1. Censorship The practice of holding back material that is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable.

2. Free Write #1. Think about a time when you were censored. How were you censored? Why were you censored? What affect did it have on you? 3-4 sentence response

3. First Amendment Gives a constitutional right to free speech Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion, or Prohibiting the Free Exercise Thereof; or Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press; or the Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble, and To Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances

4. Does censorship affect our constitutional right to free speech? Yes? No? Write 3-4 sentences and explain your reasoning.

5. Books experience censorship through... 1. Challenges: an attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or group. 2. Banning: the removal of those materials.

6. Books are challenged to... Protect others, specifically children, from difficult ideas and information. Top 3 reasons: 1) “Sexually explicit” 2) Contains “offensive language” 3) “Unsuited to age group”

7. How is the List of Most Challenged Books Tabulated? 1. The American Library Association (ALA) collects information from two sources: newspapers and reports submitted by individuals, 2. All challenges are compiled into a database. Reports of challenges culled from newspapers across the country are compiled in the bimonthly Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom Challenges reported to the ALA by individuals are kept confidential. In these cases, ALA will release only the title of the book being challenged, the state and the type of institution (school, public library). The name of the institution and its town will not be disclosed.

8. Who challenges books? Parents (6,130) Patron (1,450) Administrator (1,059) Board Member/Teacher (608) Religiously affiliated members (265)

9. My thoughts Why might these certain groups be challenging the material in different books? * Write a two sentence response. Be prepared to share! *

10. Commonly challenged books between 2000-2010 Be thinking about which books you have read/heard about. All of these books are commonly taught to/read by teenage students.

11. The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain Follows a young boy on his adventures with a slave named Jim. Huck and Jim run away after being upset in their current situation and float down the Mississipi, meeting interesting people along the way. Reasons… Racism

12. Why Huck Finn Was Censored: CBS News Debate Stephen Colbert's verdict CBS News Debate Stephen Colbert's verdict

13. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins Set in post-apocalyptic North America, this series follows a teenage girl through her struggles to survive when placed in a government sanctioned fight to the death. Filled with suspense, love, and tears. Reasons… Sexually explicit Violence Unsuitable for age group #5, 2010

14. Go Ask Alice - Anonymous A parent’s decision to publish their daughter’s diary after her tragic death. Reasons… explicit language using street terms for sex talk of worms eating body parts Blasphemy life of drugs and sex dying from an overdose #6, 2003; #8, 2001

15. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling A coming of age series. Follows a teenage orphan and his friends throughout their adventures to defeat evil in the magical wizarding world. Filled with suspense, action, friendship, love, and desperation to succeed in the face of immense danger. Reasons… Anti family Satanic/Occult Violence Religious viewpoint #1, 2001-2002 #2 - 2003

16. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian - Sherman Alexie Arnold Spirit, Jr., or "Junior", is a budding cartoonist. Detailing Arnold's life on the Spokane Indian Reservation and his decision, upon encouragement from a reservation high school teacher, to go to an all-white high school in the off-reservation town of Reardan, Washington, the novel deals with issues such as racism, poverty, and the following of tradition. Reasons: Reasons: offensive language, racism, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence #2, 2010

17. Twilight Series - Stephanie Meyer Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, The Twilight Saga capture the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. In a world where humans connect with vampires and werewolves. Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group #5, 2009 #10, 2010

18. And Tango Makes Three – Justin Richardson The book is based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male Chinstrap Penguins in New York’s Central Park Zoo who for six years formed a couple. This book aims to send the reader the message that it is okay to be in, or know someone who has, a “non-traditional” family. Reasons… Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to age group. #1 – 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006 #2 - 2009

19. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930’s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man’s struggle for justice. Reasons: Offensive language Racism Unsuited to age group #4, 2009

20. TTYL series - Lauren Myracle The book follows the friendship of three fifteen year old girls as they face the teenage drama of their sophomore year in high school. The girls face and discuss, via instant messenger, manipulative classmates, cheating boyfriends, and flirty teachers. Reasons… Sexually Explicit Offensive Language Unsuited to Age Group #1 – 2009; #3 – 2008; #7 - 2007

21. My Sister’s Keeper - Jodi Picoult Anna was genetically engineered to be a perfect match for her cancer-ridden older sister. Since birth, the 13 year old has donated platelets, blood, her umbilical cord,and bone marrow as part of her family’s struggle to lengthen Kate’s life. Anna is now being considered as a kidney donor in a last- ditch effort to save here 16 year old sister. As the story opens up, Anna has hired a lawyer to represent her in a medical emancipation suit to allow here to have control over her own body. Reasons: Homosexuality Offensive language Religious viewpoint Sexism Sexually explicit Unsuited to age group Violence #7, 2009

22. Gossip Girl series - Cecily von Ziegesar Narrated by the omniscient yet unseen blogger "Gossip Girl", revolves around the lives and romances amongst the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite private school in New York City's Upper East Side. Reasons… Offensive Language Sexually explicit Unsuited to age group #2, 2006; #7, 2008

23. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chobsky A novel based on a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman and while he’s the not the biggest geek, he isn’t Mr. popularity either. He’s a wallflower—shy and introspective. We learn about him through letters he writes to an unknown person. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school—how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs, but he must also deal with his best friends’ recent suicide. Reasons… Homosexuality Sexually Explicit Suicide Offensive Language Unsuited to Age Group #3, 2009; #6, 2008; #10, 2007; #8, 2006

24. Fallen Angels - Walter Dean Myers Reasons… Racism Violence Offensive Language Follows a black teenager through his struggles after joining the Army during the Vietnam War.