Censored Books II: Critical Viewpoints, 1985-2000

by Nicholas J. Karolides

Overview

Here is a whole new set of rationales to be used in defending challenged books. Beautifully reasoned arguments support the teaching of books that are frequently challenged by would-be censors. Karolides has chosen a wide range of literature, from Faulkner's As I Lay Dying to the contemporary bestselling Harry Potter books. Some books are challenged in the name of political correctness; others because of concern over violent or sexual content. The rationale, some written by the authors themselves, examine the value of each work as literature, its content relative to societal values, and the always thorny issue of what material actually constitutes "suitable" reading for young people. For librarians, teachers, and parents—and anyone concerned with intellectual freedom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810841475
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/15/2002
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.25(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Nicholas J. Karolides is Professor of English and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. He is also the author of 100 Banned Books.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1. Banned by Neglect: Tom Sawyer, Teaching the Conflicts Chapter 4 2. Growing up with the Alice Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Chapter 5 3. Facing Intolerance: All-American Boys by Frank Mosca Chapter 6 4. Always Running from the Real Issues: Why Kids Should Read about Gangs and Drugs Chapter 7 5. The Amazing Bone: Any Book Can Offend Someone Chapter 8 6. Stock Phrases for All Occasions: The Lessons of As I Lay Dying Chapter 9 7. Censors "Who Like to Watch" Curricula: Jerzy Kosinski and the Banning of Being There Chapter 10 8. Un-Beloved? Chapter 11 9. Censorship and Bless Me, Ultima: A Journey through Fear to Understanding Chapter 12 10. Protecting Them from What? In Praise of Blubber Chapter 13 11. The Portrayal of Sexuality in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye Chapter 14 12. In Defense of The Boy Who Lost His Face Chapter 15 13. Bridge to Terabithia Too Good to Miss Chapter 16 14. Stephen King's Cases against Child Abuse: Carrie and The Shining Chapter 17 15. Defending Ayla: Two Novels about Being Different Chapter 18 16. In Defense of Crazy Lady Chapter 19 17. Keep Cujo Unleashed Chapter 20 18. Examining the Power of Curses, Hexes, & Spells Chapter 21 19. Defending Children's Schooltime Reading: Daddy's Roommate and Heather's Mommies Chapter 22 20. A Defense of A Day No Pigs Would Die Chapter 23 21. The Drowning of Stephan Jones by Bette Greene Chapter 24 22. The Invisible Adolescent: Robert Cormier's Fade Chapter 25 23. Defending Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers: Framing—Not Taming—Controversy Chapter 26 24. Lois Lowry's The Giver Chapter 27 25. Goosebumps by R.L. Stine Chapter 28 26. In Defense of Gilly Chapter 29 27. Things Fade and Alternatives Exclude: Truth and Myth in John Gardner's Grendel Chapter 30 28. Communicating Pleasure: Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam Chapter 31 29. Called to Be a Handmaid: Defending Margaret Atwood Chapter 32 30. Defending Harry Potter Chapter 33 31. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder Chapter 34 32. In Defense of Cupid Chapter 35 33. Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits Chapter 36 34. Rationale for How to Eat Fried Worms Chapter 37 35. Journey to Understanding: Defending I Am the Cheese Chapter 38 36. In the Spirit of Crazy Horse: Censorship and the FBI-AIM Wars of the 1970s Chapter 39 37. Sexual Development: Letting Kids Know It's Perfectly Normal Chapter 40 38. Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach Chapter 41 39. Julie-Miyax: The Emergence of Dual Identity in Julie of the Wolves and Julie Chapter 42 40. Kaffir Boy: A Rationale Chapter 43 41. In Defense of Killing Mr. Griffin Chapter 44 42. Harry Mazer's The Last Mission, and More Chapter 45 43. Afraid of the Dark: Censorship, Ray Bradbury, and The Martian Chronicles Chapter 46 44. My Brother Sam Is Dead: Embracing the Contradictions and Uncertainties of Life and War Chapter 47 45. Censored: An Author's Perspective Chapter 48 46. Literature, History, and Social Value: In Defense of Native Son Chapter 49 47. Sweet Dreams: In Support of Nightmares Chapter 50 48. The Pigman's Story: Teaching Paul Zindel in the 21st Century Chapter 51 49. Keeping Their Parents Happy: Roald Dahl's Revolving Rhymes Chapter 52 50. Running with, Not from, Running Loose Chapter 53 51. Conquering Our Fears: Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories Series Chapter 54 52. Will McBride's Show Me! Chapter 55 53. Not So Loathsome After All: In Defense of Hastings and Wijngaard's Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady Chapter 56 54. Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon: An African American Epic Chapter 57 55. Clorox Dishes and Hide the Books: A Defense of Snow Falling on Cedars Chapter 58 56. Defending The Stupids Chapter 59 57. Bette Greene's Summer of My German Soldier: The War within the Human Heart Chapter 60 58. Judy Blume's Tiger Eyes: A Perspective on Fear and Death Chapter 61 59. Sex, Swearing, and Sacrilege: A Rationale for Vision Quest Chapter 62 60. The Avenger Strikes Again: We All Fall Down Chapter 63 61. Understanding Sexuality Education: Two Books by Lynda Madaras Chapter 64 62. The Subversive Quality of Respect: In Defense of The Witches Chapter 65 63. Breaking the Rules: A Defense of A Wrinkle in Time Chapter 66 64. Yellow Raft in Blue Water Chapter 67 Index of Authors and Titles Chapter 68 About the Contributors

Editorial Reviews

The value of a collection like this is quite high—mainly for those wishing to decide whether they will have their own child or student read a particular work...Karolides has an excellent resource to offer, and from the introduction to the list of contributors at the end of the book, some major issues of our day are gently opened up and explored.

Public Library Quarterly

Must Read!

Today's Books

Teachers and librarians would find this reference a valuable resource for building collections, completing reading lists, choosing classroom books, supporting intellectual freedom, and providing students with reading guidance.

Library Talk

Without exception, the essays in Censored Books II are extremely well-written...It would appeal to anyone with an interest in literature or banned books. It is essential for free-speech, literature, or education collections.

Lcats

Nicholas J. Karolides edited this terrific collection of essays in defense of frequently censored or challenged books....The critical points made in the essays transcend the 64 individual titles and can be applied to other books challenged by school boards and other entities. The essays provide anyone concerned about freedom of speech issues with rationales to use against censorship.

American Reference Books Annual

Not just a list of banned books, this volume argues for the teaching of books that are frequently challenged by would-be censors...Recommended

The Book Report

Each essay is brief but packed with information and insights that show the value and worth of these books to readers and will help provide a foundation on which to build a defense of each book.

VOYA

Teachers and librarians would find this reference a valuable resource for building collections, completing reading lists, choosing classroom books, supporting intellectual freedom, and providing students with reading guidance.--Library Talk

Each essay is brief but packed with information and insights that show the value and worth of these books to readers and will help provide a foundation on which to build a defense of each book.--VOYA

Must Read!--Today's Books

From the Publisher

Nicholas J. Karolides edited this terrific collection of essays in defense of frequently censored or challenged books....The critical points made in the essays transcend the 64 individual titles and can be applied to other books challenged by school boards and other entities. The essays provide anyone concerned about freedom of speech issues with rationales to use against censorship.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

Without exception, the essays in Censored Books II are extremely well-written...It would appeal to anyone with an interest in literature or banned books. It is essential for free-speech, literature, or education collections.

LCATS