Celebrate Banned Books!

In honor of Banned Books Week, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the books which have been banned in different countries or challenged by schools, churches, and individuals.  The reasons why they have been banned or challenged may surprise you.  Have you read and liked any of these titles?

• The American Heritage Dictionary--Objectionable entries, in particular slang terms. 
• As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner--Questions the existence of God.
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley--Anti-religion, against the traditional family, strong language, and pornographic.
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London--Too radical.
• Charlotte's Web by E. B. White--Depiction of talking animals is sacrilegious. 
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker--Rape, racism, violence against women, and sex.
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank--Sexually explicit passages.
• The Giver by Lois Lowry--Violence, sexually explicit, and euthanasia.
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck--Promotes Communist values.
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald--Language and sexual references.
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling--Witchcraft.
• Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov--Obscene content.
• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss--Political commentary and propaganda.
• Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare--Same-sex romance.
• Ulysses by James Joyce--Obscene language and sexual content.
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak--Supernatural themes.

In the United States, public libraries are open to all people.  Any person is free to check out any book, no questions asked. 

Defending truth, justice, and the freedom to read from the perch.