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Authors, readers, critics, media − and booksellers.

Banned Books Week

10 Strange Reasons for Banning a Book

by Powell's Staff, September 26, 2015 8:30 AM

For Banned Books Week this year, we combed through hundreds of records of challenged materials reported by Oregon schools and libraries over the past 35 years. In the process, we came across some surprising, amusing, and, at times, weirdly specific arguments for banning books. Here are 10 particularly strange reasons that demonstrate how absurd it is to let an individual or group determine what books are available to all of us. Note: in most cases, the books were not ultimately removed, but in two instances, the outcome was undocumented.

÷ ÷ ÷

"Use of aliens to present weather information."

The Book: Earth Weather, as Explained by Professor Xargle by Jeanne Willis

Where It Was Challenged: Multnomah County Library

Date: 1998

Full Grievance: "Use of aliens to present weather information; inappropriate for children under 8 years old."

Outcome: Retained by library.

"Conjugal love between mice."

The Book: Abel's Island by William Steig

Where It Was Challenged: Fairfield Elementary School in Eugene

Date: 1994

Full Grievance: "Violence and mention of conjugal love between mice."

Outcome: Retained by school.

"Scary clowns."

The Book: I Spy Fun House by Jean Marzollo

Where It Was Challenged: Gladstone Public Library

Date: 2002

Full Grievance: "Scary clowns."

Outcome: Retained by library.

"May result in confusion and stupidity."

The Book: The Dumb Bunnies Go to the Zoo by Dav Pilkey

Where It Was Challenged: An Oregon public library

Date: 2012

Full Grievance: "Concern that reading this book may result in confusion and stupidity."

Outcome: Retained by library.

"Description of a witch's face distasteful and insensitive."

The Book: Witches by Roald Dahl

Where It Was Challenged: Dallas Elementary School library

Date: 1991

Full Grievance: "Book does not uphold ORS mandate that schools emphasize instruction in ethics and morality; portrays degrading and demoralizing identity for a child; description of witch's face distasteful and insensitive; undermines child's faith and trust in women."

Outcome: Retained by school library.

"Use of an amulet to prevent pregnancy."

The Books: Song of the Lioness, Books 1-3 by Tamora Pierce

Where It Was Challenged: David Hill Elementary School in Hillsboro

Date: 1989

Full Grievance: "Sexual references and the use of an amulet to prevent pregnancy."

Outcome: Removed by a library staff member but later returned to the shelves.

"Body parts in potions."

The Book: Black Magic, White Magic by Gary Jennings

Where It Was Challenged: Green Acres Elementary School in Lebanon

Date: 1998

Full Grievance: "History of witchcraft; body parts in potions; discussion of witches as a religion."

Outcome: Unknown.

"Not suitable for 4-Hers researching how to raise hogs."

The Book: The Hog Book by William Hedgepeth

Where It Was Challenged: Douglas County Library System

Date: 1991

Full Grievance: "Profanity; smutty humor and mention of condoms; not suitable for 4-Hers researching how to raise hogs."

Outcome: Retained by library.

"Blood of serpents."

The Book: The Porcelain Cat by Michael Hearn

Where It Was Challenged: Bend–La Pine School District

Date: 1990

Full Grievance: "Witch theme and blood of serpents."

Outcome: Retained by school.

"Teenagers already have trouble with their emotions without being stimulated by poorly written books."

The Books: More than 50 Harlequin romances were threatened with removal

Where They Were Challenged: Glide High School library

Date: 1984

Full Grievance: "Teenagers already have trouble with their emotions without being stimulated by poorly written books."

Outcome: Unknown.

Based on published reports from the American Library Association, the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse, and other news sources.


Also by Powell's Staff: 30 Books Challenged in Oregon

 




Books mentioned in this post

I Spy Fun House A Book of Picture Riddles

Jean Marzollo, I SPY
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6 Responses to "10 Strange Reasons for Banning a Book"

Holly October 2, 2015 at 10:47 PM
A parent returned a library book to our elementary school with words crossed out. The mother was offended by the use of the title Lord in a fantasy novel (as in lords and ladies). She felt this was blasphemous.

Lolo September 29, 2015 at 02:05 PM
I'm a public librarian (in California), and every year I post a similar list in our display - but I do it more like a quiz, asking them to guess which book goes with each complaint. I think my favorites are the following: "It is a real downer" (Diary of Anne Frank) and "This brainwashes readers into accepting miscegenation" (The Rabbit's Wedding). Oy vey. :-/

Michele September 28, 2015 at 01:11 PM
Hooray for the brave librarians that retained the books in question. Come on, Oregon, don't give in to these people...

christie September 27, 2015 at 06:16 PM
what, we don't live in America, anymore? don't the kids have parents who can explain the fiction part of the books? no one is allowed to use their imagination? sheesh!

Lj September 27, 2015 at 04:44 PM
Sounds like Adolf Hitler has a child grown up in the USA trying to decide what is appropriate for my child to read!! Where does it stop???

Frank S. September 27, 2015 at 12:52 PM
Interesting, sad and funny all at once. Too bad you didn't include "reasons" in your larger list of a few days ago, the list that included Orwell (of course) and Ray Bradbury.

Result(s) 6

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