Sexually Explicit: 61
Unsuited for Age Group: 49
Nudity: 26
Violence: 17
Anti-Family: 15
Insensitive: 14
Drugs: 15
Sexism: 13
Abortion: 13
Homosexuality: 6
Offensive Language: 5
Other: 6
Sex Education: 4
Religious Viewpoint: 3
Political Viewpoint: 2
Anti-ethnic: 1
Earlier this week a friend of mine said she was reading Lord of the Flies and said many times that this book should be banned on school grounds for the violence and the side of human nature in young boys it shows. What she said goes directly against the first amendment-intellectual freedom. The freedom to read whatever we like even though it may be controversial or unpopular. Many books have been challenged and banned, but some have made it through with the help of teachers, librarians, and authors. The ALA celebrates intellectual freedom by having a Banned Books Week to show the importance of the first amendment; that all books have the right to be read.
Challenged Material in Colorado
ALA
Having read Lord of the Flies, I do not feel that this book should be banned. It's about the evil nature of human beings through 12 year old boys. It's not a happy book. People should be able to read what they want to, instead of being controlled about what to read. In school, if teachers want students to read a book and they don't feel comfortable reading it, the teacher should provide alternative assignments. Books should also be kept age appropriate. For example, I wouldn't want a 6th grader reading Catch 22. Keep books appropriate for the age, but don't ban what people want to read. And if they don't feel comfortable reading it, have the teachers provide alternative assignments.
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