Category: Banned and Challenged Books
Happy Birthday, Art Spiegelman
Through his art, Spiegelman has taken on such topics as Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and the Crown Heights riot of 1991 and we celebrate him as a banned author.
Un-American Books in American Classrooms
Books are most often challenged for language, sexual content, and violence, but what about for political reasons? A perfect storm ensues when political ideologies, race-based fears, and those seeking political gain exert influence over a school’s curriculum.
A Censor Sits in a Library
By: guest contributor Emily M. Schneider, Ph.D. – I am not writing to defend Gantos and McKean’s novel. I empathize with those critics who have expressed fears that it will only stoke the fires of xenophobia and normalize suspicion of Muslims, and that children may find in the book an excuse to bully their peers who seem to conform to the exaggerated images in the book. But, like Fitzgerald, I can also hold opposing ideas, specifically, fears of censorship, and the idea that allowing a book to be published does not imply endorsement of its message.
2018 Behind, 2019 Ahead
What just happened? A look back at some of the biggest intellectual-freedom news of 2018…and a look forward to those on the horizon in 2019.
Happy Birthday, Stephenie Meyer!
By: Allyson Mower A hearty and happy birthday from librarians across the country to one of the most successful authors in America! Stephenie Meyer was born on December 24, 1973 […]
Happy Birthday, Gustave Flaubert!
This month we celebrate the birthday of banned French novelist Gustave Flaubert (December 12). Find out what (most likely) earned his most famous novel a place on the Catholic Index of Forbidden Books.
Report Censorship – Twitter Chat with OIF
Join ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) on Twitter to chat about the importance of reporting censorship and what librarians can do to support our professional values.
Small Acts of Kindness in Banned Books
For Giving Tuesday, we celebrate giving back to make our society a better place. I’ve pulled together a list of banned books that have a small act of kindness that has made an impact on me.
Report Censorship – Facebook Live with OIF
Join ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) in this engaging Facebook Live event to highlight the importance of reporting censorship and what librarians can do to support our professional values.
An Interview with Author Alex Gino
Alex Gino’s first book, George, is a frequent target of challenges and bans. Their new novel, You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! just came out.