The fact that we live in a world where books are still banned is both shocking and frightening. To combat this incredibly archaic practice, the American Library Association is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week.
From September 30 – October 6, libraries, schools and various institutions will host an array of events all over the country, celebrating the books on the “most challenged” list. And since Chicago is no slouch when it comes to controversy, here are three groups to check out for next week.
Books on the Chopping Block
The City Lit Theater Company is bringing out the banned books all week with staged readings in libraries throughout Chicago. The theater company will present these dramatic readings in free, 60-minute sets. Click here to check out the schedule of events.
Shimer College and Chicago Read-Out: Liberate Banned Books
On October 4, Shimer College will host short readings from books on the list of book that have been banned, burned or otherwise barred from the public. You can join in by reading a passage from your own shunned book.
Reading of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye
“The Bluest Eye” was recently challenged in 2007 by the Livingston Organization, calling it distribution of sexually oriented material to minors. Browne Parker Literary Press will host readings from this book on October 1 and October 5 at their building, 317 W. 103rd St.
Curious which books are supposedly leading to the destruction of our great nation? Check out the 2011 list of most challenged books below. And, yes, “The Hungers Games” made the list.
- ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group - The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa
Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group - The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence - My Mom’s Having A Baby! A Kid’s Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler
Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group - Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: nudity; offensive language; religious viewpoint - Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit - What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
Reasons: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit - Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Reasons: drugs; offensive language; sexually explicit - To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language; racism
Filed under: Books, Chicago Festivals, Chicago Theater
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