BBW: The Incredibly Nonsensical Reasons For Banning Or Challenging Books.

When it comes to Banned Books Week I know a lot of people tend to focus on the classics that have been banned. Most people that I have mentioned BBW to don't even know that books are still being banned and challenged on a regular basis. What surprises them even more are the books and the reasons that those books get banned and challenged.

"What reasons do books get banned for other than being sexually explicit? Or having too much violence?" is a question that I receive a lot. Instead of going straight for "well this book contained so much violence, sex, and course language" I like to start with the crazier reasons for certain books being banned.

Well, here are some of those books and reasons:

The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence

Anti-family?? Really?! Did they really miss the part that Katniss volunteers as tribute for her little sister?

And of course it is violent...it's war. Violence tends to happen.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

I'm sorry, but sexually explicit? Apparently someone skipped over the part where Edward is a 108 year old virgin. There's not a lot of sex going on there.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Reason: occult/Satanism, offensive language

I think by occult/Satanism they mean kids using their imaginations.

Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Reasons: occult/Satanism, violence,being scary, portraying authority as "stupid", anti-family,

You know what, sometimes authority is stupid, sometimes it does need to be challenged and not followed blindly. Boo on J.K. Rowling for showing kids to look at what's going on around them and deciding for themselves if it is really ethical and the way they think the world should be.

And again, I would like to know what part of Harry Potter is anti-family. Harry Potter's family is his friends. Family isn't always blood and I commend these books for showing that.

And my personal favorite reason:

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Reason: It's a real downer.

No duh...it's about the holocaust. Sorry there weren't more rainbows and butterflies in this one.

These reasons tend to drive me crazy. Though I don't believe in banning books, I can understand parents concerns on certain material being included in books and certain age groups reading them. But that doesn't mean take them away from everyone else getting the chance to read them. Especially if other parents have already given the okay for their child(ren) to read it.

What about you? Any specific book that you love that has been banned or challenged for a ridiculous reason? I would love to know so share in the comments!

Happy Banned Books Week!