School Bans Looking for Alaska by John Green
Sumner school district in Tennessee has banned Looking for Alaska by John Green. Apparantly they had a problem with the two page sex scene that is included in the book. Sumner is not the first district to ban Looking for Alaska from their reading list.
This is what a parent had to say on the matter:
“Kids at this age are impressionable. Sometimes it’s a monkey see, monkey do,” said parent Kathy Clough, who has a freshman and a senior at White House High School, where the book had been assigned reading. “I’m going to trust that my school board made the right choice. … If they feel like this book is a little too graphic, I’m all for it.”
What do you guys think about book censorship? I, for one, am completely against it. I think that anybody should be able to read whatever they want to read. Reading is a form of intelligence, and I am just impressed when I see kids actually wanting to read.
Now, sometimes you’ll see warnings in my reviews. For example, I warned teachers and parents about mental abuse in one of the books I read. Why? Because I think that it’s good for parents to know these things so that they can discuss them with their children. I wouldn’t want my kid to read about mental abuse and gain the impression that it was alright simply because she loved the characters. As for teachers, I don’t want them getting in trouble because they ordered a book I reviewed. One thing I would never say, though, is not to let a child read a certain book.
Below I am going to link where I found this article. Take a look at it and come back and tell me your opinion. Whether you agree or disagree, I want to know your answers and hear your reasonings. Please keep in mind, though, that everyone has their own opinions and that there is no need to attack others.
You can find the article here.
That’s all for now, folks. See you next time!
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Okay, I’ll go first.
I don’t believe in book censorship. I think that people have the right to make their own reading choices. I am a mother of two girls, aged 14 & 15 and if they wanted to read a book with sexual scenes in it, I would let them.
Personally, I am more concerned about gratuitous violence in horror books. Sex, at least, is a natural occurrence for most people.
As for the article you quoted, I particularly take issue with Jeremy Johnson’s opinion that it is ok for a ‘valued’ author to write certain things and not other authors! Ridiculous!
With all due respect for other people’s opinions I do believe it is perfectly reasonable for school librarys to ban books. Since it is a private (or publicly paid) establishment they school authorities have the right to monitor what books are avalible in their library. I am all for kids reading more. In fact I absolutly encourage it. But all the same, what we put in our minds stays there. If a kid is desperate to read a book that is banned at his/her school then he/she can either try to get it at the public library, buy it, or see if someone they know has it and have that person lend it to them. Children and teenagers are impressionable………and don’t call me a hypocrite because I am a teenager myself and sometimes it can be hard to remember what you read, hear, and see shouldn’t always apply to you.
sorry *the school authorities
I’m a teenager also, and I agree with this, but I think the decision should ultimately come down to the parent. And i deffinately agree with your last sentence; some books aren’t for everyone.
You both have great opinions!
Raquel: I really like how you said, “Personally, I am more concerned about gratuitous violence in horror books. Sex, at least, is a natural occurrence for most people.” I would agree. Sex is something that most every youth is going to try eventually. I really liked how you stated that you’re more concerned with them reading about violence.
Stephanie: I would absolutely never call you a hypocrite. I think that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I’m really glad you stepped forward. Children are impressionable, and I’m glad you made that point.
Thanks for sharing, guys!
I think that its a shame Looking For Alaska comes under such heavy scrutiny. John Green gives a voice to YA Fiction that is so relevant today.
To say that graphic scenes in Hemingway or Steinbeck are acceptable because the caliber of the work is higher is ridiculous. I doubt there is any other book out there that can relate to teenagers and make them think about life in the same way Looking For Alaska does.
I understand the decision to stop teaching the novel as required reading, but it just bugs me that Johnson is making an assumption that this book is less valuable than the classics, when I have learned more from Pudge and Alaska that I ever did from George and Lenny, or Catherine and Frederic. The double standard is disheartening.
I’m totally against book censorship, but I think Melanie Hudley said it best in this article: it’s deffinately up to the parent to draw the line on what books their teen can or cannot read, but depriving other students of the chance to read a work of literature that could impact them in a positive way is wrong. I think this is a matter of maturity; I wouldn’t recommend Looking for Alaska to just anyone. Some teens can’t be mature when reading something that has graphic content and may be influenced negatively by a book like this, but it is entirely up to the parent to decide if a book is suitable for their teen. Why not just make a note or warning to identify which books may have content like this on summer reading lists? Then parents could make an informed decision without depriving other students of a good book.