The book I read was Newberry Award Winner Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Here is a brief summary of the book taken from Katherine Paterson’s Official website (http://www.terabithia.com/books/ terabithia.html): “Jess Aarons had to be the Fastest runner at Lark Creek Elementary School, the best, but when he was challenged by Leslie Burke, a girl, that was just the beginning of a new season in Jess's life. Leslie and her parents were new comers to the rural community where Jess Lived, and were thought to be a bit odd, for they didn't even own a TV, though their house was filled with books. Some-what to Jess's surprise, he and Leslie became friends, and the worlds of imagination and learning that she opened to him changed him for ever. It was Leslie's idea to create Terabithia, their secret Kingdom in the woods where they reigned supreme."
So it sounds good right! Yet, it is on the banned book list. Here are the reasons why the book is probably on the banned book list: 1) In the book, one of the main characters dies. 2) There is profanity in the book 3) There is the controversial issue of “God damning you to hell.” 4) They are mean to one student even telling her that she is fat while another says “weight watchers” is wanting you. 6) They talk badly about one of their teachers and daydream mean ideas about her.
So, now you are saying, “Why in the world would you read the book?” That is simple! I read the book with my class because they can relate to it. It is not sugar coated. It has a happy ending, but not the one you expect. Most of the cuss words only occur a few times throughout the book. It is not like they are on every page. P The author wanted them in there, so who am I to say she is wrong! (You can go to her website and see what feelings she expresses on using cuss words).
Most of the cuss words are related to the scene where Jess and his family go to church on Easter and on the ride back home, Leslie says that she does not believe in any of it. Maybelle says "Leslie, if you don’t believe God will damn you to hell.” When my class and I got to this section, I asked them if all people believe that. It was a resounding, “Yes!” So I told them that not everyone believes in the Bible and we briefly discussed other religions.
So controversial or not, this is one book unit that I will continue to teach.
My 4th grade teacher read this book aloud to our class. This book really made an impression on me, and marked the beginning of my love of books. Several years after I graduated from high school, something triggered the memory of the book, so I ordered it from Amazon to have in my own collection and reread it. Now my own children have enjoyed the story- through the new movie, and I hope they read the book one day. (I went through a thorough explanation with them about the differences between the actual story in the book and the movie spin on it.)
I just read Bridge to Terabithia to my third grade class. They loved the book. I did have a problem saying the cuss words aloud while I was reading it to my class. I just substituted words, and let my students know that I was doing it. Even at third grade, they understand that the language was for emphasis. The language is not what is important in the book. The human emotions, imagination, and friendships are the important part. I'll admit that even though I've read this book numerous times, I always cry with Leslie dies. As I was reading it aloud, I was crying. My co-workers did the exact same thing. We talked with the students about how Jess would feel and explained how we should handle our emotions in tough times. There are definitely "teachable moments" in this book.
My fifth grade reading class and I are in the middle of reading this book. I have all the above-level readers for the grade and this book has been excellent for some in-depth discussions about several issues--friendship, differences and how we treat others, etc. This is not the first book we've read this year that has had profanity in it so that has not been an issue.
I read The Great Gilly Hopkins, another Katherine Paterson book for this assignment. The following summary also comes from Paterson's official website (http://www.terabithia.com/): "At eleven, Gilly is nobody's real kid. If only she could find her beautiful mother, Courtney, and live with her instead of in the ugly foster home where she had just been placed! How could she, the great Gilly Hopkins, known throughout the country for her brilliance and unmanageability, be expected to tolerate Maime Trotter, the fat, nearly illiterate widow who is now her guardian? Or for that matter, the freaky seven year old boy and the shrunken blind black man who are also considered part of the bizarre "family"? Even cool Ms. Harris. Her teacher, is a shock to her."
The official website also has a link to questions to Paterson and her responses. The following question and her response deals directly with the reason The Great Gilly Hopkins has been banned in some libraries, profanity.
"How do you respond to those who wish to censor/remove your books from the libraries (Great Gilly Hopkins)?"
Paterson responds says "Gilly is a lost child who lies, steals, bullies, despises those who are different or perceived to be weaker—a child like this does not say 'fiddlesticks" when frustrated. I could not duplicate her real speech with out drowning out the story in obscenity, but I had to hint at her language. She would not be real if her mouth did not match her behavior."
I totally agree with Paterson. Gilly is a diamond-in-the-rough and her saying "darn" would not have been true to her character or made her seem so real. Gilly could have been any one of the students that are sitting in my class on a daily basis! Many students would relate to Gilly's struggles and frustrations which makes it an appropriate book to be checked out from the school library or taught in the classroom.
I chose to read Blubber by Judy Blume. This was a familiar title to me but I couldn't remember what all the Hoop-la was about so I decided to read it again for this class.
The book is about a young girl named Jill Brenner. She lives with her average family in an average neighborhood. At the beginning of the story, Jill is friends with Wendy and Caroline, the class bullies. They begin attacking an overweight girl named Linda after she presents a story on whales to the fifth grade class. She mentions the fact that whales have blubber, which gives the other girls a strategy for attack. Throughout the story, the girls find every opportunity to make fun of Linda and her weight issues and “Blubber” quickly becomes Linda’s new nickname. The story describes several torturous events such as making Linda show her underwear to boys, making her eat a chocolate ant, toilet papering her yard on Halloween, and singing songs about her out loud to others. Toward the end of the story, Jill confronts Wendy and Caroline, and becomes a target for ridicule herself by the same crowd she once hung out with.
Issues with the book that are questionable to some are the issues on bullying. The book only has a few words of profanity, so I guess there are a few people out there who don't like that.
The only thing that stood out to me is the fact that none of the girls are punished for their mistreatment of Linda. However, Jill finds out what it's like to be in someone else's shoes in the end. I guess this is an appropriate natural consequence.
I'm not sure why this book has received so much attention because I can think of numerous others that contain content far more questionable.
This book is perfect for reading to the entire class. It would allow for a great discussion on the topic of bullying and would allow students to voice concerns of their own.
I definately think that this book needs to remain on the shelves. It is an accurate depiction of the lives of young girls in school. Maybe it frightens some to think that girls can actually be this mean . . . but I've been there and I'm sure there are many more who have also.
It was amazing to me how many books of Judy Blume's are on the banned list. I know that I still keep copies of several of her books. One of my personal favorites is Tiger Eyes. Has any one read this? It is also on the banned book list. I debated whether to use it or Bridge to Terabithia and finally chose the latter.
Bridge to Terabithia was such an important book to me. I felt through the characters, which to me is such an important part of reading. I think that this book can teach so many life lessons to students. It would be detrimental to hinder students' ability to access this book. Like the others have stated, it is not sugar-coated. Through real-life incidents, out students learn life-lessons.
I wrestled with the issue of profanity in books this year myself, as this is the first year I have taught anything but kindergarten, where this is a nonissue.
One of the stories my gifted 3rd graders and I read in class had a couple of four letter words. As I said, I debated this and finally decided that I felt more uncomfortable changing the author's intention for the story. I did, however, decide to discuss it beforehand with students so that we did not have to endure the snickering and silliness that was sure to occur. As usual, my students lived up to my expectations and understood the differences in use. I will not lie, though, I worried about the repercussions in doing this. :)
I have read Tiger Eyes, but it has been MANY years. Surprisingly, I still have some mental pictures that I associate with the book even though I cannot remember some of the most important details of the book. Well-written books are such a powerful thing...I think Judy Blume does her job so well that she is always going to be someone that people will try to challenge.
Bridge to Terabithia is such a powerful story. I think people who worry about a book where kids talk bad about their teacher are crazy. Who hasn't talked bad about a teacher? I was a good student who never got in trouble, but I could imitate every unpopular teacher I had. It happens . . . we make fun of our principals.
I chose to read Blubber too. According to First Amendment Center (http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org), five of Judy Blume's books are on the list of 100 most challenged books of the 90's. Blubber is number 30, apparently due to the few profane words, presentation of bullying, and simply for being inappropriate for the intended age group. The profanity is very limited. I found it interesting, however, that every curse word had been underlined in pencil in the copy I got from our media center. My son is the same age as the characters in this book, and we actually had a conversation recently about his classmates using profanity in school. It is simply a reality that all of the kids hear these words, and many of them use the words as well. It is up to the parents to teach their children about these things that come up in their lives. In fact, in Blubber, the main character states that she does not swear like many of her classmates because her parents do not care if their children use that type of language at home as long as they understand that there are people who do not approve. As Judy Blume states on her website (http://www.judyblume.com/censors.html), she never planned on writing titles that would be controversial; she just felt that she had to write books that were honest. I think that sometimes we are so concerned about making children feel good about themselves that they do not learn about the bad things that can happen to them or the people around them. As Jodi has already posted, Blubber is about a 5th grade girl, Jill, who joins her classmates in making Linda’s life miserable for a time by calling her names and harassing her. When Jill talks to her mother about what is going on, her mother suggests that she put herself in Linda shoes. Jill tells her mother she will never have that problem, but she soon realizes that she is the one being bullied after she stands up to the ringleader. Unfortunately, the teacher is oblivious to what is going on in her classroom. While bullying is definitely an issue in schools, I think teachers are more aware than the teacher in this book. Blubber could be a valuable tool in teaching children about bullying and its effects on others.
For my banned book, I chose to read James and The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. This book was first published in the United States in 1961, and has been featured as number fifty-six on the American Library Association’s 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000. I chose this book after speaking with a few Reading teachers that I know. Also, I have always loved Roald Dahl books; therefore, I thought this would be a great book for me to blog.
The story starts off with James Henry Trotter being a happy young boy with parents who loved him endlessly. Unfortunately, in a horrible rhinoceros accident, both of his parents were “eaten up”. Therefore, he had to go live on the top of a hill with his two mean and ugly aunts, Sponge and Spiker. Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker were extremely cruel to poor little James. They verbally abused him, calling him names such as “you disgusting little beast” and “you filthy nuisance.” They also physically abused him; beating him for absolutely no reason at all. One day, while James was doing chores ordered to him by his Aunts, he met a small, strange little man in a green suit. The stranger gave James a bag full of magical “tiny green things” that were supposed to take away all of the miserable things in his life. While James was scurrying away, he dropped the bag and all of the magic went into the ground under the old peach tree. James, more depressed than ever, decides that he just was not supposed to live a happy life, . . . until Aunt Spiker notices a peach growing in the top of the tree – the tree that has never produced a peach.
This is where James’s magical adventure begins. The peach continues to grow and grow and grow until it is the size of a small house. After exploring the giant peach, James discovers a hole in the peach where he enters to find new friends – the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the Centipede, the Earthworm, the Ladybug, the Glowworm, the Silkworm, and Miss Spider. After the Centipede gnawed away at the stem, they began their journey down the hill killing the two Aunts, across the fields, and finally to the seashore. There they are whisked away on a fantastic journey where they ultimately discover freedom in the United States.
This book has been challenged numerous times for its language, dramatic scenes of violence, and portrayals of abuse by the Aunts. The book, Hit List for Children 2: Frequently Challenged Books, by Susan M. Stan, and Beverley C. Becker describes several instances where the book was challenged and eventually banned. A few of these occurrences are: In 1999, because of the use of the term “ass,” the book was banned from an elementary school in Lufkin, Texas. In 1995, schools in Stafford County, Virginia, challenged the book and eventually removed it from classrooms due to the crude language and placed it on a restricted shelf in the library; the schools also felt that it promoted disobedience towards parents and other adults. Another school in Brooksville, Florida (1992) challenged the book because they believed it promoted drugs and whiskey, which after reading the book I can not recall this occurring.
Do I feel like this book should be included in the classroom, as well as the school’s media center? Totally! This is a fanciful, well-written book that all students must read. Although the use of the word “ass” may offend some, I believe you should be able to look past the actual words used and read more into the idea behind the book. James is able to triumph over his many hardships and live a happy, well-fulfilled life. This is what parents should see after reading this book, not some silly words and sketchy descriptions!
Hey guys - I found a couple of books that fit perfectly with what we are doing. If you go to www.google.com and search for "Hit List for Children's Books" it will connect you to a results page. At the very top under "Book Results" you can click on the two titles and see excerpts from these books. There is some really good information about challenged books including specific cases for certain titles. I found it very difficult to find specific cases on the Internet and this is finally where I got my info about cases for James and the Giant Peach. I hope this may help others!
I like that Carla did her review on Bridge to Terabithia because I considered doing my blog on this book after a teacher told me that she encountered problems with parents after doing a unit of study on the book with her class. Apparently the parent did her research, because her reasons for challenging the book were the exact same as in your post. I am a very strong advacate for IF; I have even challenged my mother on the issue. So, in my opinion, if a parent wants to ban a book with a cuss word in or ban it because it picks on a fat girl, I really feel like the parent should look at other aspects of the world around them. Everywhere you look, you hear cuss words. It's on the national news programs, daytime talk shows, and even in G-rated movies. Just this week, we have all heard about the Imus situation with the Rutgers basketball players. By simply having one book removed from the shelves of a library or media center, does a parent really think that they will be removing their child from all the "bad" in the world. I don't think so!!!
Though I've already posted about The Great Gilly Hopkins, I wanted to post about The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. Recently awarded the Newbery Award, many librarians are choosing not to put it on their shelves because of one word on the first page of the book. The word refers to a male's anatomy part though used in reference to a male dog.
As I was reading the book, I realized that there were many similarities between Gilly of The Great Gilly Hopkins and Lucky of The Higher Power of Lucky. Lucky is living with her guardian, Brigitte, after her mother dies. Lucky's father is not part of her life but it was he who arranged for Brigitte, from France, to become Lucky's guardian. Lucky has reason to believe that Brigitte is planning to put her in an orphanage and return to France. With that thought in mind, Lucky decides to runaway. She packs a survival kit (includes a good book--my type of person!)and heads out. Of course, there are complications with the plan, including the fact that Lucky has never really dealt with the death of her mother. As the title implies, Lucky finds her "higher power" and the place she belongs.
This book is full of rich language and the characters are wonderfully developed. Readers can picture themselves in Hard Pan, California (pop. 43), the setting of the story. Matt Phelan's pencil sketches add to the overall story.
It is hard to believe that the critics are choosing not to put this book on library shelves due to one word. Many say that the word was not needed to tell Lucky's story. Maybe they are right but that is still not a reason to ban the book from libary shelves. The idea of a "higher power" will be reinforced to all who read this book andthey realize that things are possible when you believe!
(Shelly Horton) I read “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson. I read this book in the 6th grade and it has always been one of my favorite books.
In the book, Jess finally has the chance to be the coveted fastest runner at school. However, there is a new student who beats him. The new student, Leslie, is a girl, which adds to the shame. Leslie and her parents have moved into a house near Jess. Her family is a bit strange, having no TV and lots of books. An unlikely turn of events, Jess and Leslie become very good friends. They spend all of their time together. In the woods, they create an imaginary world called Terabithia. They are the supreme rulers in this imaginary land. One day, Leslie goes to Terabithia alone. She falls into the stream and drowns. Jess is heartbroken, but is forever changed by the friendship he and Leslie shared.
This book is banned because one of the main characters dies. There are curse words used. There is also a religious issue of “God damning you to hell.”
This remains one of my favorite books. Katherine Paterson did an excellent job of making the characters come to life. I relate so well to the characters and their lives.
Well, I might have alot of parents after me because when I taught Fourth grade, I taught James and the Giant Peach. My students enjoyed the book and we watched the movie. One of the GPS standards is to compare a book with its film version. If you are to do this, you must choose books that have movies with them. If Hollywood, feels that it is a good enough book to make a movie of, then who am I to say differently. I have to agree with others, one cuss word in a book should not be a justifiable reason to ban the book. It is the message of the book that you should be concerned with. When you were a child, and read a book with cuss words, did you really remember the particular cuss words or do you remember the plot of the story. I always remember the plot. That is to me what makes it a good book.
Like Jessica, I visited the Web site, http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org. Melanie Bengston lists the most challenged books of 2005 and then says this about their authors: "These nine authors represent a rich heritage of controversial literature as they join the company of Confucius, Rousseau, Homer, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Twain and many others. Some, like Blume (Forever) and Salinger (The Catcher in the Rye) are not strangers to controversy. First published in 1951, Salinger’s classic has been debated for decades."
I also read James and The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. I have never seen the movie myself so I did not have any preconceived judgements about the book.
The story is about young James who loses his parents at an early age and goes to live with two abusive aunts. After years of beatings and verbal abuse, James meets a man with magical granules that he insists will give James magical power. James spills the granules under a peach tree which gives the power to the tree. It grows an enormous peach which also houses human sized insects.
James joins the insects as they break the peach free from the tree. It rolls down the hill "flattening" the wicked aunts and continues until it reaches the sea. There the journey begins. They encounter sharks, birds who carry them into the sky, cloudmen throwing hailstones, cloudmen building rainbows, and many other personified objects. They finally land in NYC and become rich and famous. (That's the "make a long story short" version.)
There was some really creative visual descriptions about the clouds...some turn on faucets that let the water fall as rain. The imagery described was fascinating and would encourage the imagination of young readers. I did count the word "ass" I think three times. Usually in the form or something like "you stupid little ass."
I had read that it had been banned in some places for encouraging children to disobey their parents (or aunts in James' case). I did not see signs of that either. For the most part, James tirelessly did all of the physically demanding work that the aunts required of him, which may I add were never good enough and usually resulted in a beating or being locked up. I suppose that the fact that he was involved in the whole peach escape act may imply to some that he was running away from home. I guess that was his option without DFACS.
Carolyn commented about reading that James and the Giant Peach promoted drugs and alcohol. My only guess there is that James was supposed to pour the granules into water and drink the magic "potion." Maybe some people saw that as encouraging drug/alcohol use. I don't know. That's too much of a stretch for me. That goes along with "take this pill and you'll lose weight" but we don't ban diet pill commercials.
I chose to read How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. This book was published in 1973. According to Wikipedia (Wikipedia.org), How to Eat Fried Worms is #96 on the ALA list of the 100 Most Frequently Banned Books. Everything2.com states that this book is noted for being the 13th most challenged and banned book of the 1990s in American libraries. I used to teach third grade back in the 90s, and I read this story aloud every year to my students-right after lunch! I had no idea that it was the subject of censorship-I just thought it was a great book!
The story begins when some young boys enter a discussion about what foods they would or would not eat,and what things would be impossible to eat. Billy claims that he would eat a worm, since worms are "just dirt." The other boys bet Billy that he can't possibly do that, and so the fun begins. Billy must eat 15 worms in 15 days, and if successful, his friends will give up a minibike. The story chronicles the next 15 days, and how Billy manages to eat a worm every day. As the days pass, and Billy begins to acquire a taste for the worms, his friends worry that Billy will win the bet. They think of ways to trick Billy which are creative, funny, and almost work. On the 15th day, things look bleak for the boys and they resort to drastic measures to prevent Billy from eating that last worm. This results in serious consequences, and Billy ends up with a minibike and a taste for worms!
This book came under scrutiny for two main reasons. One area of concern was the fact that the characters in the story participated in "socially unacceptable" situations, like worm eating. Parents thought that their children might be inclined to start eating worms after reading the story. Now, I have read this story several times,and I never felt the urge to "chow down," and to my knowledge, neither did my students. The other parental concern focuses on gambling, since the characters decide to wage a bet. It was thought that this book might encourage this behavior in children who read the story. I find both of these concerns absolutely ridiculous. When researching the book, I thought the reason for the challenge was the author's use of the word "bastard," which Billy utters when he realizes his friends almost tricked him. I always went ahead and read that part of the story as written, because I felt the author had an express purpose for including that language. This aspect was not even mentioned in articles that discussed the banning of the book.
If this book were to be published today, I wonder if it would even raise an eyebrow. In our world of "Fear Factor" and "Survivor," eating a worm just doesn't seem like that big of a deal! I find it very surprising that a fiction book, written to entertain children, could come under such heavy scrutiny. If I were still teaching third grade, I know this selection would still be part of my after lunch read-aloud.
Response to How to eat fried worms: I have to agree. To ban a book because you are scared your child is going to eat worms and might gamble. Uh hello! No offense, but that person needs to be given some common sense. The book is written to entertain! I honestly don't think some child is going to go out at recess and find some worms so they can eat them because they read this book. And as to gambling, I don't know about you, but gambling in GA (lottery) is the reason I was able to receive my undergraduate education!
Deborah's post about drugs in James and the Giant Peach reminded me about another book that has been challenged and/or banned, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I won't summarize and review it here in case someone else decides to, but my kindergartners always enjoyed his work, especially his poems. Believe me, it is not the kids that read too much into this stuff...it is the adults who find these "symbolic" meanings in apparently harmless works.
"It's So Amazing" written by Robie Harris was the book I choose to read. Boy, was I amazed... at the pictures. Harris has come under fire for the frank yet kid friendly discussions on the topics of sex, reproduction, birth, HIV, and bodily changes accompanied by colorful illustrations. As stated in an ALA Media Release from March 7, 2006, Robie Harris, “One of the most frequently challenged authors of the past decade has two books on the American Library Association's (ALA) list of the most frequently challenged books of 2005.”
A summary of the book taken from http://www.robieharris.com/work.html, Robie Harris's web page, describes the book as, a "nonfiction book for children age seven and up provides accurate, unbiased answers to nearly every conceivable question — from reproduction to pregnancy and birth — while giving children a healthy understanding of their bodies... Our kids need and have a right to have the most up-to-date and accurate science facts about their bodies and about one of science's most amazing stories — the story of how just one egg and one sperm can grow — over nine month's time — into a baby."
I understand the need for parents to have support when they get ready to discuss these issues with their children, but as a mother of a six year old and a third grade teacher, I have a hard time with some of the illustrations and wouldn't dare share them with a 7 year old. There are some very important issues covered in the book and could be used on an as needed basis. (for example, HIV/AIDS, good "touches" vs bad "touches") So, It's So Amazing will probably continue to be a subject of controversy due to the nature of its contents. No parent will probably ever be comfortable discussing these topics and this book could help. I choose this book because I am currently expecting and became very interested when I found it on the Challenged and Banned Book List. I thought, "What could be so bad?" After looking at it, I know... Would I recommend it to a friend? ...I'd have to think long and hard about that one... I fear I have become one of those parents who may limit access to certain books. On, NO!!
I LOVE the book How to Eat Fried Worms... When I taught 4th grade in Texas, I would read this book to my students every year. I have a whole unit planned around this one book with comprehension questions, math problem solving activities, measurement activities and a final activity of mud & worms (chocolate pudding & gummie worms. I would always send home a permission slip/letter explaining the book and some of the issues. Not once did a parent deny a student the opportunity. For this I am glad. I did however have a parent raise concern with Because of Winn Dixie because of the little old lady with the tree in the back yard full of alcohol bottles.
I have not read It's So Amazing, but I am going to look for it. As a parent of grown children, I remember when I sat down with each of them (around age 9) to discuss sex, babies, and all that good stuff. I was very uncomfortable and not sure how to approach the topic, but I had stumbled across a book called Where did I Come From? which helped me enormously. Sharing a book is a great way to introduce important information in a non threatening way, and it made my "job" so much easier. I still have that book, and my kids still remember "our talk." Books like that are so important, and they definitely have their place in a media center. What about the child whose parents don't discuss things, and he/she has no one to ask-would we want them to depend on answers from their peers????? I hope not!
Bridget, I am 33, and I will never forget my third grade teacher reading "How to Eat Fried Worms" to us. She put so much feeling into the description of Billy eating the disgusting worms. I would NEVER have eaten worms. I just remember it as being a story our whole class enjoyed. I agree with an earlier statement: People need to use some common sense. And that goes for "About Winn Dixie". I read it after reading an interview with the author, and I loved it, and passed it on to everyone I know (adults). The whole point is that the old lady keeps the alcohol bottles as reminders of mistakes she's made. Duh.
My children love to read the Shel Silverstein books. Many times they bring the books in the car and read them out loud. We all crack up. I don't understand how a parent can dislilke these books. I really think they give their kids too much credit sometimes when they read so much meaning into what the author has written. Just look at the movie Shrek- there are so many innuendos that it could be considered PG-13. I would have never known that Silverstein drew for Playboy. And I surely don't have time to go research every author of every book my children read to investigate their "history" (which is irrelevant anyway)!
I feel that you have to teach your children right from wrong, encourage them to ask questions and trust that they will make the right decisions, regardless of what a book says.
Regan, I agree about Shel Silverstein in that parents need to be responsible for teaching their kids. Parents typically read more into things than do the kids. Silverstein has a presence even in my middle school classroom. I use The Giving Tree to teach the parts of plot at the beginning of each year. It has been very successful as an illustration for the students. I do not know what I would do if a parent challenged my use of the book!
I also chose the book How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. A boy named Billy accepts a bet from his friends that he will eat fifteen worms within fifteen days. His parents agree to the bet, but only after checking with their family doctor. The story develops as Billy goes through the daily undertaking of preparing himself to eat the worm, stomaching how the worm is prepared, and making sure it is not a fake. It also involves Billy struggling with those who are trying to keep him from winning the bet. If Billy wins, he wil lgain $50.00 in order to buy the minibike he has been wanting. If he loses, he'll have to live w/o the minibike and the glory. The story takes the hilarious searches by Billy's friends to find just the right worms. Then, the reader watches as the boys prepare the worms for Billy's digestion. The author paints a very descriptive picture of Billy as he uses his knife and fork to cut and eat each worm, one by one. This book, to me, is an excellent source for covering a unit that involves vocabulary, comprehension, character analysis, writing, mathematics, science and more! How could anyone ban this book from 3-5 graders?
In response to Bridget/Mickey's post about the book she chose...She mentioned the book to me, and I thought, "How bad could it be?" It isn't bad, it's just very detailed and is definitely a book that should be shared between child and parent. It's just so difficult to separate being a professional and being a mom. My fifth grader has read several of the books discussed in this blog with his gifted class, and I think the most important thing that parents can do is talk to their child about the issues or language presented in the book.
I have such a hard time understanding why someone has issues with a book just because it contains the idea gambling or eating worms. When are we going to let children think for themselves? I feel like some of my third graders have been so protected that they can't even solve a simple problem like finding a pencil to use in class. They have everything, including their thinking, done for them by their parents. Of course I want to protect my children too, but I also want them to be able to have their own ideas and to come up with their own conclusions.
I just finished my Because of Winn Dixie unit in my 3rd grade classroom. Gloria Dump's mistake tree is a great way for students to understand that people change. Because we make a mistake one, two, a hundred times, we're not bad people. My third graders understood that immediately. I teach in a neighborhood where my children regularly see negative actions by adults--drugs, alcohol, etc. It gives my kids hope to see that people can change.
I have not read "James and the Giant Peach". I was on a shopping "road trip" with my daughther-in-law, Amanda, (who teaches fifth grade) and my niece (who is in the third grade). We were talking about school topics, as usual, and this class came up. I asked Amanda if she had read the book and she excitedly replied it was her favorite. At the same time, me niece began telling me the movie was great but she liked the book, too. Between the both of them, I received plot, characters, setting, and many extraordinary events that took place in the book. When I asked Amanda if she thought the book should be banned for any reason, she mentioned the usage of the word "ass", but said the positives far outweighted that. My niece surprisingly said she couldn't remember any bad words in the book. This supports Carla's point made in an earlier blog. From a student's perspective, my niece's animated face and excellent account of the details told me she enjoyed the book without focusing on the minor use of profanity. Case closed for "James and the Giant Peach"!!
I SO enjoyed "Because of Winn Dixie"! I have a copy in my classroom library. I feel like Gloria Dump's tree is a great way to start a discussion on people's mistakes. When someone makes a mistake or misbehaves, especially children, they should be told that it is the behavior that is undesired and not the child himself. And its also important for children to know that everyone makes mistakes, even adults.
To the comments on "It's So Amazing"... I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. I can't imagine sharing a book like that with my child at the current time. However, I know the day is coming in a few years when we will have to have the "talk". It will be especially helpful to have some books for my children to read. They may spark some more questions that my children need answered.
When I was in fourth grade, my teacher would read Shel Silverstein poetry aloud to the class. I thoroughly enjoyed this and fell in love with Shel Silverstein's work. I was determined to do the same for my class one day. I have several copies in my room. Each year when I read aloud to my class, they go to the media center to check out the books for themselves, because they also enjoy them!
Believe it or not...I have never read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. After reading the blogs and comments posted by so many, I read it today. I loved it! It lends itself to so many teachable moments for students of all ages. I cried like a baby when Leslie died :(
The book I chose to blog about is Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. I chose this book because I love Roald Dahl-his book The Fantastic Mr. Fox is still on my list of favorite books ever-and I was shocked to see how many of his books have been challenged. I wanted to refresh my memory of James and the Giant Peach and find out more about why it was challenged, so I read the book again and did some investigating about it on the web.
The book has already been summarized, so I will just jump to the information on its challenge. The website BookSlut reveals several reasons why the book was challenged. A few of those reasons reflect legitimate concers, but most of them are just ridiculous. Among the most ridiculous reasons are the claim that a description of Spider licking her lips could be interpreted as sexual and the concern over James' attitude towards his aunts. To the former, I cannot even think of a reply that adequately conveys how ridiculous a complaint that is. As for the latter, while a child with a 'tude certainly isn't a parent's dream, as long as the parents are not treating their child as less than human, they will avoid putting the child in the mindset little James is in.
One challenge to the book that had some validity was the issue one mom had with Grasshopper saying that he would get fried and eaten by "a Mexican." That line sounds a bit like something you'd hear on a Jerry Springer show, but I think that if tolerance is taught at home, it won't count for much more than an inappropriate line in an otherwise delightful book.
Roald Dahl wrote books with some of the most effectivlely descriptive prose I've ever read. It's a shame that some children may miss out on his amazing books because they've been banned.
The book I chose was "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. This book is about two penguins, Silo and Roy, who live in the Park Central Zoo. Silo and Roy are the best of friends, they do everything together. All of the other penguins begin finding partners and nursing eggs. The pengins' caretaker see that the two male penguins are in love and he gives them an adopted egg to nurse. The penguins live as a "normal family". When the egg hatches the caretaker names it Tango, hence the title. This book ended up on the banned book list for many different reasons. #1 the book is aimed at 4-8 year olds. #2 It sneaks in the issue of homosexuality beneath the watercolor pictures of cute penguins. #3 It is the parents rfesponsiblity to discuss this issue with their children, not the authors of a children's book.
Reading some of these post really leave me even more confused. As I read some of the titles and remember reading the books I wonder why they are on the list. If I "think" really hard I can attempt to "see" why but many of them are books that come with lessons to be learned. I agree with an earlier comment that mentioned a permission slip. This could help with any parent rejections.
It seems odd that some people are commenting on how much they enjoyed a book, like Bridge to Terabithia and How to Eat Fried WOrms, among others, and then saying how they wouldn't be comfortable with their child reading a "banned" book. I don't think we can have it both ways. Either we ban books or we don't. I think we don't. I'll leave you with a few quotes from my favorite philosopher, Voltaire. http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Voltaire/31
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire, (Attributed); originated in "The Friends of Voltaire", 1906, by S. G. Tallentyre (Evelyn Beatrice Hall)
You despise books; you whose lives are absorbed in the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence; but remember that all the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books. Voltaire
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too. Voltaire, Essay on Tolerance
As I read the titles of the books that were selected in the Elementary Banned Books, I was thrilled to know that several of these materials are available as class sets in our media center! Units have been taught with Bridge to Terabithia, How to Eat Fried Worms, James and the Giant Peach and Because of Winn Dixie. I didn't realize these were on the banned list.
It makes me reflect on how the media--productions of these books into movies--have given another perspective of such written piece of works--lending itself to ease the minds of oppositionist as they preview the author's work on a screen.
I've always encouraged students to READ the book instead of WATCHING the movie--so much is left out and it takes away from the individual's imagination. Somehow, the movie industry might have more success with promoting Intellectual Freedom and become the printed text's strongest advocate.
In the article “Judy Blume Talks About Censorship”, the author explained her view of the destruction of Intellectual Freedom:
“I believe that censorship grows out of fear, and because fear is contagious, some parents are easily swayed. Book banning satisfies their need to feel in control of their children's lives. This fear is often disguised as moral outrage. They want to believe that if their children don't read about it, their children won't know about it. And if they don't know about it, it won't happen.”
Judy Blume is one of the most banned authors in our country. She deals with those “growing-pain issues of puberty” in a way that's not only accessible to kids, but in a format that her young readers could relate and understand. Unfortunately, some people don't like that.
Rereading Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret almost thirty years later, I wasn’t surprised to find out that this is STILL a fantastic book. Although the newer edition altered some minor events (the evolution of the pad), the story is one all girls are too familiar with—regardless of the passing of time.
Margaret is 12 and discovering the “coming of age cycle of puberty”--a time when bodies transform, moods swing out of control and self-reflection of who you are and what’s your role in the “big picture”. The author puts insight into this “period” of every young girl’s life. It’s more than just a story about a twelve-year-old discovering her body and the male environment that surrounds her. There is self-reflection as it relates to her spiritual growth—searching for answers to where her faith belongs.
When I first read this as a young teen, it was so comforting to know that someone could identify the way I felt and I wasn’t alone in this confusing, awkward time. From that first bra to that first kiss, that first menstrual cycle to that first conflict with religious conviction, Judy Blume walked beside, sometimes carried me through some of the most memorable experiences of growing up. Her words made me feel as if she was walking in my very own footsteps and writing everything I was experiencing and thinking.
Years later, I now have a daughter who will also face this chapter in her life as she approaches those teenage years. My new copy of Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? is in a safe place, waiting for me to pass the torch onto her. This book will provide an opportunity for mother and daughter to continue developing their strong communication with one another. I’m thinking I should pass this onto my husband, so he will have a preview of what is to come ahead—and not to worry—it too shall pass.
April is not only "Poetry Month", but also "Earth Day and Arbor Day" is celebrated at this time.
SO...Shel Silverstein was quite popular. We read several of his poems on the morning announcements and used "The Giving Tree" as part of our Arbor Day Lesson.
In fact, John Bach (Rep. of Follett) came as a guest reader and read Shel Silverstein's poem "Smart" during our morning show--(he is a "celebrity look-alike of Shel)--but much friendlier looking than the photograph of the author. The students loved it--they actually thought it was Mr. Silverstein.
Your absolutley right--we, as parents,need to take time to talk to and explain to our children--give them the tools to make good judgement calls. They should be educated about the world around them and not be so naive.
Judy Blume was also the author of my chosen material. The book's title is "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret."
After reading your post, the book "Blubber" came back to my mind as well as "Forever". I had forgotten about these great pieces of writing.
I recently purchased the book "Are..." and thought wow this is going to great to share with my daughter. BUT now, I need to go back and purchase these other titles as well. SO many lessons to be learned in those preteen-teenage years!!
Judy Blume was not only an author--she provided psychotherapy in her words!
I have two unrelated things to share after reading some other posts...
For Shel Silverstein's fans...I incorporated activities from his Web site into a Trackstar activity designed for my gifted 3rd graders who have an interest in poetry. If you have not visited it, you should. The kids love to hear some of the poems recited on the computer.
For Judy Blume fans like me, have any of you read her books written for adults? I have read Smart Women and Wifey (both were good), but my VERY favorite of hers as an adult was Summer Sisters...it is the perfect day at the beach read!
I have heard so much about this book, but I have never read it. I will need to read it. I have heard wonderful things about it- but there is such a fight against it.
I'm so excited! I just found out today that we have a 1st grade teacher challenging The Dirty Cowboy. I just read it, and it cracked me up. The vocabulary and figurative language are terrific in this book. Anyway, our MS said I could observe during the media committee's meeting about the book next month. The MS has been at our school for 6 years and has never had a formal challenge before.
Jessica That is exciting- I am about to go look that book up on amazon right now!
On another note- I checked out a "Captain Underpants" book to see what all the fuss was about. As soon as I got home my 8 year old grabbed and read it. I had a talk with him about how real kids don't act that way, you have to respect authority, the principal, and so on. He looked at me like I was so out of it and told me, "Mom, it is fantasy, that means the stuff is not real." I just had to laugh!
Jess just informed me about an issue with "The Dirty Cowboy." I think I am as excited as she is! Hands on classroom learning experience!!! We both have requested to sit in on the meeting... we can't contribute... but at least we may get to see what it is like! I am taking the book home tonight to share with my son, who will be a first grader next year. I hope to get some response from the pics... and if not... oh, well... I'll also inform my MS about the results. BTW... she's not as excited about "The Dirty Cowboy" as we are!
James and the Giant Peach is my favorite book of all time. I remember reading it in third grade. I was not offended by the "a" word and loved the imagination of the author. Roald Dahl has a way of telling stories that you feel as if you are actually there. His characters(the animals) are strong and will not be bullied. James is mistreated by his horrible aunts, but escapes to discover a new world. This novel teaches children how to overcome adversity. It should not be banned.
Blubber is a great novel that tackles the issue of bullying. This does still occur in all age groups. This would be a good book to use with literature circles. Students can share their feeling about bullying. Consequences can be discussed and it provides an open forum for discussion while reading the book. Judy Blume's books are appropriate for adolescents because she tackles social and emotional issues.
Hey, I want to sit in on the Dirty Cowboy meeting! I am not familiar with this book, but it's on my "To Do" list now! I think it's interesting that the challenge is coming from a teacher, rather than a parent. I wonder if that makes a difference in how the committee reacts and votes...is a teacher challenge somehow more "valid" than a parent challenge...as a teacher, instead of challenging a book, I just would not use it in my room if I felt that strongly about it.
I read the book Bridge To Terabithia many, many years ago. I must admit I didn't even remeber there were curse words in the book. The issue of religion is real. Students need to be exposed and aware that some people believe in hell and some people do not. These are real life issues. Even though there wasn't a happy ending dying is real and children do sometimes die.
Harry Potter is one of my favorites. I see it as straight imagination. I don't look at it as teaching witchcraft, sorcery, or anything like that. If a child takes his her time to read such a lenghty book, then Amen. I rather see my child Harry Potter than nothing at all.
The fact that How to Eat Fried Worms is on the banned book list is silly to me. This book is just fun and silly. It gives children an interesting subject that can help teach creative writing. If libraries take every banned book off the shelf, we would all be very board.
“What I worry about most is the loss to young people. If no one speaks out for them, if they don't speak out for themselves, all they'll get for required reading will be the most bland books available.” –Judy Blume from Places I Never Meant To Be
To me the quote above is very real. When I read as a young adult, most often I read about characters I could relate with. If something was boring or bland, I would quit reading it and find something more interesting.
I chose to read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. This banned book is one that I think every preteen girl can identify with as all girls must go through the awkward age of puberty. It is because of its dealing with puberty and religion that this book is banned. It is unfortunate that many people cannot understand this and think that this book should be banned.
Margaret Simon is a sixth grader who is trying to figure out life. Her father is Jewish and her mother is Christian. As a school project, she chooses to study religion and tries to find out who she is in the process. Her paternal grandmother is accepting of her just as she is; although welcome the opportunity to take her to the synagogue. Her maternal grandparents are not as understanding and tell her it is not too late to become a Christian as her mother was christened as a baby.
Like Margaret, I too was conflicted with religion at that age. My father’s family was Southern Baptist and my mother’s family was Catholic. My parents found a non-denominational church that we attended so I always felt that I did not have a denomination. Like Margaret, I had one grandmother who was accepting and one grandmother who thought I was unforgiven, as I was not her denomination.
Margaret is also dealing with the changes of life and becoming a woman. She gets her first bra, has her first kiss, and gets her period all of which preteen and teenage girls go through. Blume does an excellent job of allowing preteen girls to identify with Margaret and be able to relate what she is going through.
As someone who was afraid to ask questions growing up, this book was one I identified with and read multiple time as a preteen. It helped to know that there was someone I could identify with at this time in my life.
As a preteen, I read everything from Judy Blume that I could get my hands on. I remember reading Blubber as a child and feeling so sorry for Linda about how the kids could be so cruel to her. For me, I learned abour how making fun of people can be hurtful, not that the kids went unpunished for what they did.
Judy Blume was an author I could always identify with. I hate to think that students do not have access to her books.
I have always loved everything by Shel Silverstein. I have a hard time believing that people would actually want to ban The Giving Tree. It has so many teachable lessons in it! I used to check out his poetry books because I loved them so much. The poems were funny and it was the first poetry I remember reading.
I think one of the "problems" (if it can be called that) with Judy Blume is that she didn't sugarcoat anything. As a young reader, I appreciated that; often, what I was reading was what I was thinking or feeling (even if the book was a little outdated for me). Sometimes adults have trouble accepting that children do have adult-type thoughts. Children do wonder about and think about things like sex, or what is happening to their bodies, or what is happening in their homes. Judy Blume's characters were see-through in that respect, and that's what attracted me to them.
65 comments:
The book I read was Newberry Award Winner Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Here is a brief summary of the book taken from Katherine Paterson’s Official website (http://www.terabithia.com/books/
terabithia.html):
“Jess Aarons had to be the Fastest runner at Lark Creek Elementary School, the best, but when he was challenged by Leslie Burke, a girl, that was just the beginning of a new season in Jess's life. Leslie and her parents were new comers to the rural community where Jess Lived, and were thought to be a bit odd, for they didn't even own a TV, though their house was filled with books. Some-what to Jess's surprise, he and Leslie became friends, and the worlds of imagination and learning that she opened to him changed him for ever. It was Leslie's idea to create Terabithia, their secret Kingdom in the woods where they reigned supreme."
So it sounds good right! Yet, it is on the banned book list. Here are the reasons why the book is probably on the banned book list: 1) In the book, one of the main characters dies. 2) There is profanity in the book 3) There is the controversial issue of “God damning you to hell.” 4) They are mean to one student even telling her that she is fat while another says “weight watchers” is wanting you. 6) They talk badly about one of their teachers and daydream mean ideas about her.
So, now you are saying, “Why in the world would you read the book?” That is simple! I read the book with my class because they can relate to it. It is not sugar coated. It has a happy ending, but not the one you expect. Most of the cuss words only occur a few times throughout the book. It is not like they are on every page. P The author wanted them in there, so who am I to say she is wrong! (You can go to her website and see what feelings she expresses on using cuss words).
Most of the cuss words are related to the scene where Jess and his family go to church on Easter and on the ride back home, Leslie says that she does not believe in any of it. Maybelle says "Leslie, if you don’t believe God will damn you to hell.” When my class and I got to this section, I asked them if all people believe that. It was a resounding, “Yes!” So I told them that not everyone believes in the Bible and we briefly discussed other religions.
So controversial or not, this is one book unit that I will continue to teach.
My 4th grade teacher read this book aloud to our class. This book really made an impression on me, and marked the beginning of my love of books. Several years after I graduated from high school, something triggered the memory of the book, so I ordered it from Amazon to have in my own collection and reread it. Now my own children have enjoyed the story- through the new movie, and I hope they read the book one day. (I went through a thorough explanation with them about the differences between the actual story in the book and the movie spin on it.)
I just read Bridge to Terabithia to my third grade class. They loved the book. I did have a problem saying the cuss words aloud while I was reading it to my class. I just substituted words, and let my students know that I was doing it. Even at third grade, they understand that the language was for emphasis. The language is not what is important in the book. The human emotions, imagination, and friendships are the important part. I'll admit that even though I've read this book numerous times, I always cry with Leslie dies. As I was reading it aloud, I was crying. My co-workers did the exact same thing. We talked with the students about how Jess would feel and explained how we should handle our emotions in tough times. There are definitely "teachable moments" in this book.
My fifth grade reading class and I are in the middle of reading this book. I have all the above-level readers for the grade and this book has been excellent for some in-depth discussions about several issues--friendship, differences and how we treat others, etc. This is not the first book we've read this year that has had profanity in it so that has not been an issue.
I read The Great Gilly Hopkins, another Katherine Paterson book for this assignment. The following summary also comes from Paterson's official website (http://www.terabithia.com/):
"At eleven, Gilly is nobody's real kid. If only she could find her beautiful mother, Courtney, and live with her instead of in the ugly foster home where she had just been placed! How could she, the great Gilly Hopkins, known throughout the country for her brilliance and unmanageability, be expected to tolerate Maime Trotter, the fat, nearly illiterate widow who is now her guardian? Or for that matter, the freaky seven year old boy and the shrunken blind black man who are also considered part of the bizarre "family"? Even cool Ms. Harris. Her teacher, is a shock to her."
The official website also has a link to questions to Paterson and her responses. The following question and her response deals directly with the reason The Great Gilly Hopkins has been banned in some libraries, profanity.
"How do you respond to those who wish to censor/remove your books from the libraries (Great Gilly Hopkins)?"
Paterson responds says "Gilly is a lost child who lies, steals, bullies, despises those who are different or perceived to be weaker—a child like this does not say 'fiddlesticks" when frustrated. I could not duplicate her real speech with out drowning out the story in obscenity, but I had to hint at her language. She would not be real if her mouth did not match her behavior."
I totally agree with Paterson. Gilly is a diamond-in-the-rough and her saying "darn" would not have been true to her character or made her seem so real. Gilly could have been any one of the students that are sitting in my class on a daily basis! Many students would relate to Gilly's struggles and frustrations which makes it an appropriate book to be checked out from the school library or taught in the classroom.
I chose to read Blubber by Judy Blume. This was a familiar title to me but I couldn't remember what all the Hoop-la was about so I decided to read it again for this class.
The book is about a young girl named Jill Brenner. She lives with her average family in an average neighborhood. At the beginning of the story, Jill is friends with Wendy and Caroline, the class bullies. They begin attacking an overweight girl named Linda after she presents a story on whales to the fifth grade class. She mentions the fact that whales have blubber, which gives the other girls a strategy for attack. Throughout the story, the girls find every opportunity to make fun of Linda and her weight issues and “Blubber” quickly becomes Linda’s new nickname. The story describes several torturous events such as making Linda show her underwear to boys, making her eat a chocolate ant, toilet papering her yard on Halloween, and singing songs about her out loud to others. Toward the end of the story, Jill confronts Wendy and Caroline, and becomes a target for ridicule herself by the same crowd she once hung out with.
Issues with the book that are questionable to some are the issues on bullying. The book only has a few words of profanity, so I guess there are a few people out there who don't like that.
The only thing that stood out to me is the fact that none of the girls are punished for their mistreatment of Linda. However, Jill finds out what it's like to be in someone else's shoes in the end. I guess this is an appropriate natural consequence.
I'm not sure why this book has received so much attention because I can think of numerous others that contain content far more questionable.
This book is perfect for reading to the entire class. It would allow for a great discussion on the topic of bullying and would allow students to voice concerns of their own.
I definately think that this book needs to remain on the shelves. It is an accurate depiction of the lives of young girls in school. Maybe it frightens some to think that girls can actually be this mean . . . but I've been there and I'm sure there are many more who have also.
It was amazing to me how many books of Judy Blume's are on the banned list. I know that I still keep copies of several of her books. One of my personal favorites is Tiger Eyes. Has any one read this? It is also on the banned book list. I debated whether to use it or Bridge to Terabithia and finally chose the latter.
Bridge to Terabithia was such an important book to me. I felt through the characters, which to me is such an important part of reading. I think that this book can teach so many life lessons to students. It would be detrimental to hinder students' ability to access this book. Like the others have stated, it is not sugar-coated. Through real-life incidents, out students learn life-lessons.
In response to Katherine's post...
I wrestled with the issue of profanity in books this year myself, as this is the first year I have taught anything but kindergarten, where this is a nonissue.
One of the stories my gifted 3rd graders and I read in class had a couple of four letter words. As I said, I debated this and finally decided that I felt more uncomfortable changing the author's intention for the story. I did, however, decide to discuss it beforehand with students so that we did not have to endure the snickering and silliness that was sure to occur. As usual, my students lived up to my expectations and understood the differences in use. I will not lie, though, I worried about the repercussions in doing this. :)
Carla...
I have read Tiger Eyes, but it has been MANY years. Surprisingly, I still have some mental pictures that I associate with the book even though I cannot remember some of the most important details of the book. Well-written books are such a powerful thing...I think Judy Blume does her job so well that she is always going to be someone that people will try to challenge.
Bridge to Terabithia is such a powerful story. I think people who worry about a book where kids talk bad about their teacher are crazy. Who hasn't talked bad about a teacher? I was a good student who never got in trouble, but I could imitate every unpopular teacher I had. It happens . . . we make fun of our principals.
I chose to read Blubber too. According to First Amendment Center (http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org), five of Judy Blume's books are on the list of 100 most challenged books of the 90's. Blubber is number 30, apparently due to the few profane words, presentation of bullying, and simply for being inappropriate for the intended age group. The profanity is very limited. I found it interesting, however, that every curse word had been underlined in pencil in the copy I got from our media center. My son is the same age as the characters in this book, and we actually had a conversation recently about his classmates using profanity in school. It is simply a reality that all of the kids hear these words, and many of them use the words as well. It is up to the parents to teach their children about these things that come up in their lives. In fact, in Blubber, the main character states that she does not swear like many of her classmates because her parents do not care if their children use that type of language at home as long as they understand that there are people who do not approve. As Judy Blume states on her website (http://www.judyblume.com/censors.html), she never planned on writing titles that would be controversial; she just felt that she had to write books that were honest. I think that sometimes we are so concerned about making children feel good about themselves that they do not learn about the bad things that can happen to them or the people around them.
As Jodi has already posted, Blubber is about a 5th grade girl, Jill, who joins her classmates in making Linda’s life miserable for a time by calling her names and harassing her. When Jill talks to her mother about what is going on, her mother suggests that she put herself in Linda shoes. Jill tells her mother she will never have that problem, but she soon realizes that she is the one being bullied after she stands up to the ringleader. Unfortunately, the teacher is oblivious to what is going on in her classroom. While bullying is definitely an issue in schools, I think teachers are more aware than the teacher in this book. Blubber could be a valuable tool in teaching children about bullying and its effects on others.
For my banned book, I chose to read James and The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. This book was first published in the United States in 1961, and has been featured as number fifty-six on the American Library Association’s 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000. I chose this book after speaking with a few Reading teachers that I know. Also, I have always loved Roald Dahl books; therefore, I thought this would be a great book for me to blog.
The story starts off with James Henry Trotter being a happy young boy with parents who loved him endlessly. Unfortunately, in a horrible rhinoceros accident, both of his parents were “eaten up”. Therefore, he had to go live on the top of a hill with his two mean and ugly aunts, Sponge and Spiker. Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker were extremely cruel to poor little James. They verbally abused him, calling him names such as “you disgusting little beast” and “you filthy nuisance.” They also physically abused him; beating him for absolutely no reason at all. One day, while James was doing chores ordered to him by his Aunts, he met a small, strange little man in a green suit. The stranger gave James a bag full of magical “tiny green things” that were supposed to take away all of the miserable things in his life. While James was scurrying away, he dropped the bag and all of the magic went into the ground under the old peach tree. James, more depressed than ever, decides that he just was not supposed to live a happy life, . . . until Aunt Spiker notices a peach growing in the top of the tree – the tree that has never produced a peach.
This is where James’s magical adventure begins. The peach continues to grow and grow and grow until it is the size of a small house. After exploring the giant peach, James discovers a hole in the peach where he enters to find new friends – the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the Centipede, the Earthworm, the Ladybug, the Glowworm, the Silkworm, and Miss Spider. After the Centipede gnawed away at the stem, they began their journey down the hill killing the two Aunts, across the fields, and finally to the seashore. There they are whisked away on a fantastic journey where they ultimately discover freedom in the United States.
This book has been challenged numerous times for its language, dramatic scenes of violence, and portrayals of abuse by the Aunts. The book, Hit List for Children 2: Frequently Challenged Books, by Susan M. Stan, and Beverley C. Becker describes several instances where the book was challenged and eventually banned. A few of these occurrences are: In 1999, because of the use of the term “ass,” the book was banned from an elementary school in Lufkin, Texas. In 1995, schools in Stafford County, Virginia, challenged the book and eventually removed it from classrooms due to the crude language and placed it on a restricted shelf in the library; the schools also felt that it promoted disobedience towards parents and other adults. Another school in Brooksville, Florida (1992) challenged the book because they believed it promoted drugs and whiskey, which after reading the book I can not recall this occurring.
Do I feel like this book should be included in the classroom, as well as the school’s media center? Totally! This is a fanciful, well-written book that all students must read. Although the use of the word “ass” may offend some, I believe you should be able to look past the actual words used and read more into the idea behind the book. James is able to triumph over his many hardships and live a happy, well-fulfilled life. This is what parents should see after reading this book, not some silly words and sketchy descriptions!
Hey guys - I found a couple of books that fit perfectly with what we are doing. If you go to www.google.com and search for "Hit List for Children's Books" it will connect you to a results page. At the very top under "Book Results" you can click on the two titles and see excerpts from these books. There is some really good information about challenged books including specific cases for certain titles. I found it very difficult to find specific cases on the Internet and this is finally where I got my info about cases for James and the Giant Peach. I hope this may help others!
I like that Carla did her review on Bridge to Terabithia because I considered doing my blog on this book after a teacher told me that she encountered problems with parents after doing a unit of study on the book with her class. Apparently the parent did her research, because her reasons for challenging the book were the exact same as in your post. I am a very strong advacate for IF; I have even challenged my mother on the issue. So, in my opinion, if a parent wants to ban a book with a cuss word in or ban it because it picks on a fat girl, I really feel like the parent should look at other aspects of the world around them. Everywhere you look, you hear cuss words. It's on the national news programs, daytime talk shows, and even in G-rated movies. Just this week, we have all heard about the Imus situation with the Rutgers basketball players. By simply having one book removed from the shelves of a library or media center, does a parent really think that they will be removing their child from all the "bad" in the world. I don't think so!!!
Though I've already posted about The Great Gilly Hopkins, I wanted to post about The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. Recently awarded the Newbery Award, many librarians are choosing not to put it on their shelves because of one word on the first page of the book. The word refers to a male's anatomy part though used in reference to a male dog.
As I was reading the book, I realized that there were many similarities between Gilly of The Great Gilly Hopkins and Lucky of The Higher Power of Lucky. Lucky is living with her guardian, Brigitte, after her mother dies. Lucky's father is not part of her life but it was he who arranged for Brigitte, from France, to become Lucky's guardian. Lucky has reason to believe that Brigitte is planning to put her in an orphanage and return to France. With that thought in mind, Lucky decides to runaway. She packs a survival kit (includes a good book--my type of person!)and heads out. Of course, there are complications with the plan, including the fact that Lucky has never really dealt with the death of her mother. As the title implies, Lucky finds her "higher power" and the place she belongs.
This book is full of rich language and the characters are wonderfully developed. Readers can picture themselves in Hard Pan, California (pop. 43), the setting of the story. Matt Phelan's pencil sketches add to the overall story.
It is hard to believe that the critics are choosing not to put this book on library shelves due to one word. Many say that the word was not needed to tell Lucky's story. Maybe they are right but that is still not a reason to ban the book from libary shelves. The idea of a "higher power" will be reinforced to all who read this book andthey realize that things are possible when you believe!
(Shelly Horton) I read “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson. I read this book in the 6th grade and it has always been one of my favorite books.
In the book, Jess finally has the chance to be the coveted fastest runner at school. However, there is a new student who beats him. The new student, Leslie, is a girl, which adds to the shame. Leslie and her parents have moved into a house near Jess. Her family is a bit strange, having no TV and lots of books. An unlikely turn of events, Jess and Leslie become very good friends. They spend all of their time together. In the woods, they create an imaginary world called Terabithia. They are the supreme rulers in this imaginary land. One day, Leslie goes to Terabithia alone. She falls into the stream and drowns. Jess is heartbroken, but is forever changed by the friendship he and Leslie shared.
This book is banned because one of the main characters dies. There are curse words used. There is also a religious issue of “God damning you to hell.”
This remains one of my favorite books. Katherine Paterson did an excellent job of making the characters come to life. I relate so well to the characters and their lives.
Well, I might have alot of parents after me because when I taught Fourth grade, I taught James and the Giant Peach. My students enjoyed the book and we watched the movie. One of the GPS standards is to compare a book with its film version. If you are to do this, you must choose books that have movies with them. If Hollywood, feels that it is a good enough book to make a movie of, then who am I to say differently. I have to agree with others, one cuss word in a book should not be a justifiable reason to ban the book. It is the message of the book that you should be concerned with. When you were a child, and read a book with cuss words, did you really remember the particular cuss words or do you remember the plot of the story. I always remember the plot. That is to me what makes it a good book.
Like Jessica, I visited the Web site, http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org. Melanie Bengston lists the most challenged books of 2005 and then says this about their authors: "These nine authors represent a rich heritage of controversial literature as they join the company of Confucius, Rousseau, Homer, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Twain and many others. Some, like Blume (Forever) and Salinger (The Catcher in the Rye) are not strangers to controversy. First published in 1951, Salinger’s classic has been debated for decades."
I also read James and The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. I have never seen the movie myself so I did not have any preconceived judgements about the book.
The story is about young James who loses his parents at an early age and goes to live with two abusive aunts. After years of beatings and verbal abuse, James meets a man with magical granules that he insists will give James magical power. James spills the granules under a peach tree which gives the power to the tree. It grows an enormous peach which also houses human sized insects.
James joins the insects as they break the peach free from the tree. It rolls down the hill "flattening" the wicked aunts and continues until it reaches the sea. There the journey begins. They encounter sharks, birds who carry them into the sky, cloudmen throwing hailstones, cloudmen building rainbows, and many other personified objects. They finally land in NYC and become rich and famous. (That's the "make a long story short" version.)
There was some really creative visual descriptions about the clouds...some turn on faucets that let the water fall as rain. The imagery described was fascinating and would encourage the imagination of young readers. I did count the word "ass" I think three times. Usually in the form or something like "you stupid little ass."
I had read that it had been banned in some places for encouraging children to disobey their parents (or aunts in James' case). I did not see signs of that either. For the most part, James tirelessly did all of the physically demanding work that the aunts required of him, which may I add were never good enough and usually resulted in a beating or being locked up. I suppose that the fact that he was involved in the whole peach escape act may imply to some that he was running away from home. I guess that was his option without DFACS.
Carolyn commented about reading that James and the Giant Peach promoted drugs and alcohol. My only guess there is that James was supposed to pour the granules into water and drink the magic "potion." Maybe some people saw that as encouraging drug/alcohol use. I don't know. That's too much of a stretch for me. That goes along with "take this pill and you'll lose weight" but we don't ban diet pill commercials.
I chose to read How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. This book was published in 1973. According to Wikipedia (Wikipedia.org), How to Eat Fried Worms is #96 on the ALA list of the 100 Most Frequently Banned Books. Everything2.com states that this book is noted for being the 13th most challenged and banned book of the 1990s in American libraries. I used to teach third grade back in the 90s, and I read this story aloud every year to my students-right after lunch! I had no idea that it was the subject of censorship-I just thought it was a great book!
The story begins when some young boys enter a discussion about what foods they would or would not eat,and what things would be impossible to eat. Billy claims that he would eat a worm, since worms are "just dirt." The other boys bet Billy that he can't possibly do that, and so the fun begins. Billy must eat 15 worms in 15 days, and if successful, his friends will give up a minibike. The story chronicles the next 15 days, and how Billy manages to eat a worm every day. As the days pass, and Billy begins to acquire a taste for the worms, his friends worry that Billy will win the bet. They think of ways to trick Billy which are creative, funny, and almost work. On the 15th day, things look bleak for the boys and they resort to drastic measures to prevent Billy from eating that last worm. This results in serious consequences, and Billy ends up with a minibike and a taste for worms!
This book came under scrutiny for two main reasons. One area of concern was the fact that the characters in the story participated in "socially unacceptable" situations, like worm eating. Parents thought that their children might be inclined to start eating worms after reading the story. Now, I have read this story several times,and I never felt the urge to "chow down," and to my knowledge, neither did my students. The other parental concern focuses on gambling, since the characters decide to wage a bet. It was thought that this book might encourage this behavior in children who read the story. I find both of these concerns absolutely ridiculous. When researching the book, I thought the reason for the challenge was the author's use of the word "bastard," which Billy utters when he realizes his friends almost tricked him. I always went ahead and read that part of the story as written, because I felt the author had an express purpose for including that language. This aspect was not even mentioned in articles that discussed the banning of the book.
If this book were to be published today, I wonder if it would even raise an eyebrow. In our world of "Fear Factor" and "Survivor," eating a worm just doesn't seem like that big of a deal! I find it very surprising that a fiction book, written to entertain children, could come under such heavy scrutiny. If I were still teaching third grade, I know this selection would still be part of my after lunch read-aloud.
Response to How to eat fried worms:
I have to agree. To ban a book because you are scared your child is going to eat worms and might gamble. Uh hello! No offense, but that person needs to be given some common sense. The book is written to entertain! I honestly don't think some child is going to go out at recess and find some worms so they can eat them because they read this book. And as to gambling, I don't know about you, but gambling in GA (lottery) is the reason I was able to receive my undergraduate education!
Deborah's post about drugs in James and the Giant Peach reminded me about another book that has been challenged and/or banned, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I won't summarize and review it here in case someone else decides to, but my kindergartners always enjoyed his work, especially his poems. Believe me, it is not the kids that read too much into this stuff...it is the adults who find these "symbolic" meanings in apparently harmless works.
"It's So Amazing" written by Robie Harris was the book I choose to read. Boy, was I amazed... at the pictures. Harris has come under fire for the frank yet kid friendly discussions on the topics of sex, reproduction, birth, HIV, and bodily changes accompanied by colorful illustrations. As stated in an ALA Media Release from March 7, 2006, Robie Harris, “One of the most frequently challenged authors of the past decade has two books on the American Library Association's (ALA) list of the most frequently challenged books of 2005.”
A summary of the book taken from http://www.robieharris.com/work.html, Robie Harris's web page, describes the book as, a "nonfiction book for children age seven and up provides accurate, unbiased answers to nearly every conceivable question — from reproduction to pregnancy and birth — while giving children a healthy understanding of their bodies... Our kids need and have a right to have the most up-to-date and accurate science facts about their bodies and about one of science's most amazing stories — the story of how just one egg and one sperm can grow — over nine month's time — into a baby."
I understand the need for parents to have support when they get ready to discuss these issues with their children, but as a mother of a six year old and a third grade teacher, I have a hard time with some of the illustrations and wouldn't dare share them with a 7 year old. There are some very important issues covered in the book and could be used on an as needed basis. (for example, HIV/AIDS, good "touches" vs bad "touches")
So, It's So Amazing will probably continue to be a subject of controversy due to the nature of its contents. No parent will probably ever be comfortable discussing these topics and this book could help.
I choose this book because I am currently expecting and became very interested when I found it on the Challenged and Banned Book List. I thought, "What could be so bad?" After looking at it, I know... Would I recommend it to a friend? ...I'd have to think long and hard about that one... I fear I have become one of those parents who may limit access to certain books. On, NO!!
I LOVE the book How to Eat Fried Worms... When I taught 4th grade in Texas, I would read this book to my students every year. I have a whole unit planned around this one book with comprehension questions, math problem solving activities, measurement activities and a final activity of mud & worms (chocolate pudding & gummie worms. I would always send home a permission slip/letter explaining the book and some of the issues. Not once did a parent deny a student the opportunity. For this I am glad. I did however have a parent raise concern with Because of Winn Dixie because of the little old lady with the tree in the back yard full of alcohol bottles.
I have not read It's So Amazing, but I am going to look for it. As a parent of grown children, I remember when I sat down with each of them (around age 9) to discuss sex, babies, and all that good stuff. I was very uncomfortable and not sure how to approach the topic, but I had stumbled across a book called Where did I Come From? which helped me enormously. Sharing a book is a great way to introduce important information in a non threatening way, and it made my "job" so much easier. I still have that book, and my kids still remember "our talk." Books like that are so important, and they definitely have their place in a media center. What about the child whose parents don't discuss things, and he/she has no one to ask-would we want them to depend on answers from their peers????? I hope not!
Bridget, I am 33, and I will never forget my third grade teacher reading "How to Eat Fried Worms" to us. She put so much feeling into the description of Billy eating the disgusting worms. I would NEVER have eaten worms. I just remember it as being a story our whole class enjoyed. I agree with an earlier statement: People need to use some common sense. And that goes for "About Winn Dixie". I read it after reading an interview with the author, and I loved it, and passed it on to everyone I know (adults). The whole point is that the old lady keeps the alcohol bottles as reminders of mistakes she's made. Duh.
My children love to read the Shel Silverstein books. Many times they bring the books in the car and read them out loud. We all crack up. I don't understand how a parent can dislilke these books. I really think they give their kids too much credit sometimes when they read so much meaning into what the author has written. Just look at the movie Shrek- there are so many innuendos that it could be considered PG-13. I would have never known that Silverstein drew for Playboy. And I surely don't have time to go research every author of every book my children read to investigate their "history" (which is irrelevant anyway)!
I feel that you have to teach your children right from wrong, encourage them to ask questions and trust that they will make the right decisions, regardless of what a book says.
Regan, I agree about Shel Silverstein in that parents need to be responsible for teaching their kids. Parents typically read more into things than do the kids. Silverstein has a presence even in my middle school classroom. I use The Giving Tree to teach the parts of plot at the beginning of each year. It has been very successful as an illustration for the students. I do not know what I would do if a parent challenged my use of the book!
I also chose the book How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. A boy named Billy accepts a bet from his friends that he will eat fifteen worms within fifteen days. His parents agree to the bet, but only after checking with their family doctor. The story develops as Billy goes through the daily undertaking of preparing himself to eat the worm, stomaching how the worm is prepared, and making sure it is not a fake. It also involves Billy struggling with those who are trying to keep him from winning the bet.
If Billy wins, he wil lgain $50.00 in order to buy the minibike he has been wanting. If he loses, he'll have to live w/o the minibike and the glory. The story takes the hilarious searches by Billy's friends to find just the right worms. Then, the reader watches as the boys prepare the worms for Billy's digestion. The author paints a very descriptive picture of Billy as he uses his knife and fork to cut and eat each worm, one by one.
This book, to me, is an excellent source for covering a unit that involves vocabulary, comprehension, character analysis, writing, mathematics, science and more! How could anyone ban this book from 3-5 graders?
In response to Bridget/Mickey's post about the book she chose...She mentioned the book to me, and I thought, "How bad could it be?" It isn't bad, it's just very detailed and is definitely a book that should be shared between child and parent. It's just so difficult to separate being a professional and being a mom.
My fifth grader has read several of the books discussed in this blog with his gifted class, and I think the most important thing that parents can do is talk to their child about the issues or language presented in the book.
I have such a hard time understanding why someone has issues with a book just because it contains the idea gambling or eating worms. When are we going to let children think for themselves? I feel like some of my third graders have been so protected that they can't even solve a simple problem like finding a pencil to use in class. They have everything, including their thinking, done for them by their parents. Of course I want to protect my children too, but I also want them to be able to have their own ideas and to come up with their own conclusions.
I just finished my Because of Winn Dixie unit in my 3rd grade classroom. Gloria Dump's mistake tree is a great way for students to understand that people change. Because we make a mistake one, two, a hundred times, we're not bad people. My third graders understood that immediately. I teach in a neighborhood where my children regularly see negative actions by adults--drugs, alcohol, etc. It gives my kids hope to see that people can change.
I have not read "James and the Giant Peach". I was on a shopping "road trip" with my daughther-in-law, Amanda, (who teaches fifth grade) and my niece (who is in the third grade). We were talking about school topics, as usual, and this class came up. I asked Amanda if she had read the book and she excitedly replied it was her favorite. At the same time, me niece began telling me the movie was great but she liked the book, too. Between the both of them, I received plot, characters, setting, and many extraordinary events that took place in the book. When I asked Amanda if she thought the book should be banned for any reason, she mentioned the usage of the word "ass", but said the positives far outweighted that. My niece surprisingly said she couldn't remember any bad words in the book. This supports Carla's point made in an earlier blog. From a student's perspective, my niece's animated face and excellent account of the details told me she enjoyed the book without focusing on the minor use of profanity. Case closed for "James and the Giant Peach"!!
I SO enjoyed "Because of Winn Dixie"! I have a copy in my classroom library. I feel like Gloria Dump's tree is a great way to start a discussion on people's mistakes. When someone makes a mistake or misbehaves, especially children, they should be told that it is the behavior that is undesired and not the child himself. And its also important for children to know that everyone makes mistakes, even adults.
To the comments on "It's So Amazing"...
I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. I can't imagine sharing a book like that with my child at the current time. However, I know the day is coming in a few years when we will have to have the "talk". It will be especially helpful to have some books for my children to read. They may spark some more questions that my children need answered.
When I was in fourth grade, my teacher would read Shel Silverstein poetry aloud to the class. I thoroughly enjoyed this and fell in love with Shel Silverstein's work. I was determined to do the same for my class one day. I have several copies in my room. Each year when I read aloud to my class, they go to the media center to check out the books for themselves, because they also enjoy them!
Believe it or not...I have never read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. After reading the blogs and comments posted by so many, I read it today. I loved it! It lends itself to so many teachable moments for students of all ages. I cried like a baby when Leslie died :(
The book I chose to blog about is Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. I chose this book because I love Roald Dahl-his book The Fantastic Mr. Fox is still on my list of favorite books ever-and I was shocked to see how many of his books have been challenged. I wanted to refresh my memory of James and the Giant Peach and find out more about why it was challenged, so I read the book again and did some investigating about it on the web.
The book has already been summarized, so I will just jump to the information on its challenge. The website BookSlut reveals several reasons why the book was challenged. A few of those reasons reflect legitimate concers, but most of them are just ridiculous. Among the most ridiculous reasons are the claim that a description of Spider licking her lips could be interpreted as sexual and the concern over James' attitude towards his aunts. To the former, I cannot even think of a reply that adequately conveys how ridiculous a complaint that is. As for the latter, while a child with a 'tude certainly isn't a parent's dream, as long as the parents are not treating their child as less than human, they will avoid putting the child in the mindset little James is in.
One challenge to the book that had some validity was the issue one mom had with Grasshopper saying that he would get fried and eaten by "a Mexican." That line sounds a bit like something you'd hear on a Jerry Springer show, but I think that if tolerance is taught at home, it won't count for much more than an inappropriate line in an otherwise delightful book.
Roald Dahl wrote books with some of the most effectivlely descriptive prose I've ever read. It's a shame that some children may miss out on his amazing books because they've been banned.
The book I chose was "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. This book is about two penguins, Silo and Roy, who live in the Park Central Zoo. Silo and Roy are the best of friends, they do everything together. All of the other penguins begin finding partners and nursing eggs. The pengins' caretaker see that the two male penguins are in love and he gives them an adopted egg to nurse. The penguins live as a "normal family". When the egg hatches the caretaker names it Tango, hence the title.
This book ended up on the banned book list for many different reasons. #1 the book is aimed at 4-8 year olds. #2 It sneaks in the issue of homosexuality beneath the watercolor pictures of cute penguins. #3 It is the parents rfesponsiblity to discuss this issue with their children, not the authors of a children's book.
Reading some of these post really leave me even more confused. As I read some of the titles and remember reading the books I wonder why they are on the list. If I "think" really hard I can attempt to "see" why but many of them are books that come with lessons to be learned. I agree with an earlier comment that mentioned a permission slip. This could help with any parent rejections.
It seems odd that some people are commenting on how much they enjoyed a book, like Bridge to Terabithia and How to Eat Fried WOrms, among others, and then saying how they wouldn't be comfortable with their child reading a "banned" book. I don't think we can have it both ways. Either we ban books or we don't. I think we don't. I'll leave you with a few quotes from my favorite philosopher, Voltaire.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Voltaire/31
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire, (Attributed); originated in "The Friends of Voltaire", 1906, by S. G. Tallentyre (Evelyn Beatrice Hall)
You despise books; you whose lives are absorbed in the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence; but remember that all the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books.
Voltaire
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too.
Voltaire, Essay on Tolerance
Monsieur l'abbé, I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.
Voltaire, letter to M. le Riche, February 6, 1770
As I read the titles of the books that were selected in the Elementary Banned Books, I was thrilled to know that several of these materials are available as class sets in our media center! Units have been taught with Bridge to Terabithia, How to Eat Fried Worms, James and the Giant Peach and Because of Winn Dixie. I didn't realize these were on the banned list.
It makes me reflect on how the media--productions of these books into movies--have given another perspective of such written piece of works--lending itself to ease the minds of oppositionist as they preview the author's work on a screen.
I've always encouraged students to READ the book instead of WATCHING the movie--so much is left out and it takes away from the individual's imagination. Somehow, the movie industry might have more success with promoting Intellectual Freedom and become the printed text's strongest advocate.
In the article “Judy Blume Talks About Censorship”, the author explained her view of the destruction of Intellectual Freedom:
“I believe that censorship grows out of fear, and because fear is contagious, some parents are easily swayed. Book banning satisfies their need to feel in control of their children's lives. This fear is often disguised as moral outrage. They want to believe that if their children don't read about it, their children won't know about it. And if they don't know about it, it won't happen.”
Judy Blume is one of the most banned authors in our country. She deals with those “growing-pain issues of puberty” in a way that's not only accessible to kids, but in a format that her young readers could relate and understand. Unfortunately, some people don't like that.
Rereading Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret almost thirty years later, I wasn’t surprised to find out that this is STILL a fantastic book. Although the newer edition altered some minor events (the evolution of the pad), the story is one all girls are too familiar with—regardless of the passing of time.
Margaret is 12 and discovering the “coming of age cycle of puberty”--a time when bodies transform, moods swing out of control and self-reflection of who you are and what’s your role in the “big picture”. The author puts insight into this “period” of every young girl’s life. It’s more than just a story about a twelve-year-old discovering her body and the male environment that surrounds her. There is self-reflection as it relates to her spiritual growth—searching for answers to where her faith belongs.
When I first read this as a young teen, it was so comforting to know that someone could identify the way I felt and I wasn’t alone in this confusing, awkward time. From that first bra to that first kiss, that first menstrual cycle to that first conflict with religious conviction, Judy Blume walked beside, sometimes carried me through some of the most memorable experiences of growing up. Her words made me feel as if she was walking in my very own footsteps and writing everything I was experiencing and thinking.
Years later, I now have a daughter who will also face this chapter in her life as she approaches those teenage years. My new copy of Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? is in a safe place, waiting for me to pass the torch onto her. This book will provide an opportunity for mother and daughter to continue developing their strong communication with one another. I’m thinking I should pass this onto my husband, so he will have a preview of what is to come ahead—and not to worry—it too shall pass.
Comment to Regan Smith and Shel Silverstein
April is not only "Poetry Month", but also "Earth Day and Arbor Day" is celebrated at this time.
SO...Shel Silverstein was quite popular. We read several of his poems on the morning announcements and used "The Giving Tree" as part of our Arbor Day Lesson.
In fact, John Bach (Rep. of Follett) came as a guest reader and read Shel Silverstein's poem "Smart" during our morning show--(he is a "celebrity look-alike of Shel)--but much friendlier looking than the photograph of the author. The students loved it--they actually thought it was Mr. Silverstein.
Your absolutley right--we, as parents,need to take time to talk to and explain to our children--give them the tools to make good judgement calls. They should be educated about the world around them and not be so naive.
Comment to Jessica
Judy Blume was also the author of my chosen material. The book's title is "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret."
After reading your post, the book "Blubber" came back to my mind as well as "Forever". I had forgotten about these great pieces of writing.
I recently purchased the book "Are..." and thought wow this is going to great to share with my daughter. BUT now, I need to go back and purchase these other titles as well. SO many lessons to be learned in those preteen-teenage years!!
Judy Blume was not only an author--she provided psychotherapy in her words!
I have two unrelated things to share after reading some other posts...
For Shel Silverstein's fans...I incorporated activities from his Web site into a Trackstar activity designed for my gifted 3rd graders who have an interest in poetry. If you have not visited it, you should. The kids love to hear some of the poems recited on the computer.
For Judy Blume fans like me, have any of you read her books written for adults? I have read Smart Women and Wifey (both were good), but my VERY favorite of hers as an adult was Summer Sisters...it is the perfect day at the beach read!
I have heard so much about this book, but I have never read it. I will need to read it. I have heard wonderful things about it- but there is such a fight against it.
FJS--You're right. Blume's books are a great way to teach our kids about real-life issues!!!
I'm so excited! I just found out today that we have a 1st grade teacher challenging The Dirty Cowboy. I just read it, and it cracked me up. The vocabulary and figurative language are terrific in this book. Anyway, our MS said I could observe during the media committee's meeting about the book next month. The MS has been at our school for 6 years and has never had a formal challenge before.
Jessica
That is exciting- I am about to go look that book up on amazon right now!
On another note- I checked out a "Captain Underpants" book to see what all the fuss was about. As soon as I got home my 8 year old grabbed and read it. I had a talk with him about how real kids don't act that way, you have to respect authority, the principal, and so on. He looked at me like I was so out of it and told me, "Mom, it is fantasy, that means the stuff is not real." I just had to laugh!
Regan, that's funny. We just don't give our kids enough credit sometimes.
Jess just informed me about an issue with "The Dirty Cowboy." I think I am as excited as she is! Hands on classroom learning experience!!! We both have requested to sit in on the meeting... we can't contribute... but at least we may get to see what it is like! I am taking the book home tonight to share with my son, who will be a first grader next year. I hope to get some response from the pics... and if not... oh, well... I'll also inform my MS about the results. BTW... she's not as excited about "The Dirty Cowboy" as we are!
James and the Giant Peach is my favorite book of all time. I remember reading it in third grade. I was not offended by the "a" word and loved the imagination of the author. Roald Dahl has a way of telling stories that you feel as if you are actually there. His characters(the animals) are strong and will not be bullied. James is mistreated by his horrible aunts, but escapes to discover a new world. This novel teaches children how to overcome adversity. It should not be banned.
Blubber is a great novel that tackles the issue of bullying. This does still occur in all age groups. This would be a good book to use with literature circles. Students can share their feeling about bullying. Consequences can be discussed and it provides an open forum for discussion while reading the book. Judy Blume's books are appropriate for adolescents because she tackles social and emotional issues.
Hey, I want to sit in on the Dirty Cowboy meeting! I am not familiar with this book, but it's on my "To Do" list now! I think it's interesting that the challenge is coming from a teacher, rather than a parent. I wonder if that makes a difference in how the committee reacts and votes...is a teacher challenge somehow more "valid" than a parent challenge...as a teacher, instead of challenging a book, I just would not use it in my room if I felt that strongly about it.
I read the book Bridge To Terabithia many, many years ago. I must admit I didn't even remeber there were curse words in the book. The issue of religion is real. Students need to be exposed and aware that some people believe in hell and some people do not. These are real life issues. Even though there wasn't a happy ending dying is real and children do sometimes die.
Harry Potter is one of my favorites. I see it as straight imagination. I don't look at it as teaching witchcraft, sorcery, or anything like that. If a child takes his her time to read such a lenghty book, then Amen. I rather see my child Harry Potter than nothing at all.
The fact that How to Eat Fried Worms is on the banned book list is silly to me. This book is just fun and silly. It gives children an interesting subject that can help teach creative writing. If libraries take every banned book off the shelf, we would all be very board.
“What I worry about most is the loss to young people. If no one speaks out for them, if they don't speak out for themselves, all they'll get for required reading will be the most bland books available.” –Judy Blume from Places I Never Meant To Be
To me the quote above is very real. When I read as a young adult, most often I read about characters I could relate with. If something was boring or bland, I would quit reading it and find something more interesting.
I chose to read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. This banned book is one that I think every preteen girl can identify with as all girls must go through the awkward age of puberty. It is because of its dealing with puberty and religion that this book is banned. It is unfortunate that many people cannot understand this and think that this book should be banned.
Margaret Simon is a sixth grader who is trying to figure out life. Her father is Jewish and her mother is Christian. As a school project, she chooses to study religion and tries to find out who she is in the process. Her paternal grandmother is accepting of her just as she is; although welcome the opportunity to take her to the synagogue. Her maternal grandparents are not as understanding and tell her it is not too late to become a Christian as her mother was christened as a baby.
Like Margaret, I too was conflicted with religion at that age. My father’s family was Southern Baptist and my mother’s family was Catholic. My parents found a non-denominational church that we attended so I always felt that I did not have a denomination. Like Margaret, I had one grandmother who was accepting and one grandmother who thought I was unforgiven, as I was not her denomination.
Margaret is also dealing with the changes of life and becoming a woman. She gets her first bra, has her first kiss, and gets her period all of which preteen and teenage girls go through. Blume does an excellent job of allowing preteen girls to identify with Margaret and be able to relate what she is going through.
As someone who was afraid to ask questions growing up, this book was one I identified with and read multiple time as a preteen. It helped to know that there was someone I could identify with at this time in my life.
As a preteen, I read everything from Judy Blume that I could get my hands on. I remember reading Blubber as a child and feeling so sorry for Linda about how the kids could be so cruel to her. For me, I learned abour how making fun of people can be hurtful, not that the kids went unpunished for what they did.
Judy Blume was an author I could always identify with. I hate to think that students do not have access to her books.
I have always loved everything by Shel Silverstein. I have a hard time believing that people would actually want to ban The Giving Tree. It has so many teachable lessons in it! I used to check out his poetry books because I loved them so much. The poems were funny and it was the first poetry I remember reading.
I think one of the "problems" (if it can be called that) with Judy Blume is that she didn't sugarcoat anything. As a young reader, I appreciated that; often, what I was reading was what I was thinking or feeling (even if the book was a little outdated for me). Sometimes adults have trouble accepting that children do have adult-type thoughts. Children do wonder about and think about things like sex, or what is happening to their bodies, or what is happening in their homes. Judy Blume's characters were see-through in that respect, and that's what attracted me to them.
Here's a link to a great story in the Christian Science Monitor about the impact of reading HP:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0502/p13s01-legn.html
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