Challenged Books - Interesting Titles

Julie at My Book Retreat had an interesting post.  She looked at the list of recently challenged books and asked people to comment on the books that surprised them the most.  Her post is here.

The ALA Most Challenged list can be found here.

I hadn't looked at this list in awhile.  I expected to see Harry Potter, Catcher in the Rye, and the Twilight series.  I was shocked to see Bridge to Terabithia on a few lists.  That was one of the best books I've ever read with a class of students.  It provoked the best discussion groups and really touched the kids.  It made them think and feel.  What more can we ask of a book!

I was also surprised that My Sister's Keeper was on one of the lists.  Again, this is a book that makes you think and feel.  I could see my fourth grade students from that class ten years ago loving Picoult as young adult readers. 

I am going to make a point of reading one of the books on the lists that I have never read.  Any suggestions?

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

I read this book as part of the Banned Book Challenge and the A to Z Challenge. I found it on a banned book list with no explanation about why it was banned or where the incident occurred. I tried researching it on the web and could only find the title on a number of lists. I suspect that it was challenged in either a public or school library by parents afraid of the sexuality in the book. This is a book marketed for teens and young adults.

It is the story of four life long friends: Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen. They are teenagers who are spending a summer apart. They find a pair of old jeans in a thrift store. Magically, the jeans fit each girl perfectly, even though they are very different body types. These become the Traveling Pants for their magical qualities. Throughout the summer, each girl wears the pants for two weeks and then sends them on to another girl. The novel goes back and forth among the four girls documenting their summer and their time with the pants. It is the first of a series that I have seen many teen girls reading. It was also made into a movie.


STRENGTHS OF THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS: It is a very positive story of friendship among these girls. They are supportive of each other and do not put each other down. Each girl has a crisis while wearing the pants, but the others are supportive. Tibby's crisis is especially heart-rending as she meets, and spends time with, a younger girl who is dying of leukemia. I think that the sexuality in Bridget's story is probably the reason for the banning of this book. However, I found it to be a strength of the book because it was not graphic, and the author dealt extremely well with Bridget's emotions and her feelings of loss and regret. I thought it would really open the door to an honest discussion with a teenage girl about sexuality. I also liked how the author moved between stories so you were kept in touch with all four girls over the summer.

WEAKNESSES OF THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS: I was not really fond of Lena's summer story. She spent the summer in Greece with her grandparents and feel in love with a local boy. Through a misunderstanding, her grandparents thought the boy had assaulted her. I felt this part was a bit contrived and didn't match with the strength these girls displayed throughout the book.

Overall, I'd give this book four stars. I would absolutely allow my daughter to read it when she's a teen. I think there's a lot of positive messages in this about the value of girls' friendships. It could also lead to some excellent discussions of values and choices. If anyone has more details on the banned issue, I'd love to know. I'd also be interested in knowing how teenagers have reacted to this one. So if you are, or have, a teenager, let me know.

Banned Book Challenge

I told myself that I wasn't doing any more challenges, but I have to participate in this one. I can't stand the prospect of book banning and firmly believe that everyone has the right to read, or not to read, anything they'd like. This challenge is sponsored by the Pelham Public Library. I heard about it at Juli's blog Can I Borrow your Book?

The rules:

1. Select a number of books you'd like to read from banned book lists. The Pelham site has a good list.

2. Register at the Pelham blog.

3. Reading is done between February 24th and June 30th.

My choices are:

1. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (this is cross-listed with the A to Z Challenge)

2. Dance Me Outside by W.P. Kinsella (which will also apply to the Canadian Book Challenge and is listed on the A to Z Challenge)

3. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares