"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" - Banned Books Week!

A few years ago, the Huffington Post ran a story claiming that the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling were the most banned books in the country.  Most of the controversy comes from a number of religious (i.e. "Christian") groups believing the series promotes occultism, paganism and celebrates witchcraft.

I thought they promoted kids to read.  I cannot name another series of books that has excited the imaginations of children (and adults) as much as Harry Potter.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deji-olukotun/the-banning-of-harry-pott_b_1864502.html

"Animal Farm" - Banned Books Week!

George Orwell's classic novel Animal Farm is another critically acclaimed book that has been banned at some time or another since its printing in 1945.  Many have found it to be a satire on communism thinly disguised as an animal story.

It was banned in Wisconsin in 1963 because the John Birch Society (who?) objecxted to the phrase "masses will revolt."  In 1987, it was banned from several schools in Bay County in Panama City, Florida.  Alcoholic beverages and "indecent images" are more reasons why Animal Farm has been banned.

"Charlotte's Web" - Banned Books Week!

I loved this staple of children's literature, Charlotte's Web, as many, many other people did and still do.  However, it wasn't always beloved as we would like to believe.  In 2006, it was banned in Kansas because:

“talking animals are blasphemous and unnatural;” passages about the spider dying were also criticized as being “inappropriate subject matter for a children’s book.’”

I suppose the idea of talking animals was a bit too much for people who did not have the privilege of reading such a classic as a child.