About Books & Literature: Strike Up the Banned

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Books & Literature From Emily Faherty, your About Books & Literature Editor "There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable." ― Mark Twain It's true, isn't it? The more you're told not to do something, the more appealing it becomes. That's why we're celebrating Banned Books Week (Sept. 22-28) and "the freedom to read" whatever you'd like. Some of the titles and authors most commonly banned may surprise you, so let's take a walk on the wild side and see what all the fuss is about. Have You Read These Banned Classics? Mark Twain was likely speaking from experience in the quote above. His novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was first banned in 1885 and is still one of the most frequently challenged books today. It's not the only classic novel that often stirs up controversy. Getting banned is almost a prerequisite for becoming a classic. Just look at this list of most famous banned books. Sounds a lot like your high school's required reading, right? Ulysses by James Joyce Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Why Was Catcher in the Rye Banned? (VIDEO) 'Underpants' on Top Maybe not a classic (yet), it was the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey that topped the recent list of most frequently challenged books of 2012. The tighty whitey-wearing superhero was banned for "offensive language" that is "unsuited for the age group." The children's series was joined by Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (of course) and the award-winning Beloved by Toni Morrison. A few others that made the list: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Not Suitable for Children? Captain Underpants wasn't the first fictional character for kids to get the boot and he won't be the last. But as you'll see, he is among pretty good company in this list of most frequently challenged books for children and young adults. The Harry Potter Controversy Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Search Related Topics:  book censorship  banned books week  The Usual Suspects Some of the most popular and prolific authors like J.K. Rowling, William Shakespeare, and Judy Blume are no strangers to these lists, as they are continually ranked as some of the most banned writers. Who else joins that lineup? Maya Angelou Dan Brown Stephen King Search Related Topics:  controversy  banned books  Related Searches Literature Books What Is Literature Kids Books Read Books Children Books Featured Articles Book Banning 101 for Teachers Do People Still Burn Books? Controversial Plays of the 20th Century Why Was Huck Finn Banned? (VIDEO) 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' Quotes Should Christians Read 'Harry Potter?'   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement