The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: “depictions of bullying”.
Written in 2007, this is a coming-of-age story of a Native American teen. Although it is fiction, it draws on the author's experiences as a Native American with ancestry of several tribes, growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
Challenged and removed from required reading as recently as 2014, it is an unapologetic look at the harsh side of how many teens in this nation, and especially in Native American Reservations, are raised.
In 2010, the Arizona State House of Representatives actually passed a bill which outlines HOW to censor:
A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL IN THIS STATE SHALL NOT INCLUDE IN ITS PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION ANY COURSES OR CLASSES THAT INCLUDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. PROMOTE THE OVERTHROW OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
2. PROMOTE RESENTMENT TOWARD A RACE OR CLASS OF PEOPLE.
3. ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR PUPILS OF A PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUP.4. ADVOCATE ETHNIC SOLIDARITY INSTEAD OF THE TREATMENT OF PUPILS AS INDIVIDUALS.
Unbelievable. The entire state of Arizona doesn't want an entire collection of books taught in school. There is no reading, discussion, teaching, exchange of ideas, or freedom to read inside these schools.
In the United States of America.
It is super ridiculous why books get banned. This one is actually on my TBR lists. Ooh! Wait! I should read it this week!!! Muahahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteBtw, I like the idea of you posting books that are banned. It really promotes the book and informs the reader to reasons why it's considered a "banned" book. I hope you post more of these this week :)