Chapters from My Diary
By Leon Trotsky
It was challenged because of the involvement of political bias, the author was a Russian communist.
Goosebumps and Fear Street book series
Challenged because it contains violence and a lack of respect for parental authority.
2 Do you notice any trends?
Most challenged books contain violence, and reflection on sexual assault, child abuse, family conflict.
3 Choose 10 novels from the list and check our catalogue to see if we have any of these books. Have you read any of the books on the list?
Of Mice and men by John Steinbeck
Waging War from Canada By Mike Pearson
This non-fiction book argues that Canada is an ideal launching pad for international terrorism against the United States.
This non-fiction book argues that Canada is an ideal launching pad for international terrorism against the United States.
A Jest of God By Margaret Laurence
A novel that depicts the unhappy life of an elementary schoolteacher in small-town Manitoba.
A Little Piece of Ground By Elizabeth Laird
Novel about a 12-year-old Palestinian boy living in an Israeli-occupied area.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain
Classic novel set in the southern United States.
And Tango Makes Three By Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (2005)
Children’s book about penguins.
Ani Croche and La course a l’amour By Bertrand Gauthier
Two books for young people.
Antigone By Sophocles
Ancient Greek tragedy.
Asha’s Mums By Rosamund Elwin and Michele Paulse
A children’s story book that depicts same-sex parents.
Baby Be-Bop by Francesco Lia BlockI haven't read any of the challenged work listed above.
Bad Medicine: A Judge’s Struggle for Justice in a First Nations Community
4 Choose one of the books that you have not read before and read it.
Of Mice and men by John Steinbeck
5 Having read one of the books from a banned book list, offer a brief summary of the book.
The book Of mice and men is about the two workers finding jobs during the great depression, a time when no one is able to get a permanent job. The two main characters George and Lennie are like the other workers, they too travel town to town to find jobs. George was the one who had to take care of Lennie and keep his out of trouble. At their new work place, the ranch owned by Curley's father, the two met Candy, Slim and crooks. At first, things were peaceful. Until one day Curley wasn't in a great mood and saw Lennie was laughing, thinking about the ranch he and George will own some day in the future, but Curley thought Lennie was laughing at him, Curley's mind went loose and hit Lennie, Lennie fought back by grabbing Curley's hand and crushed it. Later on, the scene changes to a morning, Lennie is wit ha dead puppy, apparently, Lennie killed the puppy. This is when Curley's wife comes in and started talking about how soft things feels great to touch. Curley's wife then invite Lennie to feel her hair, but Lennie couldn't control his strength and started messing around with the girl's hair too hard. Curley's wife started to struggle, in an accident, Lennie broke her neck and killed her. Lennie noticed that he had done a bad thing and remembered to go into the woods George told him to go if he gets into any trouble, and in the woods, George killed Lennie so he won't get killed by the other men working on the ranch with the guilt of a murderer.
6 In more detail, write about the areas of the novel that you think raised concern. Why do you suppose the book was on the list? Do you think the reasons for the challenge were legitimate?
The part of this book that raised concern is the language and truth that was reflected through the book which was the social issues. People lives in great depression period don't like reading books that truthfully reflect how they live day by day. It's logical that this kind of book will be challenged book during the 1930's. It's challenged nowadays is because the book is said to be too "negative" and "dark." because it contains too much sensational language.
7 In 350-500 words, argue for or against including the book in our school collection.
Challenged books usually contain restricted materials, for example, violence and political bias.
In the book, there were two scenes that involve the use of a gun to kill either animal or human. people might think this should not be read by teenagers and see it as the propaganda of euthanasia, but if people look closely at the scene where George kills Lennie, it's way of letting Lennie free, but George did it in a sinful way. Lennie should be considered innocent since he suffers a mental disorder and involuntarily killed Curley's wife, but the other men in the ranch consider him as a 'sinister' because he killed a person. George's action in killing Lennie can also be understood from the view that the guilt that has been applied on Lennie is now transferred on to George. The second reason why this book is often challenged is because of the vulgarity and language in the book. The book has many typical western American dialect, ranch farmers in the 1930's talk with swearing languages, but having languages like that does not mean that it has to be banned. In other cases, it is a great tool for the readers to create connections with the people at that time. The true reflection of how people talk and live in that time period. If it's included in the school collection, the book will be a 'textbook' for students to understand humanities and social issues. The last reason why the book is challenged is the description of racism and unfair treatment of women. Crooks, the only African American working on the ranch, are not involved in any of the activities that the other men do, he always work alone, and he himself told Lennie that the other men said that he stinks, however, he's the only one who could read. Irony is hidden in this, and this allows readers to think deeply into the words of the true meaning of human equality.
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