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Banned Books -- Part 1

So today I came across this list of banned books and realized I read some of these books ... in school without any mention of them being banned. So I decided to look up this list of the most challenged books. I found this list of the most challenged books from 1990-1999 and another one 2000-2009. Today I thought I would go through a point out which on these banned/challenged books I've read and what I thought of them. Books I've read are in bold.

* As I was going through this I'm making this into 2 parts. The first part is 1990-1999. The second part is going to be 2000-2009. It was starting to get a little lengthy with just the 1990-1999, so I didn't want to make it excessive.

1990-1999

1. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz

2. Daddy's Roommate, by Michael Willhoite

3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

4. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

I read this in my junior honors English class. According to what I found this book is banned because of its use of the n word. While I don't agree with the use of n word, I don't see it as a reason to band the book. Sure the n word makes people uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable. But that's the fucking point. Also the time the book is set in, white people used the n word a lot. It was a common thing. It was common when the book was written. Language changes and shit. But as for what I thought of the book, I didn't like it. I found the book boring and too drawn out.

6. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

I read this my junior for honors English. It's banned for foul language, violence, racism. Sure I can see all of that. I don't see it as a reason to ban a book though. Once again the time the book was set that kind of shit was common. It's supposed to make us uncomfortable because we raised above, or should rise above, that kind of shit. But I hated this book. I hate everything by John Steinbeck I've ever read. I find his writing boring and too drawn out. This book could be the first chapter and the last chapter and you would have the entire gist of the book.

7. Forever, by Judy Blume

8. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson

I read this book years ago. I think in 6th grade. It's apparently banned because of foul language and disrespect towards authority figures. Sound like dumb fucking reasons to me. Maybe the foul language thing doesn't bother me because I'm from Ohio, and apparently, Ohio is one of the rudest most cussing states in the nation. The authority figure thing is just a bunch of bitches having their panties in a twist. Get over and move on. Kids will sometimes be disrespectful. People will sometimes be disrespectful. It's called they're human. I'm disrespectful sometimes. My sister is disrespectful sometimes. We live and we learn. But from what I remember I loved the book. I might have to put it on my TBR for a reread.

9. Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman

10. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

I read this my junior year for honors English (again with the honors English). It's banned for vulgar language, sexual references, alcohol abuse, violence, etc. Alright, it has a lot of that. I enjoyed it. If you're worried about too young of students reading it, the solution is to only have older students read it like juniors or seniors. By the time you're like 16 you know cuss words, you *should* know what sex is, you've probably been exposed to alcohol either by drinking it yourself or someone like your parents has drunk it in front of you. I loved this fucking book. 5 out of 5 rating. As soon as I finished reading it, it was back on my TBR.