to Read. 2014.

Marshall University

"Dances and Dames"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/