Recommendations from Southwest Public Libraries — Grove City Library
Libraries are all about opening doors to knowledge and championing your right to read. That’s why wecelebrate Banned Books Week every year, spotlighting banned or challenged books and highlightingthe importance of open access to information. Banned Book Week draws attention to current andhistoric attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. This year it falls Sept. 26-Oct. 2. Why notcelebrate your freedom to read with a banned book? Check out these titles – all available at SPL –which have all been challenged or banned at some point since they were published.
The Jungle
by Upton Sinclair
Now considered a classic, The Jungle hasa long history of attempted censorship.The investigative novel shines a light on theproblems associated with the meatpackingplants in Chicago before the book waspublished in 1906. The Jungle was bannedin Yugoslavia in 1929 due to its socialistviews, burned in Nazi fires, banned againin 1956 in Germany because it harmedcommunist values and banned in 1985 inSouth Korea. Public outcry at the conditionsof the meatpacking plants reported withinthe book led to the age of modern foodinspection and eventual creation of the Foodand Drug Administration.
The Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales was once banned inthe United States by the U.S. Postal Service.It refused to mail copies under the ComstockAct of 1873, stating that the work containedobscene, filthy and inappropriate material.An essential work today, the collection of 24short stories was written in the 14th centuryand depicts the lives of pilgrims as theytravel from the English cities of London toCanterbury to visit the shrine of Saint ThomasBecket.
Saga
by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated byFiona Staples
This graphic novel series is a romantic,science fiction adventure complete withamazing illustrations and a unique universe.Be aware before you pick up this book that itincludes violence, sexual content and cursing– reasons why some have challenged it – butit is easy to fall for the star-crossed love story of Marko and Alana.
The Giver (young adult)
by Lois Lowry
A true dystopian novel, this book looks atsociety, sacrifice and truth through beautifulstorytelling. Although intended for tweenand teen readers, it easily appeals to adultreaders as well, and Jonas’ experiencesare full of good discussion topics. The Giverhas been banned or challenged in variousschools at times due to the potentiallydifficult topics it brings up includinginfanticide, suicide and euthanasia.
The Golden Compass (young adult)
by Philip Pullman
Equal parts fantasy, science fiction andsteampunk, this first book in the His DarkMaterials series introduces a deep worldwith its fair share of darkness. Young andclever Lyra and her bonded daemon throwthemselves into an adventure to save herfriend Roger, but she can’t predict whatawaits her on the journey. This work hasbeen challenged or banned by someschools most often due to “anti-religiousmessages.”
Nothing But the Truth: ADocumentary Novel (young adult)
by Avi
Every day begins with the Pledge ofAllegiance and the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner at Harrison High School.Tired of standing silent because he doesn’tknow the words, Phillip Malloy hums along,setting off a chain of events that gives riseto a national debate: Can two factions withwildly opposite views both uphold the truth?
Looking for more inspiration? Give us a call or visit the library’swebsite swpl.org and explore NoveList Plus and NoveList K-8Plus, online reader’s advisories for both fiction and nonfiction.Search by genre, subject, mood, read-alikes and more. Accessunder the “Resources” tab, ‘Books & Literature’ section.
