Banned Books Week

This week is Banned Books Week and that means we have a display of books at the library that you won't believe anyone has attempted to ban or challenge in a school or public library. Follow this link here and scroll to the very bottom for a list of the most challenged and banned books in the past 5 years.

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Here's a little taste of books that have been frequently challenged. Come to the library and check one out!

Friday Night Lights book banned from Beaumont schools

While driving to work this morning, I heard a story on the radio that said the Beaumont, Texas school district had received a complaint from one parent about the book Friday Night Lights and decided to remove it from all the Beaumont schools.

This is especially relevant considering that this week is Banned Books Week.

To listen to the radio story, go toTexas Public Radio and scroll down to Show #474, September 25, 2009.

Read Free People Read Freely, the ACLU's annual report on banned and challenged books.

Want to know more about how Arlington Public Library develops the book/music/movie collection for the citizens of Arlington, Texas? Learn more here! Check out Appendix C for Library Vision, Mission and Values Statements and Appendix D for the Library Bill of Rights

Also posted on: What to Read.

The Ninja Reviews. . ."Absolutely Maybe" by Lisa Yee

What do tacos, platform shoes and kool-aid dyed hair have in common? Nothing really unless you read Lisa Yee’s latest book Absolutely Maybe.

The story revolves around Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut aka Maybe (yes, that’s her name and her mother’s name is equally long). She’s a daughter of a former beauty queen who does not live up to her mother expectations – kool-aid dyed hair does not scream Miss USA. After living through rounds of her mother’s various marriages in the boring town of Kissimmee, Florida, she decides to find her real father in California. In her quest, she is joined by two friends who get swept away in their own adventures.

This is Yee’s first venture into young adult literature and her efforts paid off. Yee has written children’s books before: Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time, and So Totally Emily Ebers. Each of these shares experiences of a developing friendship with wit and humor. This is the same for Absolutely Maybe. The characters are whimsical and quirky adding something more to a typical storyline of a girl finding herself. Whether it is the unusually long names, the stories of past boyfriends, her best friend’s out of this world personality, or a taco truck of deliciousness, the book served as an enjoyable, quick read.

Review by Lina

This book is on YALSA's top 10 nominee 2009 books for teens. You can see the list of nominees here. During August 25 through September 18 you can vote on your favorite and help create YALSA's next top 10 list!

Banned Book review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Banned Books Week, September 27 - October 4, celebrates books that have been challenged and censored over the years for their content. In honor of BBW I read Stephen Chbosky's novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This is the story of Charlie, the wallflower, and his insight into his own adolescence and the lives of the people around him. As the story progresses, Charlie is introduced to music, literature, and film which gives the reader a peek into the true unconventional nature of Charlie and his thoughts.

The book explores topics such as introversion, teenage sexuality, abuse, drug use, homosexuality, suicide, and the general awkwardness of being young. Music is an important part of the novel, particularly the song "Asleep" by The Smiths (which became a favorite of mine after I read this book for the first time when I was in high school).

There are also some fantastic quotes in this book. One of my favorites in particular is said by Charlie while he and his two best friends are driving around in the car:

"The feeling I had happened when Sam told Patrick to find a station on the radio. And he kept getting commercials. And commercials. And a really bad song about love that had the word “baby” in it. And then more commercials. And finally he found this really amazing song about this boy, and we all got quiet.

Sam tapped her hand on the steering wheel. Patrick held his hand outside the car and made air waves. And I just sat between them. After the song finished, I said something.

“I feel infinite.”

And Sam and Patrick looked at me like I said the greatest thing they ever heard. Because the song was that great and because we all really paid attention to it. Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young in a good way.”
-Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, p.33

All in all, the entire book is amazing and unique. I think it really touches on the uncomfortable period of growing up. I would recommend this book to older teens.