Today marks the first day of BBW 2016. Before it started I decided to tackle the books I own that made it to the challenged/banned list that are a part of this years theme. I plan on finishing that pile by the end of this week. So let’s get to book one of my journey:
“Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside of himself that he never knew existed.
Inspired by his own experiences growing up, award-winning author Sherman Alexie chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one unlucky boy trying to rise above the life everyone expects him to live.”
I loved this book. I did some research to see why parents challenged this book. I found that most parents did not like the content. It has some cuss words, a little talk of masturbation, and touched on the subject of domestic abuse (but in no way did it glorify the abuse). This is where I insert the eye roll. Oh please. First off I don’t know a single 14-year-old (that is how old Junior is in the book, who is the narrator of this book also) who hasn’t heard or said a cuss word, I’m pretty sure every 14 year old boy knows and has experimented with masturbation (in denial parents) and well I’m sure most know what domestic abuse is as well. I believe that no book needs to be challenged or banned. If it has questionable material than read it before your kid does or read it together and use the materail as a teaching tool. I believe this book opens kids in this newer generation as to what Native Americans still go through today. It’s not all casinos, government money and whatnot. There are still some major struggles even today. I highly recommend this book for ages 11ish and above.
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I want to add a list of some of my favorite challenged/banned books:
- Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
- Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- A Time to Kill by John Grisham
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I’m sure if i went through the top 100 list I could add a ton more. But for now I will leave you with this list. What are some of your favorite challenged/banned books??
Adventures Between Pages 
Wooooooooo, masturbation. I’m so in shock. I’ve known plenty of in denial parents, though, many in my family. Denial is so easy until somebody gets knocked up.
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