Even today, The Bible has faced much controversy from people for having different views than other religions, violence, betrayal, and sinful actions. Throughout history, some people caught reading the Bible have been killed, imprisoned, or banished.
The Scarlet Letter was banned upon its release in 1850 due to offensive views and sinful actions.
Uncle Tom's Cabin was banned in many schools because of its depiction to slavery. Rumor has it, a book seller in Alabama was forced to leave town for selling the novel. One person disliked this book so much that they sent a package to the author with a slave's severed ear inside.
Leaves of Grass is challenged in many places for being disturbing or misunderstood.
Les Misérables is highly well-known. Following its publication in 1862, it was banned and received negative reviews for having crude stereotypes, propaganda, and being too sensual.
The well-loved Alice in Wonderland was banned for the use of talking animals in some schools. Also, people believed that Alice was on drugs (ex: her eating something that changed her size) so they decided it would be best to prohibit this classic novel.
To this day, Huck Finn is considered a challenged book because of its offensive dialogue, conflicting views on racism and appropriateness for children in classrooms.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been read by many people over the years. Despite its popularity, this novel has been under fire for many reasons. In 1957, the director of Detroit Library claimed that this novel had no value to children of this day and age. In addition, many public libraries banned the book in 1928 arguing that the story was ungodly for depicting women in strong leadership roles.
Call of the Wild was harshly criticized for having upsetting political views and supporting individualism. ALA states that is was banned in Italy in 1929, Yugoslavia in 1929, and burned in Nazi bonfires in 1933.
The Jungle was banned in Yugoslavia, East Germany, South Korea and Boston for having socialistic views.
Many people know the story of Gatsby and Daisy. A college in Charleston, South Carolina challenged this classic because of language and sexual references.
All Quiet on the Western Front was seen as an anti-war film, which led to it being banned.
A Farewell to Arms was banned in many places for sexual content and received backlash from Italy for how it portrayed the army.
Ireland claimed that this book had anti-religion and anti-family views. This book has also been challenged for having "insensitive characters, offensive language, racism, and sexually explicit scenes".
The classic Gone with the Wind was banned in many places due to its portrayal of slaves and immoral characters.
This classic tale was formerly banned in many schools for having "offensive language, racist actions, violence, and maltreatment towards women". Despite it's reputation, it has become a required reading in many schools.
Native Son is a popular book at Harper College Library. This book has been challenged numerous times for its violent, sexual and graphic content.
Despite Animal Farm being a recommend read in many high schools, it has been criticized for encouraging mass rioting and having unsettling political theories. States such as Wisconsin, New York, Georgia, Florida, and Connecticut have all protested that this book should not be allowed in their schools.
This famous diary is considered one of the most challenged books of all time. Some people find the diary sexually offensive, while others have deemed it "too depressing" and didn't want children to read it.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was banned for glorifying criminal activity, use of torture, violence and death.
Catcher in the Rye was banned for encouraging teenage rebellion, profanity, use of alcohol and inappropriate behavior.
Children everywhere love the novel Charlotte's Web. What many people might find surprising is that Charlotte's Web was viewed in many schools as "inappropriate" due to it having talking animals and spiders.
Unsurprisingly, Fahrenheit 451 is considered a controversial book for having vulgar language, being anti-government, and dealing with the topic of censorship.
Lord of the Flies has been banned in many schools for the excessive amounts of violence and profanity.
Lolita has been accused of being erotic, misleading, and crude. The sensitive topic of this book raises concerns of high school teachers, leading them to getting rid of the book from their schools.
The Rabbits' Wedding is the story of two bunnies, one black and one white, who love one another. The book was given major criticism and banned in many schools, claiming that the book dealt with "interracial relationships".
The mayor of Venice has banned this book, as well as many others, because he believes that they promote gender stereotypes and support gay rights. Other children books banned in Venice include: Big Red Cat by Éric Battut, What’s Dad’s Secret? by Francesca Pardi & Desideria Guicciardini and Little Egg by Francesca Pardi and Tullio F. Altan.
To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a classic novel that most children read in schools. Some people never got a chance to read this book in school because it was banned for racial inequality, offensive language/terms and the use of rape as a main plot point.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was banned for encouraging bad behavior, premarital sex, racism and homosexual relationships. In order to compromise with the ban, some teachers decided to have students bring home permission slips for parents to sign so their child could participate in class.
Legendary Green Eggs and Ham was once banned by the People's Republic of China for showing signs of early Marxism. It's also been said that this children's book references homosexual seduction.
This well-known children's classic, James and the Giant Peach, ended up on the banned list because of its mature themes throughout the book. One school in Wisconsin took it a step further and denied letting students read the book because a passage referenced a woman licking her lips.
This popular children's book is assigned reading for many middle schoolers. Although it is popular, the book has been challenged for being "anti-religion, anti-Christian, using witches/witchcraft, and having a crystal ball". The book has since been made into 2 movies, one from 2003 & one in 2018. The 2018 adaptation had some big name actors, such as: Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine, and Michael Pena.
When Where the Wild Things Are first came out, it received mostly negative reviews. Parents and teachers felt that the book was "psychologically damaging" and traumatizing. Many parents also felt that a book about sending a child to their room without supper was an inappropriate form of punishment and wanted it banned from their schools.
The Giving Tree has been read to millions of children since the 1960's. Although many have read this book, a library in Colorado banned this novel because the main boy's relationship with a tree can be perceived negatively. Also, the boy has been said to be selfish and sexist.
Harriet the Spy was removed from schools in Ohio for... Harriet being a spy. Parents disliked the sleuthing child as a protagonist and didn't want their children doing spy related activities.
This Newbery Award winning novel was challenged at Southern Hills Elementary School in Wichita Falls, Texas because it references Egyptian worship, evil gods and black magic.
Few people know that Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was removed from some schools. An author by the same name, Bill Martin, wrote a book about Marxism. Though these two people have no relation to one another, the book was banned because schools thought both books came from the same author, when in fact, these people have nothing to do with each other.
This classic is generally celebrated by many schools for its timeless nature and being relatable. Despite this, many teachers feel that this novel is not suitable for middle schoolers to read because of the gang violence, conflict, and crime that happens in the story.
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret has been banned in many schools because it is said to have anti-Christian views and too much discussion about female puberty.
In 1989, the Lorax was banned in California for being too harsh on the logging industry.
Few people know that Sarah Palin tried to ban numerous amounts of books at a library in Alaska. Among this children's title, books by J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl and Stephen King were also challenged.
Julie of the Wolves won a Newberry Award in 1973. Despite this honor, this book was banned in 1996 from a sixth grade reading list in Pennsylvania for having violence unsuited to the age group and a "graphic rape scene".
This novel has been criticized by schools in Texas, California, New York, Colorado, and Missouri for having "occult/satanism themes, offensive language, upsetting religious viewpoint, sexually explicit scenes, and violence".
This book made ALA's top ten banned book list of 2001 for having "offensive language, racism, and being sexually explicit".
The Chocolate War was banned for sexual content, offensive language and violence.
Bridge to Terabithia was seen as satanic and offensive. In addition, people were harsh about the main character, Leslie, insisting that she wasn't a good role model because she did not attend church.
ALA states that parents consistently try to ban this collection of short stories (and the two other books in this series) for " dealing with occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, violence". This book didn't lose its momentum though; it was made into a movie in 2019.
The Color Purple was banned for exploring unhealthy relationships with God, race and sexuality.
The Alice Series frequently makes the Banned Book list by the ALA. Parents try to challenge/ban this series for having nudity, offensive language, different religious viewpoints, and conversations about menstruation and a women's bodily changes.
Upon its release in 1985, The Handmaid's Tale was claimed to be sexually elicit, have vulgar language, and upsetting content. California, Iowa, Massachusetts, Texas, North Carolina, and other states have all challenged this book. Even with all the harsh critics, the book ended up being filmed into a very successful show.
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