1984

Title: 1984

Author: George Orwell

Summary: In the midst of an ultra-controlling society full of lies and contradictions, the main character Winston begins to think for himself. He falls in love (which is forbidden by the government) and begins noticing the flaws of his society. However, "Big Brother" (This phrase originated with this novel.) is watching Winston, who is soon captured, tortured, and brainwashed. The book has an unsettling ending, which I won't spoil for you, but which really makes you think about the role of government.

Why it's been challenged: The book has been challenged for its sexual content. It's also been challenged for pro-communist material (I don't understand that complaint; in my opinion, the book seemed anti-communist. Maybe I just don't know enough about politics.) (ALA)

If I were still teaching, would I allow my class of high schoolers to read this book? I think I'd allow it. I'd probably inform parents of the suggestive material. The sexual content isn't overly explicit, but it gets steamy a few times. However, I think high school students would really enjoy this book, and it would spark great political discussions and debate. A possible alternative would be George Orwell's Animal Farm. It is also very political, though more from a metaphorical historical point of view, rather than from a hypothetical futuristic point of view. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley would also be a great tie-in, though it also has suggestive material.

Here's a great quote from the book:

"What can you do, thought Winston, against the lunatic who is more intelligent than yourself, who gives your arguments a fair hearing and then simply persists in his lunacy?" (262)

Beloved

Title: Beloved

Author: Toni Morrison

Summary: A runaway slave, Sethe, tries to make a new life for herself, but she is haunted by her past. Though she has lived in "freedom" for 18 years, she is tormented not only by what happened to her as a slave, but also by memories of her infant daughter whom she killed. When her former owner appeared at her door step 18 years ago, she snapped and, blinded by hysteria, attempted to kill all four of her children, so that they would not have to endure what she did. Now, 18 years later, a 20-year-old woman appears at her home and exhibits characteristics that are eerily similar to those of the murdered baby.

Why it's been challenged: The book has been challenged for its violence, language, racism, and sexual content (including bestiality and rape). This is a very emotionally difficult book to read, yet it is very eye-opening in regards to how slaves were treated. (ALA)

If I were still teaching, would I allow my class of high schoolers to read this book? No. While I think it is important that students understand the horrific history of slavery in our country, I would not pick this book. The sexual content, though not exorbitantly gratuitous, is very prominent in the book. There is also quite a bit of language (including the "f word' [used literally]).

Though this book was a tough read, there were some very poignant quotes that I absolutely loved and wanted to share:

"Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that supposed to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing." (54)

"Saying more might push them both to a place they couldn't get back from. He would keep the rest where it belonged: in that tobacco tin buried in his chest where a red heart used to be. Its lid rusted shut. He would not pry it loose now in front of this sweet sturdy woman, for if she got a whiff of the contents it would shame him. And it would hurt her to know that there was no red heart ... beating in him." (86)

"And though she and others lived through and got over it, she could never let it happen to her own. The best thing she was, was her children. Whites might dirty her all right, but not her best thing, her beautiful, magical best thing--the part of her that was clean." (295, 296)

Lord of the Flies

Title: Lord of the Flies

Author: William Golding

Summary: A group of adolescent boys between the ages of 6 and 12 are marooned on a deserted island. There are no adults, so they must rely on themselves to survive and to seek a means of rescue. At first, all is fun and games, and the children enjoy the society they have created and the ability to live as they wish. However, as hopes of rescue begin to diminish, things begin to unravel. The boys turn against each other, causing a terrifyingly violent chaos that ultimately shows the depravity of man (even as children) when left to his own devices.

Why it's been challenged: The book has been challenged for its extreme violence and gore (at first in the hunting of animals and then in the children's treatment of each other). Others challenge the book on issues of racism, profanity, and sex. I personally did not feel these themes were abused in the book. One school challenged the book because it is "demoralizing inasmuch as it implies that man is little more than an animal". Ummmm...well, theologically, I do believe that man, in his natural state, is a despicable creature, so I have no issues with that aspect of the book. (ALA)

If I were still teaching, would I allow my class of high schoolers to read this book? Hmmm...yes, I think I would. I would probably write a disclosure letter to the parents and ask for permission first. Some of the passages are really quite disturbing due to their violence (but most teens probably see this quite often in the movies they watch). However, I would probably opt to teach Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game". It is much more tame but still deals with a similar topic and the idea that man is an evil creature.

My summer reading challenge

This is my fourth year participating in the Maricopa County Library District's adult summer reading program. I'm so glad my library has a summer program for adults as well as for kids! I think it was just our local Queen Creek library that did the program for adults during my first two years of participation, but then the other libraries in the county decided it was a great idea, so now the adult summer reading program is county-wide.

The theme this year is "Groundbreaking Reads". The goal is to read four books. I kind of wish the library would give more guidelines and/or suggestions, but they probably want to keep the program relatively open and free to attract a larger audience. However, since I love specific challenges, I have decided to add an additional requirement to my "Groundbreaking Reads" summer program. I will try to read at least four books off the list of Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century. I can't take ownership of this idea, however; I did a Google search about "Groundbreaking Reads" and discovered that a library in Georgia, or Virginia, or somewhere like that was asking their adult summer reading participants to read banned or challenged books. I thought this was a fun idea, so here I go!