A Day No Pigs Would Die (Challenged books)

   Peck, Robert Newton. (1972). A Day No Pigs Would Die. New York: Random House

  This book has often been challenged, that is, people have demanded that it be removed from libraries. It was 16th on the American Library Association‘s list of books most often challenged in the 1990s. (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Day_No_Pigs_Would_Die, August 1, 2011).

  After young Robert Peck helps a neighbor’s cow give birth and saves the mother animal, he is given a baby pig for his trouble. Robert and “Pinky” become best friends. Robert even takes Pinky to the fair where it wins a ribbon for being the best behaved pig. Later, after it is discovered that PInky is barren, it’s decided that the pig will have to be slaughtered. Robert goes with his father to kill his pet. He hates his dad, but he also sees that it breaks his father’s heart as well, and in that moment comes forgiveness. This is a hard book to read, especially for animal lovers. However, for myself, it reminded me of some things from my childhood. While I did not grow up on a farm, my grandparents lived on one. We would visit in the summer and I actually witnessed a pig being slaughtered. I also had many friends who were in 4-H. They would show their animals at the fair and then turn around and sell them to the slaughterhouse. It was hard for them but it was accepted as a fact of life. That’s what Robert and his family reminded me of. They simply accept it as something that had to be done and life went on.

 

Go Ask Alice (Challenged books)

                                                           

   Anonymous. (1971). Go Ask Alice. New York: Simon and Schuster.

   Since it’s publishing in 1971, Go Ask Alice has become one of the most challenged and banned books of all time. Due to its frequent and strong references to sex, heavy drug usage, and teen pregnancy, libraries and schools across the country have banned the novel as it sits at number 23 on the American Library Association (ALA) “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books” from 1990-2001. (Retrieved from  http://dangerousbooks.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/go-ask-alice/ August 1, 2010)

  Go Ask Alice has been a favorite of teenagers as far back as I was a teen in the 1970’s. It’s the diary of a teenaged girl who gets involved in drug abuse and ultimately dies. I kept the book over the years and gave it to my own daughter. It has since become one of HER favorite books. Originally published as the diary of an anonymous girl, it later was said to have been written by a teen psychologist and used the stories of many of her patients, tied together to become this book. Regardless of who or how it was written, I highly recommend it to teens today. They face the same issues when it comes to drugs as teens of 20 and 30 years ago, and it can be effective in showing them what can happen if they abuse drugs.

 

Heather Has Two Mommies (Challenged book)

  Newman, Leslea. (1989). Heather Has Two Mommies (Diana Souza, Illus.). Los Angeles: Alyson Publications.

 During the 1990s, copies of Heather Has Two Mommies began disappearing off of book shelves from both school and public libraries around the country as people borrowed the book with no intention of returning it. By checking the book out of the library and then claiming it as lost, community members were battling to remove this book’s viewpoint from a child’s hands. Other challenges to Heather Has Two Mommies occurred in Brooklyn, New York (February, 1992), Springfield, Oregon (June, 1992), and Fayetteville, North Carolina (October, 1992). Both of the cases in Oregon and North Carolina elected to allow Heather Has Two Mommies to remain on the book shelves in the children’s section. In Brooklyn, New York the Bary Ridge School Board President said that the board objected to words in the book that were age inappropriate; the book was removed from the district’s curriculum.  (retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/thesisactivities/heather-has-two-mommies July 27, 2011).

  I found Heather Has Two Mommies to be an easy read and a good book to read to small children. It is very short and to the point. Our country is full of “unconventional” families. While Heather has two lesbian mothers, another child has two gay fathers. Still another has a mom and a stepfather, and yet another has a mother and a babysitter. The point of the book is to reassure small children that no matter what their situation at home may be, it’s normal. I liked this book and I like the fact that it discusses several different home situations beyond homosexual parents. Children spend enough time worrying about little things. It’s nice to find a book that lets them know family is family, no matter what.

 

The Stupids Have a Ball (Challenged books)

   Bullard, H. & Marshall, J. (1978). The Stupids Have a Ball. Boston; Houghton Mifflin Company.

 1985: Because “it describe[s] families in a derogatory manner and might encourage children to disobey their parents,” the Stupids series has been removed from shelves. This book appears as the twenty-seventh most censored book on the American Library Association’s “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999.” (retrieved from http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/censored/child.html July 26, 2011).

     I found this book to be inoffensive and don’t really understand why this series would be challenged by anyone. In this particular title, the Stupids throw a party to celebrate the fact that their children have flunked all of their classes. And even though it’s a costume party, and everyone comes in costume, the Stupids are too stupid to notice. This is a quick, easy read for smaller children. The illustrations convey a sense of goofiness. My one criticism would be that it really has very little depth to it. It’s short and sweet. However, it could be used to start a discussion between parent and child about the importance of grades and NOT being stupid. Also, it could be used as a lesson on individuality.

 

The Higher Power of Lucky (Newbery Medal winner & Challenged book)

  Patron, Susan. (2006). The Higher Power of Lucky. (M. Phelan. Illus.). New York; Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

  The Higher Power of Lucky is the winner of the Newbery Medal for 2007.

   Lucky is a 10 year old girl who lives with her dog in a trailer in California. Lucky’s mother is dead and her father is gone. She lives with her guardian, Brigitte. Lucky is very smart and tends to overthink things.

   Lucky sees Brigitte’s suitcase and passport and fears that her guardian is about to return to France. She fears she will be abandoned in an orphanage, so Lucky runs away during a sandstorm.

   She carries her huge, heavy backpack with her. Outside of town, she finds her friend, Miles, who was injured in the storm.  They find shelter in dugout areas by an abandoned mine.

    Miles has a burr in his foot.  They have very little to eat. And a bug flies into Lucky’s ear and she cannot get it out. It seems like everything is going wrong in their shelter. Then, their other friend, Lincoln, finds them and lets them know the whole town is out looking (there are only 43 residents in the town). They have been rescued.

    Before she goes back to town, Lucky throws her mother’s ashes (she carries them with her) into the wind. Once back home, she learns that Brigitte was not returning to France and, instead, wants to adopt Lucky and be her mother.

     *Controversy arose over the use of the word “scrotum” on the first page of The Higher Power of Lucky.  A number of school librarians decided to ban or censor the book. However, the book did win the Newbery medal and has the support of the American Library Association.