1. Catcher In The Rye
Controversial Literature
By: Stephanie Seely
Stephanie Wong
& Emily Petley
“ The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.”
~ Oscar Wilde

2. Challenged Books in the School System
Animal Farm by: George Orwell
Published in 1945
Banned for political reasons
Harry Potter Series by: J.K. Rowling
Published between
Banned for religious reasons
To Kill A Mockingbird by: Harper Lee
Published in 1960
Banned for social reasons
More Examples:

3. Books have been banned all over the world for many reasons
Books have been banned all over the world for many reasons. Usually the intension is to protect people, especially children from controversial ideas or opinions that are considered “dangerous”.
Books can be challenged by any person or group that files a complaint against a teacher, school, library, or book seller. They can be challenged by parent organisations, religious leaders, ect.

4. Banned Books Week! A celebration happens around the end of September every year in The United States to celebrate the freedom of reading.
“Since, 1982, The American Library Association has sponsored this celebration. The week-long event “celebrates” the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion, even if that opinion might be unorthodox or unpopular, and stresses the importance of ensuring availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.”
– Katie Couric CBS News

5. Why The Catcher in the Rye was challenged…
See Sheet

6. What positive things come from reading challenged or banned books?
People are able to study cultural influences.
We learn that everything is not only black and white – bad or good. There are variations in between, if we expand our minds, that allow us to think for ourselves.
We become increasingly knowledgeable about the world by reading about other people’s opinions.

7. We can journey through other people’s unorthodox experiences and make our own judgements based upon them.
We get inspired by learning how strong people overcome challenges.
We also learn that people are not always strong and that their weaknesses can cause their downfalls.
Our creativity enhances and we are able to think with a mutual perspective.
We develop our morals, and beliefs.

8. Controversial Literature Appeals to Readers
“What is the use of transmitting knowledge if the individual's total development lags behind?” (The Absorbent Mind) Maria Montessori.
People are curious as to why the book is controversial.
They want to read it for themselves so they can develop their own opinions about it.
Students are allowed (outside of school) to read the books they wish to read.

9. References: