As you know (or you will know now) the last week in September is Banned Book Week. This year that falls from the 22nd until the 28th. At work, we decided to make Banned Book Week a month long celebration/display. (Pictures to come at a later date). To keep up with the theme, I decided to read a banned/challenged book each week of the month.
My first banned/challenged book of the month is Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
Before: Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (Francois Rabelais, poet) even more. The he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an even unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After: Nothing is ever the same.
Looking for Alaska has been challenged in several state high schools for offensive language, sexually explicit scenes, and for being unsuitable for the age group.
Once I'm finished, I'll post a review and then comment on the reasons why the book as been challenged.
Please visit the American Library Association's webpage for more information on challenged and banned books.
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