It's banned books week this week, and in order to demonstrate the continuing threat of censorship, this cool interactive map shows recent cases of book banning in the US. There are a bunch of them. Click on a marked location to learn more about a particular case. Although I'm proud to say there are no cases from Houston on this map, here's the entry for a 2008 case in Austin:Lauren Myracle's TTYL was banned and removed from middle school libraries through the Round Rock Independent School District. A review committee recommended that the books be left on shelves but the superintendent had the book removed throughout the district. NCAC and ABFFE sent a letter to the school board and to the Austin-American Statesman opposing the ban.
Given the hundreds of cases included on this map covering just the last couple years, it's frightening to think "70 to 80 percent [of cases] are never reported."
3 comments:
Let it be known that Round Rock is decidedly NOT Austin. Round Rock school district is a legend in its (Round Rock)own mind.
Proud to be an Austinite
Good point.
Banning books really makes me furious. I don't understand what gives people the right to think they can just decide what books others can and cannot read. It's sad that the list of banned books is so long, and even sadder that it continues to grow.
Post a Comment