The Top 5 Greatest Banned Books of All Time

What is Banned Book Week?

Banned Book Week is a weeklong event (September 22-28) during the month of September that celebrates the right to read and uphold the idea of intellectual freedom for all.

Banned Book week shines a light on the evils of censorship and how it is harmful to the intellectual freedom of all book lovers. A scan of several Banned Book list revealed that most books censored for the top six reasons

• Racial Issues
• Violence/negativity
• Homosexuality
• Witchcraft
• Religious reasons
• Age Inappropriate  

As an avid book reader, I find it crazy to censor books at any level. When I was a child, my parents allowed me to read whatever I wanted (within reason) and if they were concerned about the content then we would read it together and discuss. Most of the books on the top 100 banned book list are classics that everyone should experience some time during their life. Keep reading to see what books made my top five you may recognize some of these classic titles and I am sure you have read some of them too.

5. Go Ask Alice

    Challenged 3 years: Drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit

Go Ask Alice is the anonymous diary of a teenage drug addict. The story begins with a young girl who mistakenly tries LSD at a party before long she is hooked and will do anything for her next fix. I enjoyed this story because of is dark of forbidding nature. You know that it will not have a happy ending but the downward spiral of the main characters life is too enticing it grabs the reader and will not let go until the very end. This book is a great read for teens and young adults because is a perfect example of how one wrong decision can change your life drastically. Currently Go Ask Alice is free on Kindle Unlimited and only $7.00 in paperback.

4. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

   Challenged for 3 years because of Homosexuality, offensive language, and sexually explicit scenes

If you do not know the story The Color Purple this is the time to hold your peace or have your black card revoked lol. A story of sisterhood and discover of oneself The Color Purple is set in the rural south. This story shows the great love of two sisters that transcends distance and time. This is also a story of love and discovery. While one sister goes on a great journey, the other sister learns about herself and the kind of person that she wants to become. This is an amazing story that gives us a glimpse of black life during the early 20h century. I think this story is one that women of all ages should enjoy and discussed because you never know what someone else may have experienced. Right now The Color Purple is free on Kindle Unlimited and only 1.97 in paperback.

3. Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher

 Reasons: Banned and Challenged 3+ years for addressing teen suicide.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a one of a kind story that deals with suicide, rape, bullying and what could happen when so-called harmless bullying is taken too far. Follow Clay as he takes a journey down memory lane with his guide Hannah who by the way is dead and speaking to him from the grave.  Listen as she spills her heart out on 12 tapes and shares her inner pain and turmoil that eventually lead to her death and how he played a part in her ultimate demise. This powerful novel displays the consequences of words and how detrimental they are to others.  Right now this book is $4.08 in paperback on Amazon.

2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

 Banned and Challenged 3 years in a row for drugs/alcohol/ smoking, homosexuality, rape, masturbation and offensive language.

What can I say about this novel that hasn’t already been said? It is amazing, wonderful and infinite. Charlie is a wallflower he is shy and usually keeps to himself. He is having a hard time getting the hang of this teenage thing and needs some guidance along the way. Fortunately, Charlie makes friends with the unlikeliest pair of people who help to pull him out of his shy and awkward shell and into a life, the life that he always wished he had. This is absolutely one of my all-time favorite novels. I remember high school and being that shy awkward girl. The struggles that Charlie face really speaks to me I love stories that I can relate to and share with other shy teens to let them know that they are not alone. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is $7.00 in paperback on Amazon.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

 Banned and Challenged for profanity, sexual reference, and anti-cop references

The Hate U Give is the debut novel by author Angie Thomas that follows the story of Starr Carter a 16-year-old girl who witnesses the fatal shooting of her best friend Khalil. This story follows the aftermath of the shooting and how Starr emotionally handles living in two worlds (her neighborhood and the all-white private school that attends). This novel will cause the reader to feel a full range of emotions from anger to joy to sadness. The reality of the events in this book are like a slap in the face and make the reader want to get up and do something. This novel is one for the history books and that is why it takes the number one spot every time. Angie Thomas is a masterful storyteller who should never be silenced by anyone. The Hate U Give is available on Amazon for the price of $12.00.

The best way to celebrate Banned Book Week is by going out and picking up a banned or challenged title today. Enjoy and long live intellectual freedom!!!!

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Joi Chatman

Joi Chatman, is an aspiring writer, school librarian and self proclaimed bibliophile who inspires a love for reading in both children and adults daily. Hailing from the great state of Georgia but currently residing in Texas Joi has obtained her B.S. in Sociology from the University of West Georgia and her M.S in Library and Informational Science from the University of North Texas. Joi Chatman is an innovative educator who looks to teach as well as engage students in out of the box learning. Joi has worked as a school librarian for one year she is the founder of the Facebook page Book fetish and enjoys planning events, writing short stories and reading in her free time.

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• The Top 5 Greatest Banned Books of All Time - September 23, 2019