It seems like only months ago that it was Banned Books Week in 2012 and I was making posts about it. The time has come around fast to acknowledge one of the great literary tragedies hitting schools, libraries, and people around the world today. Banning a book because of a select group's inability to see beyond a simple phrase, a scene, a theme, a technique, a history. By banning and restricting the access to a book, you are cutting off a reader's opportunity to experience that world for themselves.
As they did last year, their will be a Virtual Readout on the Banned Books Week YouTube Channel. Participants, which includes libraries, booksellers, and others affiliated with the book industry, will be uploading videos showing them reading or discussing a banned book.
As written on the site:
The event will serve as the backdrop for the announcement of Banned Books Week Heroes. It takes courage to stand up for intellectual freedom, and Banned Books Week sponsors have identified outstanding individuals and groups who have stood up to defend their freedom to read.
Bookmans Does Banned Books (2013)
The Twitter hashtag for the event will be #bannedbooksweek
A party will be held on Monday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon, Eastern
Time, and Wednesday; a second party is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept.
25, from noon to 2 p.m., Eastern.
Here is the list of the most frequently Banned Books of 2013
- Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey.Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
- Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
- Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
- And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
- The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
- Looking for Alaska, by John Green.Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
- Scary Stories (series), by Alvin SchwartzReasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
- The Glass Castle, by Jeanette WallsReasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
- Beloved, by Toni MorrisonReasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence
Check out the Week long Events in your State
Some Sites Mentioning Banned Book Week
- Bookjourney has some great posts about Banned Books Week, doing a celebration of the event, ending today.
- An Armchair by the sea - post and giveaway
- Giveaway hop from Bookhounds
- New York Library's List of Banned Books
- Epic Reads: Tea Time Recap: Banned Books Week
- Banned Book Week at PEN
- Of course the Banned Books Week Site
- A great display from Cathy Jo Nelson
- Running in my head will be posting a review a day
- Coffee and a Book Chick: Banned week is around the corner
A Great Comic Created by Grant Snider
Ban This Book on Incidental Comics, drawn by Grant Snider to celebrate Banned Books Week (9/30-10/6).