I noticed a trend with the banned books on the list: many were said to be sexually explicit, use offensive language, and have occult themes. People secure in their sexuality, who may use coarse language, and have a keen interest in things of an occult nature are generally labeled heathens, hence the title.
Granted, I really don’t think of myself as a heathen; I’d prefer to be labeled as someone with an open mind who strives to be well-read and who thanks the wonderful teachers who introduced her to such wonderful and inspiring reading material in the first place.
But, moving right along, here’s my contribution to the Banned Books Week meme. Funny enough, I was actually doing a bit of research about the banned books list earlier today (separately from BBW) and was tempted to write a blog entry about it. Now that I’ve been tagged, I have a legit reason. Thank you Brie.
Instructions:
- Copy this list.
- Highlight the ones you’ve read (or remember reading) in red.
- Tag five people to play.
100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000
- Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
- Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling (in progress)
- Forever by Judy Blume
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
- My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
- Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine (along with his Fear Street, Cheerleaders, and Babysitters series)
- A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker
- Sex by Madonna
- Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
- The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
- Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
- In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
- The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
- The Witches by Roald Dahl
- The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
- Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
- The Goats by Brock Cole
- Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
- Blubber by Judy Blume
- Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
- Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
- We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
- Final Exit by Derek Humphry
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
- The Pigman by Paul Zindel
- Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
- Deenie by Judy Blume
- Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (read it in grade school and wept. seriously. the story still haunts me.)
- Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
- The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
- Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
- A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein (he became one of my favorite poets after discovering him in 6th grade.)
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
- Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
- Cujo by Stephen King
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
- The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
- Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
- Ordinary People by Judith Guest
- American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
- What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
- Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
- Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
- Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
- Fade by Robert Cormier
- Guess What? by Mem Fox
- The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
- The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
- Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Native Son by Richard Wright
- Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
- Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
- Jack by A.M. Homes
- Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
- Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
- Carrie by Stephen King
- Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
- On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
- Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
- Family Secrets by Norma Klein
- Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
- The Dead Zone by Stephen King
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
- Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
- Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
- Private Parts by Howard Stern
- Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
- Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
- Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
- Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
- Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
- Sex Education by Jenny Davis
- The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
- Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
- How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
- View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
- The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
- The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
- Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
There you all have it. I’ve read 24 titles out of 100. My new goal is to read at least 95 of them (there are about 5 titles which simply don’t appeal to me in any sense of the word). Of course, it may take me a year. Now I just need to make a personal list in order of preference to start reading.
Time for Tag
Being a relative newcomer to the book-blogosphere, I really have no idea whom to tag. So, I’m going to break the rules a bit (gasp!) and use this as an opportunity to discover some new blogs.
If you feel so moved and haven’t already participated in the Banned Book Week meme, consider yourself tagged. Write up your blog entry and leave a comment with the link. (Even if you already have participated in the meme, feel free to comment with a link.) 
# Brie wrote on October 2, 2008 at 6:49 pm:
Flowers for Algernon was so sad. I read the book then saw the movie. The movie was a good adaptation of the book, I think.
Thanks for participating, Ann!
# Jackie wrote on October 2, 2008 at 7:11 pm:
First off, loved the theme!
You know, other book I thought was weird is the Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz. They’re scary stories! They’re supposed to scare little kids. It’s horror for kids. Unless I’m thinking of a different series, these were all over my school library growing up.
# Ann-Kat wrote on October 3, 2008 at 12:55 am:
Brie: I’d love to re-read Flowers for Algernon, but I keep avoiding it because I know I’ll cry all over again. Oddly, it’s still one of my favorites despite having read it a very long time ago.
Jackie: You’re absolutely right. They are scary stories meant especially for kids.
As a kid, they were frightening, but, at the same time, exciting to read. In fact, I still have my copies from childhood and reading them now (as an adult), they don’t seem nearly as frightening as I remember them.
# Jace wrote on October 4, 2008 at 2:19 am:
Hey, this is a great site!
Now I know why you’re being stalked by Brie. 
In the words of the Terminator … I’ll be back. 
# Jace wrote on October 4, 2008 at 2:21 am:
Sorry … amendment!
Now I know WHY (not “what”) you’re being stalked by Brie!
# Ann-Kat wrote on October 4, 2008 at 2:09 pm:
Thanks Jace! Glad to hear you’ll be back. I’ve been secretly stalking your blog a bit too…ever since I found my way there by way of the bookmark entry from Brie’s.
Oh, and I went ahead and corrected your comment for you.
# Jace wrote on October 4, 2008 at 3:30 pm:
That’s great … you’ve been to my blog too!
We can officially stalk each other now! 
# Brie wrote on October 5, 2008 at 4:49 pm:
I awarded you, Ann. Check out my site for the details.
# Ann-Kat wrote on October 5, 2008 at 5:49 pm:
Sweet! Thanks, Brie.
# Emily wrote on October 7, 2008 at 8:14 pm:
Darling theme! I see the love. I’m not a bookworm and only ended up here because I’m somehow following her on Twitter! (A friend of a friend or something.) I appreciate the fun sketchy elements and envy those with faith in stylesheets.