Thread by @kurtzjd

#BannedBooksWeek is this coming week. People who seek to remove books from schools & libraries seek to block access by ANYONE to ideas or scenes that make they themselves uncomfortable, rather than discuss those ideas. Here are the top ten challenged books of
2020(source-#ALA):

1. George by Alex Gino

Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting w/ a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”
amazon.com/dp/B00SZIBREW/…

2. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, & You by Ibram X. Kendi & Jason Reynolds

Reasons: Banned & challenged because of author’s public statements, because of claims book contains “selective storytelling incidents” & does not encompass racism against all people. amazon.com/dp/B07WR8LTCZ/…

3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

Reasons: Banned & challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, & because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, & be “too much of a sensitive matter right now”
amazon.com/dp/B00YNIIR3C/…

4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity.
amazon.com/dp/B004QGY36Q/…

5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author.

amazon.com/dp/B006T2O8TW/…

6. Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, & Ann Hazzard, illus. by Jennifer Zivoin

Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” & because it was thought to promote anti-police views. amazon.com/dp/B089W183RT/…

7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience.
amazon.com/dp/B00K0OI42W/…

8. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students.
amazon.com/dp/B001BC2ZS6/…

9. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse.
amazon.com/dp/B000TWUTYQ/…

10. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message.
amazon.com/dp/B01M0614T9/…

If you have the chance, read one or all of these books. While I have provided the Amazon link, buy the book from your local independent bookseller, if possible.

Book challengers assert that the simple fact that these books are readily available online means their challenge isn't a burden. That is nonsense. They are limiting access to those with means and stifling ideas.

Even better, give one of these books - or something else thought provoking - to a niece, nephew, grandchild, or friend.