I looked over various sites to find a book I feel strongly about (I landed on one from the WLMA site). I think I'm going to pick The Chocolate War by one of my favorite authors, Robert Cormier. It has inspired much controversy due to the character's sexual "ponderings," and it's anti-social norms and anti-catholicism plot. ALA lists the book as #4 on their "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000".

Also, it has been assigned as required reading as part of past and present English curriculum. I think there is also a movie...should be fun to find the history behind it, not to mention a good read.

As I was looking through the list I was sad to see many that I remember reading as a pre-teen. Some of these have been important for young girls for many reasons that I am sad to see that I may have to defend them at some point. After this class I will be ready though! I am thinking of reading Go Ask Alice as I hear a lot of buzz from the freshman girls. I also printed off Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure book to read on my own as it is a banned book from 1749 so I thought it might be interesting. From that site I was able to print out full text or scanned pages from several books.

I was surprise to see books I love and enjoy with my students on the ALA "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books 1990-2000". After viewing the list, I had to read the Light in the Attic written by Shel Silverstein. The crude humor and almost nudity always makes me chuckle. Perhaps, it is the actions people do in the poems,that we can not, that makes them exciting to read and share. Another book I share with my class is My Bother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier. It shows real life situations that are difficult and heartwrenching. There is also violence, bloodshed, and deception in this story about the Revolutionary War. The book creates a vivid picture of the price people had to pay for our nation to become the
United states of America.

I am also surprised and saddened at the list of books that have been challenged. When I came across two of my favorite children's stories by Roald Dahl, I thought about what children would be missing out on by not being able to have them as a choice to read. My own daughter must have read The Witches twenty times from fourth grade through college. She loved that book!

I have been discussing the challenged books with my 17 year old son. We decided Huck Finn had to do with the N word, but he claims it would have ruined the book to take it out. He also read The Giver in 4th grade as well as 10th, and really couldn't figure out what would be controversial about it. So maybe I will have to read it.

I am going to pick three books, two are basicly on the same subject, so I may have to choose an alternate. My choices are as follows: Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite, Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman, How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell and as an alternate, Bridge to Terabithia by katherine Paterson. I will also be bringing the challenged book bag about evolution for all to see and share. See you all (except Amy) tonight.

I have been skimming over all the links for intellectual freedom and am amazed at the information available, the number of court cases, and some of the books that have been challenged. The ALA provides numerous links to assist in handling a situation if it arises, what to be aware of, and the history(court cases)of challenged books. At this time, all the inormation seems overwhelming. The fun part of all this is having the opportunity to reread James and the Giant Peach and read Forever.

Information on challenges to my two books, James and the Giant Peach and Julie of the Wolves, is difficult to find. I have checked the internet and the ALA Website. I am looking for the history of the challenges for these two books. Do any of you have information on a specific site that may help me?

Thanks Nadean. It was helpful getting the feedback last night. I know what direction to go now I think. The Rascal Flats concert was great. If we discussed anything that may be pertinent after I left will someone let me know. Thanks!

Karen, we discussed the comparisons of products, so you can add you comments here and that will be sufficient. Actually seeing items and talking to company representatives seem to be useful to find lots of information quickly