Banned Books

As discussed in class, I was surprised by some of the books listed on the 100 Most Banned Books in U.S. Schools list because I had read many of the books throughout my schooling. School districts and parents ban books because they are afraid a book will give their students a wrong impression or will cause them to act irresponsibly. The reasoning behind why a book is banned in a school varies. A book could be banned because it eludes to a provocative, like sexuality and violence, or illegal, like drugs, subject. One example of a popular banned book that I read in school is Catcher-in-the-Rye. Catcher... Rye touches on sex, violence, and a boy seeking adventure by running away from home. Many years ago, parents thought Catcher would encourage their children to run away. Today, it is more accepted in school districts and in homes because it is more culturally relevant.
I became curious about why my school district thought some of the books listed were appropriate for their curriculum and others did not. I began to realize whether or not a book is banned in your school district is mainly dependent on where you live. A more conservative area is more likely to ban books about sexuality and racism than a more liberal area. One of the myths surrounding banned books is the idea that they are banned in school because parents complain to the teachers. Most books are banned because a small group of people in the community, not necessarily parents, complain to the district about a teacher including a book in her curriculum that was listed on the Banned Books list without even reading the book.