THESIS

CENSORSHIP IN CHILDREN’S
LITERATURE
Real Time Reactions from Children and Teens on the Most
Challenged Children’s Literature
DECEMBER 15, 2015
KIMBERLY HUFFORD
Advisor: Cathy Fennel

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
History and Laws……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Challenged Picture Books…………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak……………………………………………………………………….8
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle……………………………………………………………………..12
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris…………………………………………………………………………….15
Daddy’s Roomate by Michael Willhoite………………………………………………………………………18
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell………………………………….22
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman………………………………………………………………………25
Challenged Teen Chapter Books………………………………………………………………………………………………30
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier…………………………………………………………………………30
Forever…by Judy Blume……………………………………………………………………………………………….34
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky………………………………………………….39
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler………………………….44
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie…………………………….52
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George………………………………………………………………56
Voices of the Censored…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….61
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….79
Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….81
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….83

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INTRODUCTION
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.1”
The first Amendment of the United States Constitution: What does it mean? It means
that the government is prohibited from making any laws limiting what its citizens can publish
and/or talk about. As anything else in the world, though, there are exceptions. In this case, the
exceptions include obscenity, child pornography, and threats. Everything else is fair game.
That doesn’t mean, however, that other people won’t try to prevent the general public
from seeing things they don’t like. Book banning has been around since the beginning of the
written word. There has never been a shortage of people who are offended by what someone
else has to say. It is difficult to believe that in the year 2015, people all over the world are still
trying to dictate what other people should and should not be allowed to read.
Each year, the American Library Association publishes a list of frequently challenged
books. Even though they have an easy-to-use tab for reporting censorship cases (Appendix 1), it
is estimated that nearly 85% of cases are never reported, making it difficult to determine
exactly how often it happens2. When it comes to adults, it’s easy enough to make our own
decisions about what we read, but what about the kids who aren’t old enough to make those
decisions yet?
1 "U.S. Constitution-Amendment 1." Usconstitution.net. 2010. Accessed July 6, 2015.
http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am1.html.
2 "Frequently Challenged Books." American Library Association.Accessed July 20,2015.
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks.

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All parents want to do the best they can for their children. Parents raise their children to
hold certain beliefs and moral standards. And censoring what your own child has access to is
one thing, but telling other people what their children should not be allowed to read is no
better than someone telling you what your child should read.
What makes for the most common reasons that someone would want a book banned?
What are some of the effects the successful banning of certain books could have on society?
And do children really understand what it is that is so controversial about the books they’re
reading? Banning books has a long, sordid history. There is no shortage of reasons or excuses as
to why a book is not appropriate for a particular age group. And though our freedom of speech
allows us to publish just about anything, it does not prevent others from challenging our
motives. This study will look into the history of book banning and how censorship laws have
evolved, paying particular attention to children’s literature and how this hinders the creative
process and ultimately shelters our youth from tough but necessary topics. With opinions from
parents and children themselves, ranging in age from five to sixteen, we will dive deeper into
these issues. Do the younger ones get it? Do they know why other people are upset about the
pictures in their books? And do the older ones see anything harmful about the words they are
reading?
In a society where diversity is becoming more and more accepted, there are dangers to
restricting what our children have access to – not just to them, but to others as well. What are
the advantages – if any – to sheltering our children from the real world?
How do we decide if something should be banned or not? How do we justify the
publication of something that contains controversial material? In the first Amendment Case,

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Roth v United States in 1957, Samuel Roth was accused of sending obscene material in the mail.
From this case, it was determined that obscene material was not protected under the First
Amendment3. Stemming from that ruling, and the case of Miller v California in 1972, we
acquired the Three-Prong Obscenity Test, commonly called the Roth Test, in an effort to define
what obscenity really is. The three points that must be considered when deciding whether a
work is obscene or not are as follows:
1) Whether “the average person, applying contemporary community standards” would
find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest
2) Whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct
specifically defined by the applicable state law, and
3) Whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or
scientific value. If a state obscenity law is thus limited, First Amendment values are
adequately protected by ultimate independent appellate review of constitutional
claims when necessary4.
While the books I am focusing on don’t necessarily fall into the obscene category, I
believe the phrasing in the first and third prong, “the work, taken as a whole,” can be applied to
any censorship case. It’s easy to take selected passages fromanything and find offense. Taken
out of context, almost anything can be twisted and construed to mean what you want it to
mean. When it comes to art, and literature, and other forms of entertainment and knowledge,
3 "Roth v. United States." Legal Information Institute. Accessed August 31,2015.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/354/476.
4 "Thee Prong Obscenity Test." July 21, 1997.Accessed August 31, 2015.
http://courses.cs.vt.edu/cs3604/lib/Censorship/3-prong-test.html.

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we must consider the whole work. We must look at all aspects of the work, and find the moral
lessons or the societal importance in the work. And most importantly, we must be realistic.
A quick internet search brings up many articles on why books are banned:
5
5 https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=why+are+books+banned. Accessed August 30,2015.

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For purposes of time and space, I am focusing on four of those reasons: sex and nudity,
homosexuality, and racism. It is my goal to illustrate why it is important not to let the censors
dictate what children can read.
HISTORY AND LAWS
Although the first printing press was created by Johannes Gutenberg in 1436, it is
believed that book printing existed long before that. Movable clay type (as opposed to
Gutenberg’s movable wooden or metal type) was invented in China in 1041. Prior to that, the
earliest known printed book was in 868 BCE6. In 1559, the Index of Prohibited Books was
released by the Catholic Church, but was not published until 19097. The list featured titles that
Catholics were prohibited from reading or owning. Some of the reasons for books appearing on
this list included: expressing ideas contrary to Catholic morals; contrary to Catholic teachings;
theological errors; or posing a threat to the Roman Catholic hierarchy. The Index was regularly
updated through 1948, before finally being abolished in 1966 by Pope Paul VI8.
The first reported case of a book banning in America was Thomas Morton’s New English
Canaan in 1637. The reason for the banning was because Morton presented a sympathetic view
towards Native Americans after the Puritans’ attack on the colonies9. The Bill of Rights, which
includes the First Amendment, went into effect in America on December 15, 1791, nearly 160
6 Bellis,Mary."Johannes Gutenberg and the PrintingPress."About Money. 2015.Accessed August 31,2015.
7 "Index of Prohibited Books." Catholic Online.2015.Accessed August 31, 2015.
http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6083.
8 Cline,Austin. "Index of Forbidden Books (Index of Prohibited Books)." About.com. 2015. Accessed August 31,
2015.http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/western/bldef_indexbooks.htm
9 Miller,Jim. "America’s FirstBanned Book and the Battle for the Soul of the Country." San Diego Free Press.
September 22, 2014.Accessed August 31,2015. http://sandiegofreepress.org/2014/09/americas -first-banned-
book-and-the-battle-for-the-soul-of-the-country/

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years after Morton’s book was banned. It was put in place to guarantee the country’s citizens
the freedom to practice their own religion and to rally for social change. It also gave the media
the right to write about what they chose, which included criticisms of the United States
government10. Throughout the nineteenth-century, various political figures rallied to change
the laws. Despite this, less than twelve First Amendment cases were brought before the
Supreme Court until 1889. At that time, one lobbyist, Anthony Comstock, persuaded Congress
to pass the Comstock Law. The Comstock Law targeted those publishing and circulating
obscenity through the mail. This included anything related to contraception or abortion, or
anything considered “obscene, lewd, or lascivious”11.
In 1919, the case of Schenck v U.S., brought our first real exception to the First
Amendment. During this case, Charles Schenck was accused of encouraging World War I
draftees to dodge the draft. From this, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Holmes determined that if
“words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and
present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has the right to
prevent.” What this means is that if someone challenges the government, or interferes with
official government business, his right to free speech is not upheld.12
Nearly 40 years later, in 1957, we got the second exception to the First Amendment –
the obscenity law that was discussed previously that brought us the Roth test. And finally, in
10 "About the FirstAmendment." FirstAmendment Center. Accessed July 1, 2015.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about-the-first-amendment.
11 “FirstAmendment Timeline.” FirstAmendment Center. Accessed July 1, 2015.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about-the-first-amendment
12 Ibid.

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1982, the third exception was added – child pornography13. One could argue that these
exceptions went against the very thing the First Amendment was put forth to protect. Little by
little, free speech was being challenged and stripped away. But, what’s changed since then?
What kinds of publications are still being challenged today?
CHALLENGED PICTURE BOOKS
This thesis will concentrate specifically on children’s literature, therefore, I will start
with picture books. The books I examined are In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, Where
Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle, It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris, Daddy’s Roommate by
Michael Willhoite, And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, and The Story of Little Black
Sambo by Helen Bannerman. Although not considered a traditional picture book, I have
included It’s Perfectly Normal, because it does use pictures as an aid to the text.
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
In the Night Kitchen was originally published in 1970. It was written and illustrated by
Maurice Sendak and received several awards, including
Outstanding Children’s Books of 1970, and a Caldecott
Honor in 1971. Barnes and Noble has the age range for
this book listed at 3-614. It’s a pretty harmless picture
book about a young boy named Mickey who dreams
about being baked into a cake. It’s funny, and childish,
13 “FirstAmendment Timeline." FirstAmendment Center. Accessed July 1, 2015.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about-the-first-amendment.).
14 “In the Night Kitchen." Barnes & Noble. 1997.Accessed September 1, 2015.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-night-kitchen-maurice-sendak/1100417977?ean=9780064434362

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but charming. So, why was it challenged? It
depicts nudity. Some believe that the pictures15
teach children that molestation is okay and that
it desensitizes children to nudity16. Librarians
censored their versions of the book by painting
diapers or pants over young Mickey’s genitals,
like in the picture shown below. In the copy of
the book I borrowed from the library, it was
obvious that there was an attempt to cover the little boy’s private area, with a white mark close
to his genitals, assumedly left from whatever was placed there as a cover. In some
extreme cases, the book was even burned17.
In a letter to one of those librarians, Sendak’s editor, Ursula Nordstrom wrote:
“…At first, the thought of librarians painting diapers or pants on the
naked hero of Sendak’s book seems amusing, merely a harmless eccentricity on
the part of a prim few. On reconsideration, however, the behavior should be
recognized for what it is: an act of censorship by mutilation rather than by
obvious suppression18.”
She also mentions that it is, in fact, the adults who take issue with the pictures, and
not at all the children, saying “I think young children will always react with delight to such a
15 Sendak, Maurice.1970.In the Night Kitchen. New York, New York: Harper & Row Publishers.
16 "MauriceSendak's In the Night Kitchen Is a Banned Book?" 7x7.September 11, 2009.Accessed August 13, 2015.
http://www.7x7.com/arts/maurice-sendaks-night-kitchen-banned-book
17 "Case Study: In the Night Kitchen." Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. June 23, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2015.
18 Ibid.

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book as In the Night Kitchen, and that they will react creatively and wholesomely. It is only
adults who ever feel threatened by Sendak’s work19.
In an effort to test that theory, I read this book to four children, between the ages of
five and six. During my first visit with Alice (age five), she decided she wanted to read it to me
instead of me reading it to her, which consisted of her turning the pages and making up her
own story to match. I thought that was an excellent idea, as it obviously drew most of her
attention to the pictures and not the words. The wonderful thing about Alice was that she did
giggle at the pictures of Mickey being naked – but, she giggled at his behind, not at his penis.
The pictures were a wonderful way for Alice to let her own imagination take hold, and relate
them to her own experiences. When I asked her if she liked the book, her response was, “yeah,
he’s got his boobies out!” Saying this, it was evident that she noticed his nudity, but she’s
obviously not attributing them to anything, since he clearly doesn’t have “boobies.” Kids like
toilet humor and they think nudity is funny, but I did not see any adverse reaction from her
when she saw his penis. She didn’t even notice it20.
Next, I read to and spoke with Walter and Leigh (ages six and five, respectively). These
two, unfortunately, were so distracted by Mickey’s nudity that we were unable to finish the
book. Twice, they asked me to go back to the page where he was naked so they could see it
again. After the first time, I refused to do so, because I knew what they wanted to see. This
reading proved that this particular book wasn’t for them, which was fine. However, the reaction
I got from these children I read to was not as I expected. I imagine that some child somewhere
19 "Case Study: In the Night Kitchen." Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. June 23, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2015.
20 Strain,Alice. Interview by author. July 17, 2015

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must have had the same reaction as Walter and Leigh in order for parents to be troubled by it,
possibly challenging it. So, thank you to Walter and Leigh for showing me the other side of the
argument21.
After Walter and Leigh, I read to and spoke with five-year-old Jasper or Jazz. Jazz’s
reaction was the complete opposite of Walter and Leigh’s, which proves that reactions don’t
often justify censoring. From the very beginning, Jazz was incredibly excited to have me read to
him. He talked my ear off when I arrived about his favorite video game, and interrupted me
throughout some other books we read to tell me stories or random facts about the pictures.
He’s an incredibly smart and well-spoken child. When we read In the Night Kitchen, his only
reactions were “uh oh” and “what happens next?” He never commented on, noticed, or even
registered the fact that Mickey was naked – he was simply interested in the story. And when I
asked him after the book was finished what he thought of the pictures, his response was “they
were pretty sill” (which, according to him, is short for “silly”). And then, he immediately asked
me to read the next book in our pile22.
The conclusion is that every child is different. All four children had different reactions to
Little Mickey, but all of the parents agreed that the book was harmless, even if some of them
thought it was a little weird. This proves the theory that most children will react creatively and
wholesomely when presented with this book and being exposed to it does not desensitize
them, or give them inappropriate thoughts about molestation. The nudity is viewed as a funny
addition to the story by the children and nothing more.
21 Hauk, Walter and Leigh Hauk. Interview by author. July 30, 2015.
22 Raichle,Jasper.Interview by author. August 6, 2015.

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Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Originally published in 1977, Peter Mayle’s picture book about sex has been the center
of controversy for some time. It most recently appeared on the American Library Association’s
Banned Books list for 1990-1999 at number 7923 for its sexual content. When most people see a
picture book, they assume it’s for small children, roughly three through seven years old. But,
that’s not always the case, as there are picture books written on themes that are meant for
older children. Sometimes pictures are added simply to illustrate a point and make something
clearer, rather than add to a story, which is the case with Where Did I Come From?. Even
though this book is actually intended for a young audience, Barnes and Noble has the age range
listed as 6-924.
This is the only picture book I used for my research that I never read to the children.
When I went to read to Walter and Leigh, I immediately handed the book to their mother, Lisa.
I wanted her opinion before I read it to them. I told her that because of the subject matter, I
was uncomfortable being the one to have the where babies come from conversation with her
children. But if she thought it was okay after reading the book, then we would discuss that and
the book. She immediately chuckled at the title and asked Walter, “where did you come from?”
His answer was simple – and accurate: “you.” While I read the children other books on our list,
Lisa reviewed Where Did I Come From? When she finished, she handed it back and said, “Yeah,
I’m not sure about this one. Mostly because of the pictures. And it doesn’t seem age
23 “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999.”ala.org.2015.Accessed November 7, 2015.
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/100-most-frequently-challenged-books-1990%E2%80%931999.
24 "Where Did I Come From?" Barnes & Noble. 2105. Accessed September 1, 2015.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-did-i-come-from-peter-mayle/1107916914?ean=9780818402531

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appropriate.”25 Until that point, I considered it a book written for young children, under the age
of eight. But, her response made me think. Just because it has pictures, doesn’t mean it’s for
children that young. My own sex education did not begin in school until the fourth grade, so
maybe she was right. Although I decided not to read this book to her children (or anyone
else’s), I did analyze it.
The first time I read Where Did I Come From?, I was also surprised, but not by the
illustrations. I thought the pictures were acceptable, because I believe it’s important for kids to
know about anatomy and the differences between a boy and a girl. So, these pictures didn’t
bother me:
What I did have a problem with was the way sex was described. After explaining the facts, Peter
Mayle mentions this:
“Now you may be thinking: if it’s so nice, why don’t people do it all the time?
There are two reasons.
First, it’s very tiring. More than playing football, or running, or skipping, or
climbing trees, or almost anything. Good as it is, you just don’t do it all day long.”26
26 Mayle, Peter. 1977. Where Did I Come From? New York, New York: Kensington PublishingCorp.

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I, personally, found it odd to describe sex as nice when explaining it to a child. The rest of the
page seemed to be a bit more child-friendly to me:
“And the second reason is that something really wonderful happens which puts
an end to the tickly feeling, and at the same time starts the making of the baby.
When the man and the woman have been wriggling so hard you think they’re
both going to pop, they nearly do just that. All the rubbing up and down that’s been
going on ends in a tremendous big lovely shiver for both of them.”27
From there, Mayle explains the process of the sperm meeting the egg and the development of
the baby, which is great. But, I’m questioning his way of explaining how wonderful sex is. After
taking into consideration the suggested age range, that changed my opinion a bit. I believe an
eight- or nine-year-old of a certain maturity would be able to comprehend the facts in this
book. Even though some reviewers have said:
“My parents gave me this book when I was six years old and I still appreciate
how clearly it explained sex in an age appropriate manner. Every kid on my block
benefited from this book, which meant we had the appropriate relevant facts without
ever falling prey to misinformation,”28
I still wanted to respect the parent’s wishes when it came to such a sensitive subject. I am
satisfied with my decision not to read it, because all of the children I interviewed were below
the suggested age range. It was not my decision what books those children could be exposed
to, and while Lisa did think it was a bit too mature for her children, she made no other
comments about it. She was not upset about it existing, and she did not say that it was
inappropriate for all children – just for hers. I did choose not to read it to the rest of the
27 Ibid.
28 Rawson, Diane.2014. powells.com. September 21. Accessed November 7, 2015.
http://www.powells.com/book/where-did-i-come-from-9780818402531.

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children, since Walter and Leigh were the oldest ones I spoke to, but based on the experiences I
had with the other parents, I think their reactions would have been the same. The review above
does show that some young children have gotten great information from the book, and as
adults, are able to appreciate the fact that it was presented to them in an age-appropriate and
factual way.
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Although this book is not technically considered a picture book, I’m including it in this
section because of its use of pictures to illustrate important themes or lessons. Originally
published in 1995, It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex & Sexual Health has
consistently been banned due to the nudity portrayed in the book. Nearly 20 years ago, in 1996,
the book was challenged in Washington, because it was believed to be “an act of
encouragement for children to begin desiring sexual gratification…and is a clear example of
child pornography.”29 More recently, in 2002, it was reclassified as an adult book in a Texas
school district because of its content. It was argued that the book tried to “minimize or even
negate that homosexuality is a problem.”30 A book about puberty, it lists on the front cover that
it is intended for children ages ten and up, and it covers everything from puberty to sex to
adoption. It presents relationships from all angles, and all varieties, which is where the
29 Crispin,Jessa.2012. kirkusreviews.com. September 25. Accessed November 7, 2015.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/robie-h-harris-challenges-banned-books/.
30 Ibid.

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homosexual theme comes in.31 It defines homosexuality and transgender in a short section
during the fifth chapter, which it follows up with a lesson on acceptance and tolerance:
“No matter what some people may think, it’s always important for every
person to remember to treat all people with respect. And it’s important to know
that a person’s daily life – making a home, having friends and fun, working, being
in love, being single, being a partner, being married, raising children – is mostly
the same whether he or she is straight, gay, bisexual, or transgender.”32
When I first flipped through it, I thought this is going to be hard to defend
because of the first picture that caught my eye which was this one:
However, after reading the book, I realized I
made the same mistake that censors
everywhere make. I took the picture out of
context. Taken out of context, it is a bit
jarring, and I can completely understand why
parents would be troubled by it. But, it’s
accompanied by some really great facts – and an explanation for the picture:
“In all, from front to back, there are three openings between a female’s legs: the
opening to her urethra, the opening to her vagina, and her anus. If a girl or a woman is
curious about what these openings look like, she can hold a mirror between her legs and
take a look33.”
31 Harris,RobieH. It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health. 20th Anniversary
Edition ed. Somerville, Massachusetts:Candlewick Press,2014.
32 Ibid,page 11.
33 Ibid,page 17.

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Considering the intended audience for this book, this was an appropriate way to explain the
illustration.
While I wasn’t able to talk to any children very thoroughly about this particular book,
twelve-year-old Maya told me that in sixth grade (age eleven for her), they began studying their
bodies and “how everything works.” And while they hadn’t begun studying how to keep
themselves safe during sex yet, her brother, Kevin (age sixteen) let me know that she would be
studying it the next year. Even though Kevin had already had sex education, both of them are
still in the targeted age range for this particular book. I did show it to their dad before
discussing the book with them, since I wasn’t sure what they already knew. He flipped through
it and asked Kevin if Maya had started studying some of it yet, but was generally unconcerned. I
mentioned the book to the kids and Kevin immediately said it was probably banned because of
the pictures, saying “it probably doesn’t need that.” They both let me know that during their
sex education, they were shown a lot of charts, but not really any graphic pictures. When I
mentioned to them that I thought many of the pictures enhanced the text, I then asked if they
thought that was helpful. Referring to the full-page spread featuring pictures of many different
body types, I asked if that was something that helped them understand their bodies, and that
they are normal. Maya responded by saying that it depends on the person. She used the
comparison of a visual learner versus a verbal learner, saying “like in math, sometimes you have
to write it out and other times you can just do it in your head.” Kevin seemed a bit more
disturbed by the pictures stating quietly, “we didn’t have pictures. I passed all the tests.”34
34 Porrecca,Kevin and Maya Porrecca.Interview by author. October 10, 2015.

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So, even though the pictures are a bit jarring at first sight, the context and the content
of this book are handled in a sensitive and age-appropriate way. As far as the claimthat it’s
child pornography, that is simply not true. Referring back to the Roth test presented earlier in
this study, we must look at the work as a whole. For starters, every single picture in the book is
a drawing or a cartoon. There are no real pictures or photos of children or anyone else. And,
the book is not intended to be pornographic. Taken as a whole, the book is about bodies, and
puberty, and sex, and teaches kids how to protect themselves. It is an in-depth look at sexual
education and health, and answers questions that many kids are afraid to ask. When presenting
any controversial material, it presents it from both sides, explaining why some people are
against that view, and sometimes includes the history of the laws surrounding it. As I was
reading it, I couldn’t help thinking that I’d wished my own sex education was as thorough as this
book. Even though it does obviously talk about sex, it also reiterates repeatedly that it’s
important to wait and that the only way to guarantee safety and avoid pregnancy is abstinence.
The material is all presented in a realistic and non-judgmental way and sheltering kids from it
may prevent them from getting the education they need, and result in them making poor
decisions.
Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
Daddy’s Roommate was published in 1990 and has been a fixture on the American
Library Association’s frequently challenged books lists ever since. In just 161 words, Daddy’s
Roommate manages to offend those who still believe in traditional family values. A harmless
story about a boy’s father who now lives with his boyfriend, Daddy’s Roommate found itself
being challenged as recently as 2005. That year, an Indiana school board removed the book

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from its shelves after deciding that they needed to “protect its students from exposure and
access to controversial materials35.” A New Jersey man was successful at getting the book
moved from the children’s section to the parenting section. Similarly, in 1995, Alaskan politician
(and eventual Vice-Presidential hopeful), Sarah Palin objected to the book being on shelves.
When it was suggested by a member of her campaign that she read the book before deciding to
remove it from shelves, Palin’s response was that she “didn’t need to read that stuff.” This
same campaign member said, “It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a
book from the library that she didn’t even read36.” It is definitely disturbing and supports my
theory that by banning, we are sheltering our youth from a tough topic which happens all too
frequently. This is why we need to start considering books as a whole before deciding on
banning them.
Besides the overall subject matter of the book, some people also had a problem with
the fact that the boy’s parents were divorced. The very first sentence in the book says, “My
Mommy and Daddy got a divorce last year.”37 And there is also a mention of Daddy and his
roommate, Frank, sleeping together. That’s the perfect example of how our adult minds
interfere with the learning of children. The picture that goes along with the mention of them
sleeping together shows both men in bed. Frank is lying down, with his eyes closed, obviously
asleep. Daddy is still awake, turning off the bedside lamp. They are literally sleeping. One has to
be careful not to read more into it than is actually there.
35 Baldassarro,R.Wolf. "Banned Books Awareness: "Daddy's Roommate" by Michael Willhoite."Banned Books
Awareness. 2011. Accessed July 7, 2015.http://bannedbooks.world.edu/2011/02/20/banned-book-awareness-
daddys-roommate-michael-willhoite/.
36 Ibid.
37 Willhoite,Michael.1990. Daddy’s Roommate. Boston, Massachusetts:Alyson Publications.

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As with my other books, I read Daddy’s Roommate to several children. I began with five-
year-old Alice. While we did actually read this one, she did also make up some of her own
stories to go along with some of the pictures. She was enjoying turning the pages and looking at
the pictures. After the first sentence, I asked her if she knew what divorce was. She said “yes,”
but when I asked her to explain, all she said was “say goodbye.” Her mom and I got a good
chuckle out of the basically-correct answer and I continued to read. One picture depicts the
family at the beach, and when we arrived at that page, Alice’s mom asked her, “what do you do
at the beach?” She replied, “Build sand castles,” so there was obviously an opportunity for
some word association for her, which was great. When we finally reached the end of the book
where it explains that Daddy is gay, I asked Alice if she knew what that meant. She said she did,
but wasn’t able to explain. But, she didn’t have a reaction or response either way. She didn’t
ask any questions, she didn’t seemconfused, and she certainly didn’t suddenly express her
desire to also be gay. Her mother explained to me that she has a cousin who is a lesbian, so the
information isn’t new or surprising to her.38
When I read it to Walter and Leigh, their reactions were yet again different from Alice’s.
I asked Walter what divorce was and he said, “They’re not married anymore. That’s what
happened to Mom-Mom,” so they were already familiar with the term. At the beach scene,
Walter said, “I think he’s in his underwear,” which was interesting, because that picture was
never mentioned in any of the challenge situations. I explained to him that it was just a bathing
suit, albeit a very small one. I didn’t even have to ask him if he knew what gay meant. He
38 Strain,Alice. Interview by author. July 17, 2015.

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immediately said, “That means his dad likes another guy.” I explained that it also means a girl
can like another girl. I was able to finish the book without incident, but unfortunately, Walter
had a lot to say about it afterwards. He found the idea of two boys liking each other to be
hilarious and proceeded to tell me a story from camp about a boy showing another boy his
underwear. He somehow related that scene to this book, which was interesting. His mom and I
took this as an opportunity to talk to him about it. I asked him what was wrong with the boy at
camp being gay (assuming that he is), and he timidly said, “I don’t know…” From there, both
kids began making gagging noises, which his mother told me they do after any mention of
romance, including when their own parents kiss. So, although Walter thought the subject
matter was funny, he wasn’t able to tell me why.39
The ever excitable Jazz didn’t even know what divorce was. Upon trying to explain it to
him, he repeatedly told me that his parents were married and lived in the same house. It was
clearly not a subject that he understood, but he didn’t really need to, because, like he said, his
parents were still married. He also didn’t know what gay meant. When I told him it meant that
Daddy and Frank loved each other just like his mommy and daddy loved each other, he simply
said, “oh!” And when I asked if that was okay, he replied with “yeah.” Once again, Jazz was
unfazed by the controversial material I was putting in front of him. He was curious, and excited,
but not deeply effected in any way.40
These reactions show several things. Once again, their reactions were all different. Alice
and Jazz were able to enjoy the story for what it was, but Alice was perhaps a bit more

Hufford 22
understanding because of her cousin. For her, the subject matter was important, because she’s
already familiar with it, and it’s important for her to accept members of her own family. For
Jazz, he seemed to learn something new from it. While he didn’t quite get the concept of
divorce, the homosexual relationship was something he was also unfamiliar with. In both
instances, he was shown a world different than his own. That being said, none of that seemed
to affect the way he read or understood the story. He wasn’t confused by any of it.
For Walter and Leigh, the message was perhaps a little more important. Walter found
the homosexual subject matter to be funny, and since he knew a boy at camp who he assumed
was also gay, it was important for him to understand that lifestyle and be accepting of it.
Perhaps this was the first time he’d read a story with a homosexual character, which is why that
boy’s behavior at camp seemed odd to him. One could argue that the more he is exposed to it,
the less strange it will seem. And whether the censors see that as a good thing or a bad thing, it
is still important to be kind to other people, which is what acceptance teaches all of us. In terms
of the divorce aspect, Walter was already familiar with it, because of his grandmother. So, for
some people, while that might not be appropriate or acceptable, Walter shows that kids his age
are still exposed to it. Keeping one’s own child from that information is fine, but removing it
from shelves for all children does a disservice to those who need to see it to understand it.
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
The most recently published book on my list is And Tango Makes Three by Justin
Richardson and Peter Parnell. It was published in 2005, and immediately rose to the top of
banned books’ lists. In the afterword to the 10th anniversary edition (published in 2015), the
authors had this to say:

Hufford 23
“…Becoming the most banned book in the country was memorable, but not
more so than meeting the irrepressible Judith Krug, the late leader of the American
Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, who for years fiercely defended the
freedom to read. So many generous people stood up for our book over these years,
from small-town librarians and kindergarten teachers, to stringers on local newspapers,
school board members, activists, and authors. We are indebted to them all.”41
Some of the reasons for the challenges against Tango are homosexuality, religious viewpoint,
and unsuitable for age group (which is, according to the book’s own jacket cover, 4-8). Of the
challenge, Justin Richardson said:
“People only challenge a book when they fear it has the power to influence thought and
create change. The fact that our little book has been seen as transformative by so many for so
long makes us very proud.”42
As with the other picture books, I got a child’s opinion on the matter. Since the book was added
to the study late, Jazz’s response was the only one I was able to obtain. And Tango Makes Three
is a true story about two male penguins from the Central Park Zoo who raise a baby together.
Obviously unable to have a baby themselves, the zookeeper gives them one that was neglected
by its real parents and they instinctively know what to do. It’s a beautiful story about love and
adoption, and it’s made so much more memorable because it’s true. Jazz immediately looked at
the picture on the front cover and asked me who Tango was. I pointed to the baby and told him
that was Tango, and then he asked who the other two penguins were. I told him they were
Tango’s parents and that’s who we were going to read about. Once we established that,
though, he wanted to know which one was Tango’s mommy. I simply told him we were going to
41Richardson,Justin and Peter Parnell.2015. And Tango Makes Three. New York, New Nork: Simon & Schuster
Books for Young Readers.
42 Staff, SLJ. "'And Tango Makes Three' Tops Most Challenged List, Again." SLJ. April 1,2011. Accessed August 13,
2015.slj.com/2011/04/collection-development/and-tango-makes-three-tops-most-challenged-list-again/.

Hufford 24
find out in the book. I was most impressed by Jazz’s ability to point out the red pandas in the
picture on the second page. He excitedly exclaimed, “I love red pandas!” and then told me how
they were his dad’s favorite. This set him off on explaining what his favorite animals were at
two different zoos (“The Philly-delphia Zoo” and “The Little Zoo”), and then telling me about a
book he has called Elmo’s A to Zoo. He was obviously more interested in the animals than the
story at this point. Once the two boy penguins, Roy and Silo, began building their nest, Jazz
became invested in the story. He clearly couldn’t wait for Tango to make an appearance. When
the book ended, I asked him if he found out who Tango’s mommy was. He nodded yes, but
seemed confused. When I finally said, “Tango didn’t have a mommy, though, right?” he said,
“yeah!” I prompted him further by saying, “she had two daddies, right?” He said, “yeah, that
one and that one” as he pointed to their pictures on the cover, and then asked me their names.
That was the end of the discussion. While he did initially seemconfused about the parent
situation, he didn’t ask any questions afterwards and didn’t seemto find it unusual. He simply
enjoyed the story.43
Unfortunately, this is another book that was moved to the parenting section, instead of
remaining in the children’s section. That is, in fact, where I found it in the bookstore where I
work. In 2008, the book was challenged in a Maryland library by a parent who thought the book
presented ideas to children who were too young to understand them44. But, at that age, the
parents are the ones buying books for their children. And if the children can’t understand the
subject matter, then their parents won’t buy or borrow the book and no harm can be done. As
44 "Banned Books Awareness: "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson."Banned Books Awareness. February
13, 2011.Accessed August 13, 2015.

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Jazz showed us, it’s the story they care about. Even when prompted, he didn’t seem concerned
about the details. He wanted to know about Tango, and he enjoyed the story for what it was –
two animals raising a baby. Additionally, the pictures gave him a great opportunity to look at
and practice recognizing animals from the zoo. Sheltering kids from this story is sheltering them
from reality. Regardless of ones beliefs about homosexual people, the story of Roy and Silo
proves that it’s a natural phenomenon, and occurs through more than one species. It further
bridges that gap to truth and acceptance.
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Even though The Story of Little Black Sambo was published in 1899, the earliest of the
books I researched, I’m including it because it continues to be on the challenged lists. The ALA
has it listed on its “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999” list at number 9045.
Even though it’s far down on the list, it’s telling that it was still appearing on the list that
recently. The inside flap copy on the version I have reads:
“The jolly and exciting tale of the little boy who lost his red coat and his blue
trousers and his purple shoes but who was saved from the tigers to eat 169 pancakes for
his supper, has been universally loved by generations of children. First written in 1899,
the story has become a childhood classic and the authorized American edition with the
original drawings by the author has sold hundreds of thousands of copies.”46
One of the early censorship cases with Little Black Sambo was in the 1950s by the father of a
six-year-old boy. Citing that the book portrayed African Americans “as a people with little
dignity or culture,” the boy’s father believed that “continued acceptance of Sambo in the school
45 “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999.”Ala.org. Accessed August 13,2015.
46 Bannerman, Helen. 1899. The Story of Little Black Sambo. New York, New York: HarperCollinsPublishers.

Hufford 26
environment would encourage further discriminatory attitudes among pupils”47. The reason for
these views is because of pictures like this:
48
You will notice that Sambo’s mother looks very ape-like, with a protruding mouth and nose. She
is dressed in stereotypical African clothing with a head-wrap. On the right, the features on
Sambo’s father’s face can barely be seen, because he is portrayed in such a dark shade of
brown. He is, in fact, nearly black. Sambo’s father is also dressed in bright African colors.
I read this story to Walter and Leigh. The first comment Walter made was that he
thought Sambo was a girl, because he was wearing a skirt. His next comment mentioned Sambo
being in his underwear after he had forfeited his trousers to the second tiger, and that the tiger
wearing Sambo’s shoes on his ears looked like a goblin. When the story was over, all Walter
commented on was the fact that Sambo ate 169 pancakes. I asked him if he had any friends
that looked like Sambo and he said, “No. He’s creepy.” When asked what was creepy about
47 Plummer, Kevin. "Historicist:BanningLittleBlack Sambo." Torontoist.com. January 25, 2014.Accessed July 6,
2015.http://torontoist.com/2014/01/historicist-banning-little-black-sambo/.
48 Bannerman, Helen. 1899. The Story of Little Black Sambo. New York, New York: HarperCollinsPublishers.

Hufford 27
him, Walter said, “his lips,” and then followed it up with, “his whole face! Even his hair!” At this
point, his mom prompted him about the color of Sambo’s skin, asking if he had any friends with
skin that color. Walter and Leigh both said they had friends with that skin color, but none that
“looked like that.” I then showed them a picture of Sambo’s mother, Mambo, and asked if they
had any friends that looked like her. Leigh giggled and said “no.” When I asked what she looked
like, Leigh simply said, “a grandmother.” It was obvious by their reactions that they were not
really associating the people in the pictures with anyone they knew in real life. They recognized
the skin color, but only after prompting, and pointed out that they didn’t know anyone that
looked like that.49
During further research, I discovered an article titled “I Learned About Racial
Stereotypes in a Banned Children’s Book”. The author of the article discusses a time in her
childhood when her mother picked up the book at a yard sale, thinking it would be worth
money someday, since it was increasingly difficult to find. After reading the book, the author
asked her mother what was wrong with the story, and her mother explained that it wasn’t the
story, but the pictures that people were offended by, saying “many people think this story
makes fun of Negro people.” As a child with no knowledge of the civil rights struggles
throughout the country, the author replied, “I don’t think it makes fun of them. Sambo was a
really smart boy. Look how he made those tigers chase each other and turn into butter.” It was
at that point that the author’s mom tried to explain racial stereotypes to her, including the fact
that the word sambo was the nineteenth-century equivalent to today’s n-word. What’s
important here and supports this thesis, is that the author points out that “reading Little Black

Hufford 28
Sambo didn’t teach me anything about racial stereotypes. The discussion with my mother after
we read it did.”50 Much like Walter and Leigh, as a child, the author didn’t see anything wrong
with Little Black Sambo. Maybe there’s something wrong with the fact that kids don’t see
anything offensive about the pictures, but I looked at it as a positive sign. They weren’t relating
the characters in this book to anyone from real life, because to them that’s not what African
Americans look like. The connection was not even there for them, which means that’s not how
they view them, and demonstrates that children today don’t see the stereotypes that people
were concerned about in the 1960s.
I don’t believe an analysis of this book would be complete without an African American
perspective. I spoke to 36-year-old expectant father, Cecil, to get his views on the racial
stereotyping in the book and how he would feel about showing this book to his future child.
Cecil admitted that he hadn’t been aware of this book’s existence until he was twelve or
thirteen years old when he was assigned to write a book report on it for a Black History Month
project. After re-reading it for this project, he stated that he was “slightly offended, but not as
offended as he was the first time he read it”. He said the “drawings of racial stereotypes from
minstrel shows” were offensive, but he didn’t think that kids today would make the connection.
When I asked him why he was less offended now than he was the first time he read it, he said
that it wasn’t that he was less offended, it was that he was “more understanding that it was the
norm to talk about, draw, and stereotype black people like that. I’ve grown to deal with racism
as something to not get personally upset about.” He agreed that it’s a good story, though, and
50 Bass,Carolyn."I Learned About Racial Sterotypes in a Banned Children's Book." Huffingtonpost.com. November
24, 2013.Accessed July 6, 2015.

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without the negative depiction of African Americans, there’s nothing wrong with it; however,
he does believe that sambo should be removed from the title, since it’s a racist term. Even
though it’s not used in everyday speech anymore, and he’s never personally been called that,
he said that “black people and really racist people are aware [of what it means]”. I was
intrigued by his comments that the title and the pictures should be changed, but the story
could remain the same, because that’s the very definition of censorship. When I asked him to
elaborate, he said, “I don’t think it should be mass published, but to erase it because it’s
offensive is doing a disservice to the discussion on why it’s offensive, and why it should be kept
as history. Most black history has been erased, good or bad. To ban it would mean it didn’t
happen.” Despite its racial undertones, Cecil said that he would let his future child read it,
because he “expect[s] to educate my kid in the ways of the world and how the world will look
at [him or her],” and that from a historical standpoint, there is significant educational value in
it51. Cecil’s opinion was an important one, because it showed the opinion of the effected
demographic. Since it would not have been possible to speak to someone who was affected
directly by the original publication, getting a more recent opinion also matters, because it
shows how it’s still affecting people and what we can learn from keeping it in circulation.
From these various interviews and opinions it became obvious that what a child can
handle from reading any of these books is up to each child. While some of the kids were
disturbed by the content, most were not. While some of the children reacted to the content,
many of them did not. The younger children didn’t have much of a reaction to the controversial
51 Rudd, Cecil.Onlineinterviewby author. August 6, 2015.

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sections of their picture books, and even though some of them were too young to understand
the subject matter, they were still interested in the story. The fact that Walter’s grandmother
was divorced, and Alice had a gay cousin proves that these children are already familiar with
these banned subjects, and that it’s important for them to understand them. It also confirms
that their parents were more open to books considered banned in the interest of not protecting
their children from difficult and controversial issues.
CHALLENGED TEEN CHAPTER BOOKS
Books for older children tend to make the challenged lists more frequently, presumably
because teens have more access to the books than younger children, and parents tend to
monitor teen’s reading more, especially in this age of “helicopter parenting”52. The reasons for
these challenges, although roughly the same as for picture books, are a little more intricate. As
witnessed by the interviews with the younger children, it’s difficult to find much fault with a
picture book. Parents may find offense, but the kids don’t necessarily understand what they’re
looking at while, for the most part, teens do understand. So, now I’m going to examine
challenged chapter books marketed towards teens, including The Chocolate War by Robert
Cormier, Forever… by Judy Blume, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The
Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler, The Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, and Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George.
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
52 Helicopter parentingis a term firstcoined in 1969 by Dr. HaimGinott, which refers to “a style of parents who are
over focused on their children.”

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Written for young adults (ages 12-17, according to Barnes & Noble53), Robert Cormier’s
The Chocolate War was published in 1974 and has been consistently challenged ever since.
Some of the reasons for this include blasphemy, profanity, graphic sexual passages, sexual
innuendo, disrespect for women, and masturbation, with one censor even saying, “I don’t have
to dig down into a trash can to know it’s garbage54.” But, how can a book that was previously
called “an example of the best of modern realism for young adults” by Literature for Today’s
Young Adults55 upset so many people? They have given many reasons, but I’ll focus on sex and
masturbation.
Maybe it was this passage that upset some individuals:
“The exhilaration of the moment vanished and he sought it in vain, like seeking
ecstasy’s memory an instant after jacking off and encountering only shame and guilt56.”
Masturbation is mentioned, but it is also stated that you experience shame and guilt
afterwards, which doesn’t paint it in a very positive light. There’s also this passage, which may
have struck a chord with some people:
“Like how he sometimes felt actually horny when he roughhoused a kid or
tackled a guy viciously in football and gave him an extra jab when he had him on the
ground57.”
53 "The ChocolateWar." Barnes & Noble. 2015.Accessed September 1, 2015.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chocolate-war-robert-cormier/1002054101?ean=9780375829871
54 Foerstel, Herbert N. "The Most Frequently Banned or Challenged Books, 1996-2000."In Banned in the U.S.A.: A
Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries, 203. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press,
2002.
55 Ibid.
56 Cormier, Robert. The Chocolate War. New York, New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf, 1974. 5.
57 Ibid,page 51.

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In addition to these, there are a few other references to jacking off, although we never actually
read about the act taking place in the book. It is only mentioned, usually as a frame of
reference, or in dialogue by the boys. Taken out of context, it’s easy to see why these passages
would be upsetting; however, these few instances of masturbation should not take away from
the many wonderful messages in this book, such as how to deal with a parent’s death,
struggling with your true self and the person people think you are, the ability of sports to build
confidence, dealing with depression and anxiety, love, responsibility, failing a test, etc.
I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to speak with any teens who read this
book, but I was quite intrigued by the variety of reviews on “Goodreads”58. One review in
particular, by a reader named Ashley received one star, and more than sixty comments from
other readers. Ashley expressed the same concerns as many of the censors, stating:
“…this book portrays women as nothing but sex-objects (only briefly bringing
women or girls into the picture for this purpose), and depicts self-pleasure as normal for
teen-age boys, as if they couldn't possibly resist sexual urges. I would say that at least a
contrast between those that have self-control and those that don't would have made it
more realistic to me. If I had read this as a teenage girl, I probably would have felt very
degraded and offended (I felt some of that as an adult female reading it actually).”59
Her points are valid. There really aren’t that many females in the book. And, as shown from the
examples above, masturbation is mentioned in the book (more than once). What I found most
interesting, though, were the rebuttals, and the ensuing debate that followed Ashley’s original
post. One reviewer, using the name Imsocool123, argued against Ashley’s point by saying:
“This is ridiculous. Trinity is an all-boys Catholic school. What did you
expect?...Self-pleasure *is* normal for teenage boys. If you don't believe me, google it.
58 Goodreads is a website, launched in 2007,to providereaders with recommendations and reviews. Along with
accessingthesereviews, readers can write their own, and create “shelves” for books they’re read, want to read, or
are currently reading.
59 "Goodreads: The ChocolateWar." Goodreads.November 13,2008. Accessed October 15, 2015.

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Any study you may find will tell you that the overwhelming majority of boys that age
engage in masturbation. It has no negative effects on you, physically or mentally60.”
Ashley defended her arguments, stating her religious views and own life experience in an effort
to prove Imsocool123 and others who disagreed with her wrong:
“What a shame that society is trying to 'prove' that it is normal for teenage boys
to masturbate, but I disagree with the idea that it is normal because I come from a
religious culture where we strongly believe against any sexual perversion. I know of
plenty of men and young men that do not participate in that practice, and plenty of
people who have waited until marriage to have sex61.”
As things tend to do on the internet, the arguments got ugly, with people attacking her religious
beliefs and belittling her for her opinions. After all, her only crime was writing a review for a
book she didn’t like, and explaining her reasons why she didn’t like the book, which is exactly
what every other book reviewer on Goodreads does. I suppose for some, this could be viewed
as a form of censorship, since this reviewer was focusing on the negative aspects of the book,
but Goodreads provides reviews from all sides and opinions. For every bad review, there is a
good review, which talks about the positive messages in the book, or how it affected the
reviewer personally.
On the flipside, someone named jzhunagev gave the book a five-star review (the highest
allowed rating). Unlike Ashley, this reviewer was deeply touched by the book in a very profound
way. The written review is several paragraphs long, and discusses deep plot points and
characters. Discussing how they could not get the book out of their mind, this particular
reviewer had this to say:
60 "Goodreads: The ChocolateWar." Goodreads.November 9, 2009.Accessed October 15, 2015.
61 Ibid.

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“Most of all I think of Jerry. How he profoundly affected me, how his story has
become a part of me; the one who taught me that to resist is to assist; the one who
dared me to disturb my universe. And right now I’m still uncertain how will I do so, for
the fear of the consequences of my action haunts me. What will I gain if I do defy the
status quo?
Only when we make a choice and stood firm on our conviction do we gain hold
of our humanity in spite of inexorable defeat. But if humans have the courage to stand
together with the aid of self-transcending strength and love perhaps good can win.”62
It’s clear from jzhunagev’s review that The Chocolate War deeply affected the way he or she
thinks about life. They were able to see through the controversial material, such as
masturbation and sex, and get to the deeper meaning of the book. In fact, none of the
controversy is mentioned in this particular review at all, which brings us back to what my teen,
Maya, said – it depends on the person. Ashley, who mentions her religious upbringing, was
offended by many of the themes in the book, but many other reviewers, such as imsocool123
and jzhunagev were not. The difference between a book review and full-on censorship is that a
book review merely states the opinion of one person. Ashley stated her opinion, but did not say
that it should be banned or tell other people not to read it. She gave her opinion and backed it
up with examples from the book, which for me, is fine. Not everyone is going to enjoy every
book. Some people are going to be offended by certain things, and that’s okay. As long as we all
respect everyone else’s right to read and write what they want.
Forever…by Judy Blume
Judy Blume’s books make the banned books lists quite frequently. She’s not afraid to go
where other authors won’t. She’s not afraid to touch on those difficult subjects, like
menstruation (as in her book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret), puberty (as in her book,
62 "Goodreads: The ChocolateWar." Goodreads.July 15, 2010.Accessed October 15, 2015.

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It’s Not the End of the World), and sex (like Forever…). Forever…, published in 1975, is the story
of two teenagers who are exploring their sexual relationship, so the controversy surrounding it
did not surprise me. From someone who is very liberal, especially in terms of literature, I was
honestly astonished by the content of this book, but like the other books on this list, it’s an
important one, as it is difficult to defend. Blume herself has said that the book was written after
a request from her daughter, saying: “She was reading all these books, where a girl succumbed
[to sex], she would be punished, sometimes she would die. And Randy said, ‘Couldn’t there
ever be a book where two nice kids do it and nobody has to die?’ And I thought, ‘Yes, I need to
write this.’”63 When it comes to sex, this book covers all of it. Both Katherine and Michael are in
high school, and their relationship becomes very serious, very quickly. And it’s not so much the
fact that they have sex that’s shocking, it’s the detail in which it’s described that’s shocking:
“We got into his bed and fell asleep for an hour and when we woke up [he] was
hard again. This time Michael made it last much, much longer and I got so carried away I
grabbed his backside with both hands, trying to push him deeper and deeper into me –
and I spread my legs as far apart as I could – and I raised my hips off the bed – and I
moved with him, again and again and again – and at last, I came. I came right before
Michael and as I did I made noises, just like my mother. Michael did too.”64
This passage made me uncomfortable. To me, it’s almost borderline pornographic, and that
makes me feel no better than the censors. Also, I can’t picture myself reading this in high
school. My parents didn’t censor what I read, but I wasn’t allowed to watch movies with that
kind of content. I think, as a teenager, this passage would have made me uncomfortable, and
might have turned me off from sex. But, I know that everyone’s high school experience was
63Flood, Alison.2014. theguardian.com. July 11. Accessed November 7, 2015.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/11/judy-blume-interview-forever-writer-children-young-adults.
64 Blume, Judy. Forever... Scarsdale,New York: Bradbury Press,1975.135.

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different, and there are obviously teens who would not have been surprised by the content,
such as Blume’s own daughter. And it’s not so much the fact that the sex is described in detail
that’s shocking to me, it’s the mention of them both coming that shocked me. That seems a
little too-much-information for teenagers, and didn’t seemnecessary for me, but as Blume
herself states, “The 70s was a much more open decade in America. Forever was used in several
school programs then, helping to spur discussions of sexual responsibility. This would never
happen today. How are young people supposed to make thoughtful decisions if they don’t have
information and no one is willing to talk to them?”65 Despite all of this, this book has many
great lessons in it, so that by removing this book from library shelves, teens are not able to
learn these lessons and grow responsibly. Katherine will not have sex with Michael until she has
birth control. She goes to Planned Parenthood by herself to talk to a doctor and get an exam,
and chooses the birth control that’s right for her. Frequently throughout the book, her parents
and her grandparents have open conversations with her about sex, including providing her with
reading materials, which she actually reads. Having sex is not a choice that Katherine makes
lightly, and I think that is the over-all message here. Yes, sex is enjoyable. Yes, everyone does it.
But, it also comes with consequences and should be something that you are mature enough to
decide on.
Another lesson is the consequences of unprotected sex. Katherine’s friend, Sybil gets
pregnant in the book, and chooses to go through with the pregnancy and give the child up for
65 n.d. yalcensorship.wordpress.com. Accessed November 7, 2015.
https://yalcensorship.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/forever-judy-blume/.

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adoption. She talks about wanting to experience child birth, and it’s noted that it’s a difficult
decision for her:
“’…the baby leaves on Friday with her adoptive parents…I hope she has a good
life…,” Sybil reached for a tissue and blew her nose. I hoped she wouldn’t cry. I already
had a lump in my throat.
‘I figured two people who really want a kid will take good care of her…don’t you
think?’
‘Sure,’ Erica said, ‘it’s the best way.’
‘It’s not like I could keep her…that wouldn’t be fair…’
‘You’re doing the right thing,’ I told her, wondering why she hadn’t thought
about all that before…
‘I could have had an abortion, but I wanted the experience of giving birth.’
‘Could have…should have…’ Erica said, ‘it doesn’t matter now…what’s done is
done.’
‘I’ve asked to see the baby one more time,’ Sybil told us, brightening. ‘The doctor
said I can give her a bottle tonight…I hope they name her Jennifer…’.”66
It’s obvious that Sybil is struggling with her decision, even though she knows it’s the right one
to make. It is mentioned later in the book that Sybil doesn’t like to talk about it, further showing
how hard it was for her to give up her baby. It paints adoption in a realistic light and shows
teens that it’s not an easy fix.
My teens, Kevin and Maya admitted to not having read this book, but we did try to
discuss the censorship issues that arose from it at its time of publication. I gave them a brief
summary of the book and explained to them that it was banned because of the sexual scenes in
the book. When I asked them if they thought banning a book like this would do more harm than
good, their answers were simple and intelligent. I asked them, “if you read this, would you think
sex is cool?” Kevin said simply, “I would think it’s a book,” meaning he wouldn’t put much
thought into the content at all. He continued by saying, “there’s no guarantee that a kid’s even
66 Blume, Judy. Forever... Scarsdale,New York: Bradbury Press,1975.162

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going to pick it up, so I don’t even really see the point of banning it.” Maya pointed out that, in
her opinion, “I think if someone picked it up in the library and someone read that, they’d
probably just be like ‘never mind.’” Maya did admit that the sex scenes in one of her favorite
books, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, were a bit “awkward,” but followed it up by saying
that she read it when she was only ten years old, and “I think if I read that in a few years, I
would be okay with it.”67
Interestingly enough, The Fault in Our Stars has also made its way onto the Banned
Books List. In 2014, it was removed from a California school district’s middle school because of
its theme of mortality, sexual content, and vulgar language. Published more than thirty years
after Forever… in 2012, The Fault in Our Stars is about a relationship between two cancer-
stricken teenagers who fight their way through sickness, life, love, and eventually death. But,
the sex scene in which Maya was referring is presented as such:
“We crawled into the bed, my freedom circumscribed some by the
oxygen, but even so I could get on top of him and take his shirt off and taste the
sweat on the skin below his collarbone as I whispered into his skin, ‘I love you,
Augustus Waters,’ his body relaxing beneath mine as he heard me say it. He
reached down and tried to pull my shirt off, but it got tangled in the tube. I
laughed.
‘How do you do this every day?’ he asked as I disentangled my shirt from
the tubes. Idiotically, it occurred to me that my pink underwear didn’t match my
purple bra, as if boys even notice such things. I crawled under the covers and
kicked out of my jeans and socks and then watched the comforter dance as
beneath it, Augustus removed first his jeans and then his leg.
We were lying on our backs next to each other, everything hidden by the
covers, and after a second I reached over for his thigh and let my hand trail
downward to the stump, the thick scarred skin. I held the stump for a second. He
flinched. ‘It hurts?’ I asked.
‘No,’ he said.
He flipped himself onto his side and kissed me. ‘You’re so hot,’ I said, my
hand still on his leg.

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‘I’m starting to think you have an amputee fetish,’ he answered, still
kissing me. I laughed.
‘I have an Augustus Waters fetish,’ I explained.
The whole affair was the precise opposite of what I figured it would be:
slow and patient and quiet and neither particularly painful nor particularly
ecstatic. There were a lot of condomy problems that I did not get a particularly
good look at. No headboards were broken. No screaming. Honestly, it was
probably the longest time we’d ever spent together without talking.”68
There is a very large difference between how the scenes are presented. Judy Blume
shows the reader exactly what’s happening, in graphic detail. John Green only shows the
implication of what happened, and adds a touch of humor while doing it. It’s clear that sex has
happened in both instances, but we only see the full graphic nature of it in Blume’s writing. We
are seeing that books are being banned and challenged for the same reasons they were more
than thirty years ago, but the content is different, which leads me to believe that the censors
are winning. Or, perhaps Green simply didn’t see the need to go into much more detail. The
point of the scene in Green’s book was to show both of their insecurities and how they felt
comfortable enough to shed those insecurities around each other.
Maya knew she was too young for that book, but she loved it anyway. She was able to
read past the parts that made her uncomfortable and get what she wanted out of the story.
Perhaps that is more difficult with Forever…. I believe it can teach teenagers important lessons
about keeping themselves safe, and the emotional implications of sex and serious relationships,
but the scenes were graphic enough that it was difficult to look past those to any deeper
meaning. Along with Maya, I think I would have simply put the book down if I was reading it as
a teen, and the only reason I was uncomfortable with it now was because I was reading about
68 Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. New York, New York: Penguin Group, 2012.206-208.

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teens having sex, which made me feel creepy. But, for kids of the right age and right maturity, I
think there can be valuable lessons gained.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower was published in 1999 and is full of
high school drama. It centers on 15-year-old Charlie, who is a bit of an emotional wreck.
Written in a diary format, we discover who Charlie is through his confessions and discoveries to
his anonymous pen pal. While the overall theme of the book is not homosexuality, there is an
important relationship between two of Charlie’s friends that gets a lot of attention. The most
popular banning of this book to date was in the Wallingford school district in Connecticut just
this year. After being removed from the freshman English curriculum, a months-long legal
battle ensued. The ban came after a complaint from just one parent, and other parents rallied
to defend the credibility of the book. A parent in support of Perks stated:
“When I found out the book came off the list, I thought ‘Oh my gosh, what’s
going on?’ I was more concerned that it was one parent and one complaint…I feel like
the opt-out option for me and my daughter was determined by an individual other than
ourselves. Another individual shouldn’t determine my opt out.”
She continued by saying:
“Appropriateness is not determined by another individual when it comes to my
child. I and my husband decide what is appropriate or not…I saw my child’s reading list
and didn’t realize there was an option to opt out of reading any of the books. I think that
is great if you truly feel that your child should not read a certain book. To assume that
others feel the same way and then to go about asking that a book be removed because
of the subject material is supercilious and arrogant.”69
69 Vo, Eric."PressureMounting to Reinstate 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' to the Curriculum."
Myrecordjournal.com.March 20,2015. Accessed July 27, 2015.

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As the First Amendment states, it’s not up to someone else to decide what is appropriate for
someone else’s child to read. Even government officials aren’t legally allowed to interfere with
what gets published and put into someone’s hands, so why should one parent be allowed to
decide that for everyone else? No one knows a child better than their parent, and those
parents alone should make the choice. The one voice no one is listening to, though, is the
teenager’s voice: the voice of the person who is reading the book. In a letter to the Wallingford
Board of Education, one teen writes:
“There’s no arguing that there are controversial moments in the novel…As a
teenager, these issues are not new. As a parent, whether you’d like to admit it or not,
your daughter or son has heard of date rape. They know people who are sexually active
and drink and use drugs, and any high school student in the country is surrounded by
issues brought up in this book…The negative impact of removing this book is obvious. To
begin with, it’s a novel that teens can relate to easily, it’s a novel that teens want to
read…While some parents don’t see the use for the book for their children, it’s not a
blanket application. Many students do not have the complete support that young
students should have. Most importantly, Perks serves as an unparalleled aid for students
dealing with depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts…This is not simply a
glorification of everything taboo. It’s a relatable piece of literature for high schoolers.”70
As adults, we often forget what it was like to be a teenager. We forget that their feelings are
real. We forget how difficult it is with puberty, and school, and trying to fit in, and working, and
making friends, etc. High school is not easy for anyone, regardless of how easy some make it
look. We forget that teens have their own voices, and their own issues, and their own thoughts.
It is incredibly important to let them make their own choices too. And that includes what they
read. Trying to shield teens from controversial issues could ensure that they will enter into the
world unprepared. Just as shielding them from sex may lead them to making unhealthy
decisions, shielding them from LGBT issues may instill in them a need to hide who they are. The
70 Reed, Connor. "Consider ReinstatingPerks of Being a Wallflower."Change.org. 2015.Accessed July 27, 2015.

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Perks of Being a Wallflower paints a great picture of what it’s like for gay teens to feel ashamed
of who they are. Charlie’s friends Brad and Patrick are in a relationship, but no one’s supposed
to know, except for those who are closest to them:
“Patrick told me the story about him and Brad, and now I understand why
Patrick didn’t get angry at Brad at the homecoming dance for dancing with a girl. When
they were both juniors, Patrick and Brad were at a party together with the rest of the
popular kids. Patrick actually used to be popular before Sam bought him some good
music.
Patrick and Brad both got pretty drunk at this party. Actually, Patrick said that
Brad was pretending to be a lot drunker than he really was. They were sitting in the
basement with some girl named Heather, and when she left to go to the bathroom, Brad
and Patrick were left alone. Patrick said it was uncomfortable and exciting for both of
them.
‘You’re in Mr. Brosnahan’s class, right?’
‘Have you ever gone to a Pink Floyd Laser Light Show?’
‘Beer before liquor. Never sicker.’
When they ran out of small talk, they just looked at each other. And they ended
up fooling around right there in the basement. Patrick said it was like the weight of the
whole world left both their shoulders.
But Monday in school, Brad kept saying the same thing.
‘Man, I was so wasted. I don’t remember a thing.’
He said it to everyone who was at the party. He said it a few times to the same
people. He even said it to Patrick. Nobody saw Patrick and Brad fool around, but Brad
kept saying it anyway. That Friday, there was another party. And this time, Patrick and
Brad got stoned although Patrick said that Brad was pretending to be a lot more stoned
than he really was. And they ended up fooling around again. And Monday in school,
Brad did the same thing.
‘Man, I was so wasted. I don’t remember a thing.’
This went on for seven months.
It got to a point where Brad was getting stoned and drunk before school. It’s not
like he and Patrick were fooling around in school. They only fooled around at parties on
Fridays, but Patrick said Brad couldn’t even look at him in the hall, let alone speak with
him. And it was hard, too, because Patrick really liked Brad71.”
From there, it goes on to discuss how Brad fell deeper into drugs and drinking, because it was
the only way he could have the relationship with Brad that he wanted. It’s a clear example
71 Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York, New York: Gallery Books,1999. 43-44.

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(even though it is fiction) of what gay teens go through to figure out who they are. They must
be allowed to experiment and discover themselves without feeling ashamed. The stigma must
be erased.
I didn’t get to discuss this book with Kevin and Maya either, as they hadn’t read it, but
Maya stated that her parents had not let her see the movie when it came out, since it was rated
PG-13, and she was only nine at the time. Both the teens told me that they’ve witnessed drug
problems in their schools, but as far as they know, none of their friends were into drinking or
drugs.72 So, it’s clear that they are aware of the issues, and not completely sheltered from it,
and that none of the content in this book would be shocking.
One of the most eloquent reviews on Goodreads was written by a reviewer named
Karolina. Copying the style of the book, Karolina wrote a letter to Charlie expressing how much
his words meant to her:
“Dear Charlie,
I am writing to you because I feel like you're the only one that would listen to me right
now. From all the friends that I have made you are the one that's the most
understanding. I guess what I'm trying to do is thank you for being there for me these
last couple of days. I didn't expect to learn from you as much as I have. My mom always
says that you can never really understand a person until you walk in their shoes, but I
guess getting to know you and reading your story did just that. I have to say you have
stripped me from any prejudice I might have had. And I am truly sorry if I had any. You
showed me that no matter what happens, what we experience, we always have a right
to feel the way we feel, just because. You showed me the purity of feelings, beauty of
thoughts, generosity of love and warmth of friendship. You made me appreciate books
and poetry more, and see the impact they have on people's lives. For that you will
always hold a special place in my heart. I'd like to think that you get better, I hope one
day you can be honest with people you love, be who you really are and do what you
want to do. Most importantly I hope that you will love the real Sam and not just the idea
of her and be ready for her to love you back. I hope we can see each other some day, I'll
make sure to come back and remind myself of everything that is you, tho I hope to

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never forget.
Love always
Karolina73”
Karolina’s review shows the power of words, and how they can effect someone in a positive
way. She apologizes for any inaccurate prejudices she may have had in her life, which shows a
level of growth and maturity she may not have gotten elsewhere. Keeping this book from
Karolina would have done a great disservice to her. It gave her the opportunity to walk in
someone else’s shoes and strip away her judgments of other people. The style in which her
review is written shows how books can inspire creativity. Karolina was so inspired by the book
that she took it upon herself to write a response to the narrator using the same style that was
used throughout the book, and showing how the book helped her be able to understand
another person’s feelings.
Another reviewer, going by the name of Emily May gave the book a one-star review, but
that was not because of any of the controversial material in it. She simply did not like the style,
and couldn’t relate to the main character, but she did say “One of my favourite parts of reading
is getting to see the world through the eyes of someone whose perspective I might not have
fully considered before.”74 For me, that sentence sums up the problems with censorship
perfectly. Everyone is different. People learn differently, think differently, worship differently,
eat differently, feel differently, grieve differently, etc., and by taking away books like this, that
show the world from another perspective, we are leaving teens at a disadvantage. Reading
73 "Goodreads: The Perks of Being a Wallflower."Goodreads. February 25, 2013.Accessed November 3, 2015.
74 "Goodreads: The Perks of Being a Wallflower."Goodreads. June 2, 2014.Accessed November 3, 2015.

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stories about a different way of life helps us all experience things we normally wouldn’t be able
to.
There are so many good things in this book, such as anxiety about starting high school,
first love, family, how music can influence someone, depression, dating, teen pregnancy, etc.
This book touches on so many important factors in a teen’s life that censoring it for its
references to homosexuality would only perpetuate the cycle of gay teens feeling shunned.
Censors then take away an important voice for other teens who can relate to this issue.
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
Carolyn Mackler’s The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things was published in
2003, and was in the top ten of the Most Frequently Challenged Books in 200975. Some of the
reasons for these challenges are offensive language, sexually explicit content and unsuitable for
age group. The book centers on fifteen-year-old Ginny, who suffers from serious self-esteem
issues stemming from her weight. Her mother is an adolescent psychiatrist who used to be
overweight, and her father is always complimenting skinny women. Ginny’s older sister, Anais is
a true feminist while her brother, who Ginny idolizes, finds himself in a lot of trouble when he
date rapes a girl at school. The family is devastated by his behavior, and Ginny feels sorry for his
victim. But, it’s not the main focus of the book. The main focus of the book is Ginny’s weight
problems and how they affect her relationship with her boyfriend, Froggy Welsh the Fourth.
The very first sentences in the book begin with:
“Froggy Welsh the Fourth is trying to get up my shirt.
This is the third Monday that he’s come over to my apartment after school.
75 "Banned Books #2: The Earth, My Butt and Other BigRound Things." Chrissi Reads.August25, 2014. Accessed
October 28, 2015.

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Every week we go a little further, and today, on September twenty-third at 3:17 P.M.,
he’s begun inching his fingers across my stomach and toward my bra.”76
Right off the bat, we know what we’re in for. And in 2006, it was challenged in a school district
in Maryland for passages just like that. 350 students signed a petition to keep the book in
circulation, and were victorious for their high school, but not their middle school.77 The back of
the book has the age range listed as 14 and up, so perhaps their decision was based on that.
Carolyn Mackler herself believes that book challenges and complaints are “just adults
talking down to adolescents, who flock to books like hers and their messages.” She continues
her statement by saying:
“The one thing in this whole banning fiasco is I have been so incredibly moved by
the students’ efforts and the petition. The students are asking for access to my novel.
They’re asking for the right to read as widely as possible. There’s been so much
support.”78
While there are many mentions of sex throughout the book, they all stemfrom the
same place: Ginny’s body issues. Ginny’s view of her body and constant pressure from her
parents are negatively affecting her ability to have a relationship with someone of the opposite
sex. It’s constantly on her mind every time she’s with Froggy. She does not want him to see her
naked, and it’s a great way to show that aspect of her life. She covers up her body with loose
clothing and sweatshirts, but as the book continues on, she learns to love herself. She begins
rebelling against her parents, and seeing the flaws in their parenting. She notices the double
standards between her and her brother, and fights against them. They lead to a wonderful
76 Mackler,Carolyn. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. Somerville, Massachusetts:Candlewick Press,
2003.1.
77 Baldassarro,R.Wolf. "Banned Books Awareness: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things." Banned
Books Awareness. May 29, 2011.Accessed October 31, 2015.
78 Ibid.

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mother-daughter moment towards the end of the book, where we see her mom accepting the
new Ginny and even admiring her. To only focus on the few sexual passages in this book would
take away the value within the rest of it.
One Goodreads reviewer, named Christina says:
“I LOVED this book in high school. I remember reading it repetitively because I
just adored the main character, Virginia Shreves. I remember relating to her so, so well
and supporting her over and over, always urging her on. I was her biggest fan. More
often than not, I found myself wishing for what she wished for, dreaming of what she
dreamt, and hoping and believing in her, because if everything could turn out okay for
Virginia, it could turn out for me, too.
Mostly, I remember thinking that we were so alike, and yet so different, because
whereas she overcame her insecurities, I was still waiting for my miracle. But she gave
me hope that it could - and would - happen.
This is definitely one of those books that can make you laugh and cry all at once.
It's awkward, funny, embarrassing, depressing. Just about any teenager can relate to
this at some point.
To be honest, I can't believe I forgot about this book until now. This book was
like my bible in high school. I'd recommend it to anyone who has ever felt like an
outsider. Even if it was just for a few seconds.”79
It is followed up with a comment from a reviewer named Abigail, saying:
“…I’ve read this book [seven] times and it always feels like I'mreading it for the
first! It's so amazing!! I'm not much of a reader, as a matter of fact I hate reading, but
this thing had me hooked!”80
It is comments like this that should make us all think before trying to remove a book from
circulation. If a girl who self-admittedly hates reading can find a character that she relates to,
and a book that she can’t put down, that’s a good thing.
79 "Goodreads: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things." Goodreads.July 1, 2008.Accessed October 31,
2015.
80 "Goodreads: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things." Goodreads.March 30,2012. Accessed October
31, 2015.

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On the opposite side of the argument, are comments like this one, from a reviewer
named Snorkle:
“While this book had a positive message, it was kind of hard to find underneath
all the sleaziness and profanity. I just don't see why people can't write uplifting,
inspirational books without tossing in so much filth. And what's more is that we
applaud these books and give them awards. This book is a Printz Honor and I
thought that it had the potential to be good, but it chose not to. There were
several questionable scenes and content that make it something I wouldn't
recommend.
I was disappointed that the author felt she had to put so much language
in the book. The f-word was used several times. When reading this book I didn't
love the main character, I really thought that she was messed up, and seeing her
family I didn't have to wonder why. While she did finally work things out in the
end I didn't like her methods of "finding" herself and thought that they were a
little extreme and sometimes down right irresponsible. I was very disappointed
that this book was given the Printz Honor - sure it had a nice story line, with a girl
who finally grew up. But when you had to wallow through such filth and grime to
get there, it wasn't really worth it.”81
which was quickly followed by this comment, from Stacy:
“This is the same criticismoften leveled at Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate
War," a YA classic. I always wonder if the people criticizing it actually think teens have
never heard/used four-letter words. And teens do irresponsible things all the time --
their brains are still developing! I love that YA authors are willing to be genuine and
show adolescence as it really is.”82
The negative reviews show how easy it is to pick out the negative aspects of a book. And every
book is definitely not intended for every person. Some authors write with a certain audience in
mind, and that was perhaps Carolyn Mackler’s mindset when she wrote this book. It’s okay for
people to be offended by something they read, but after skimming through comments on
websites such as Goodreads, it’s difficult to justify keeping them out of the hands of every child
81 "Goodreads: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things." Goodreads.November 25, 2008.Accessed
October 31, 2015.
82 "Goodreads: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things." Goodreads.January 22, 2014.Accessed October
31, 2015.

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or teen. There is too much good to be drawn from books like these that touch on sensitive
subjects. Reviewer Imani shows that with wonderful enthusiasm in her review:
“I just loved it so much and I finished it in one day. This book was so authentic,
genuine. There was actual substance to it. The character, Virginia Shreves, grew leaps
and bounds and it was believable. It was perfect in how it portrayed the very
imperfectness of life. The struggles teens, families, and people face.
…I wasn't prepared for the emotional roller coaster of emotions that I went
through. Elated, sympathetic, disappointed, angry, hopeful. The impact it left on me was
so strong.
…Virginia was a breath of fresh air. She knew what was right and wrong with her
family. Instead of pretending like it never happened, she tries to cope. By coping, she
realizes the truth about herself and she grows so much.
It has those kooky teachers we all had in high school (whether it's the biased and
vindictive French teacher, the old geometry teacher who can barely teach, but knows
how to embarrass you with a song, or whatever.) This book's got heart. Lots of it.
It made me reflect on my own high school experience. I wasn't really fat or
anything, but boy was I self-conscious. I wanted to be railing thin. So many girls at my
school were like poles, and I was so embarrassed trying to get through the freaking
claustrophobic desk aisles. I was nervous my butt and hips would knock over papers or
move a desk…Point is, I could really feel for Virginia.”83
By drawing from her own experience, Imani points out that this book relates to teens with self-
esteem issues, not just weight issues. Reading this book as an adult, I could also relate to Ginny
on a certain level. I was fortunate enough to be relatively thin my whole life, but that doesn’t
mean I didn’t feel pressure in other areas. The relationship Ginny had with her parents reminded
me so much of the relationship I had with my own. Those subtle comments that seemingly don’t
mean much, but that are taken to heart by the person they’re directed at, such as: “You’ve got a
great face, Ginny. Think how much prettier you could be if you lost twenty or thirty pounds,”
spoken by Ginny’s father.84 It reminded me of all the times I was told how much prettier I would
2015.
84 Mackler,Carolyn. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. Somerville, Massachusetts:Candlewick Press,
2003.65.

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be if I would only wear makeup. It wasn’t the same image issue that Ginny had, but it was still an
issue with my own self-image, and how a seemingly helpful comment can be incredibly painful.
In that sense, Ginny is relatable and
important.
A quick scroll down the list of
reviews show that they are mostly
positive, or at least fall somewhere in the
middle, in terms of their star rating.85
These reviews are important, because
they show the voices of those who are
being affected positively by the book and
would be affected negatively if the book
was removed from the library or book
store shelf.
One book review blog, titled “Chrissi
Reads,” focused on banned books, and
reviewed The Earth, My Butt and Other
Big Round Things in August 2014. Three
women named Beth, Chrissi, and Luna shared their thoughts on the book, and whether it should
be read in schools. Beth believed that it should be left out of school curriculum, because she
2015.

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believed it could potentially lead to eating disorders if read by “one slightly more naïve or less
worldy” teenager. But, Luna and Chrissi both pointed out that teens are already being taught a
lot of this stuff in school. The story of Romeo and Juliet is mentioned, which is still being taught
in schools today, and focuses on two teens going against their parents’ wishes to see each other,
which ultimately leads to a double suicide. Romeo and Juliet has been challenged in schools for
centuries, but it was still being taught when I went to high school in the early Naughts. Even
though stories like that are challenged, it doesn’t seem to be quite as often as the ones with a
wonderful message, where the characters find peace and strength in the end. Chrissi points out
that the problem is probably that, while the classicsdealwithsimilarissues,they somehow “don’t
seem as relevant to teenagers as contemporary reads do.”86 In my opinion, making teens read
books that they can’t relate to defeats the whole purpose of reading. Yes, many people read for
pure entertainment value, but in a world where there are so many distractions from reading, we
should be encouraging teens to read about things that interest them and that they can relate to
instead of sticking with the classics.As Kevin Porrecca stated during our interview, “basicallywhat
happened was that all the books that are controversial that are still in schools are boring.”87 That
shouldn’t be how we want kids to view reading. By censoring what they read and leaving all the
boring books for them, they aren’t able to experience some of the great things we’ve seen some
other readers express.They’re not finding themselves relating to the characters in the books they
read and are unable to derive any greater meaning from them, leaving some teens still feeling
like they have no one to relate to and nowhere to turn.
86 "Banned Books #2: The Earth, My Butt and Other BigRound Things." Chrissi Reads.August25, 2014. Accessed
October 28, 2015.

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