1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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The Great Gatsby has been challenged for alcohol use and sexual references. While those things definitely exist throughout the novel, it's hardly the primary subject. Many of you have probably read this in your lit classes in high school. I know I did, and I think that's one of the reasons I enjoyed it so thoroughly. Mr. Cowger had a way of discussing books that made them so much more interesting, and The Great Gatsby was no exception. For those of you haven't read it, you should! The characters are incredibly flawed, but that's what makes the book interesting. They also have great movie adaptations. I'm a big fan of the Baz Luhrmann version with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Gatsby, but I think that's primarily because the soundtrack is so incredible. You should definitely listen to it if you haven't! Probably in my top 5 favorite soundtracks ever.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
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3. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
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In Cold Blood has been challenged for sex, violence, and profanity. All occur in the novel, but I hardly think that means it shouldn't be read. This was another book that I had the pleasure of reading during Mr. Cowger's AP Lit class and it was another that I thoroughly enjoyed. Honestly, I need to read it again, because I've only read it the once. It's the retelling of a true story of the murder of a family in Kansas and how Truman Capote investigated the murders in talking to local residents and investigators as well as the murderers themselves. It's a thrilling true crime story that will definitely draw you in.
4. Paper Towns by John Green
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Paper Towns has been challenged for profanity, discussions of teen sex, and references to girls as "honey bunnies" (misogyny). I think the last part is kind of hilarious, because it's so clear the author is using this somewhat ironically. The book follows the story of Quentin as he searches for his lifelong crush Margo Roth Spiegelman after she goes missing. I think it's beautifully written while at the same time demonstrating the reality of being a young person and the trials of being in high school. It's a pretty light read if you want it to be, but there is so much to draw from it if you really dig in. I definitely recommend giving it a try!
5. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole
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And Tango Makes Three has been challenged for being age inappropriate for the reading level. This one is pretty frustrating to me. This is a true story about two male penguins in the New York Central Park Zoo that court each other so the zookeepers give them an egg to raise that would otherwise have gone uncared for. The book has been banned in elementary schools because parents don't believe their children should learn about homosexuality at such a young age, which I think is completely ludicrous. It's a true story, it's a normal thing, get over it.
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been challenged for sexually explicit content and language, drug use, and sexual abuse. It's an interesting read that follows the story of Charlie, an introverted teen, as he goes through his freshman year of high school. It's formatted as a series of letters that Charlie is writing to an anonymous person, which gives it a unique point of view. A lot happens to this young, unpopular teen throughout his first year of high school. He learns a lot, makes friends, and deals with some pretty serious mental health problems. It's a unique read, and one that I quite enjoyed.
this website has some great PDFs that list the top banned books by year and why they were banned. Are any of your favorite books on the list?
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