No place like home...

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

An excerpt:

     Aunt Em had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her.

     "My darling child!" she cried, folding the little girl in her arms and covering her face with kisses. "Where in the world did you come from?"

     "From the land of Oz," said Dorothy gravely. "And here is Toto, too. And oh, Aunt Em! I'm so glad to be at home again!"

~ from The Wizard of Oz,

written by L. Frank Baum

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting every day in the last week or so. Things around our house have been very, very busy. Our high school theatre and music departments are currently putting on a production of the musical The Wizard of Oz (three shows down, three more to go!) and our family has been involved with that. My husband helped build the set, my daughter and I painted many, many of the set pieces, I've created several of the props, plus my husband and I have helped with decorations in the hallway, a special meet-the-cast event, and much more. AND my son Ben is in the show, as a Munchkin and citizen of the Emerald City. 

Needless to say, we haven't been home much! I feel like Dorothy, so glad to be here at home today, getting a bit of a break before the next show. While I'm here, I thought I'd post this excerpt from one of my favorite books. I have always been a HUGE fan of The Wizard of Oz -- the book, the play (I was in it many years ago, as a 6th grader, and played a Munchkin, just like Ben!), the musical, and especially the movie. While I can appreciate Baum's words above, and I almost always prefer books to their movies, in this case I like the final line of the movie better: "And, oh, Auntie Em! There's no place like home!"

Frozen now in time...

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An excerpt:

     It began to snow heavily, falling in drifts. All Ophelia could see were the outlines of walls and the shapes of what might have been low hedges, now white. She shuffled through the snow. There were stone creatures, she noticed, covered in frost. Eagles with outstretched wings and lions reclining on the walls and a white horse rising up on its hind legs as though startled, only frozen now in time. 

~ From Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, 

written by Karen Foxlee

I read this book last summer, on a very hot day, and day-dreamed about snow. Now I can look out my window and see my very own winter wonderland. No eagles or lions, though. ;)

A pretty little fir tree

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An excerpt:

     Out in the forest there stood a pretty little fir tree. It had a good place, for there was sun, plenty of air, and all around grew many larger trees. But the little tree thought of nothing but growing.

     "Oh, were I but a large tree like the others!" the little thing said. "For then I could stretch out my branches far around, and look out into the world. The birds would build nests in my branches, and when the wind blew I could nod as proudly as the others."

~ from The Little Fir Tree,

written by Hans Christian Andersen

This story of a fir that grows up to become a Christmas tree is a sad one, for the fir never learns to enjoy its life at the moment and is always wishing for greater things. It's easy to look at the past and wish things were like "the old days" or to look towards the future, hoping for something better than what we have now. I believe, however, that it's best to try appreciating the present and all the blessings surrounding us right now. What do you think?

A lovely place to play...

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An excerpt:

     The attic was a lovely place to play. The large, round, colored pumpkins made beautiful chairs and tables. The red peppers and the onions dangled overhead. The hams and the venison hung in their paper wrappings, and all the bunches of dried herbs, the spicy herbs for cooking and the bitter herbs for medicine, gave the place a dusty-spicy smell.

     Often the wind howled outside with a cold and lonesome sound. But in the attic Laura and Mary played house with the squashes and the pumpkins, and everything was snug and cosy.

~ from Little House in the Big Woods,

written by Laura Ingalls Wilder

When I was growing up, I, too, thought our attic was a lovely place to play. We did not store food in our attic, however. Ours was filled instead with boxes and bags of all sizes. Each one contained cast-off, long-forgotten items. I loved poking through them, looking for "treasure". My mom also kept her guitar in our attic. I spent many a day sitting next to our attic window, watching dust particles floating through the sunshine and strumming on that guitar, making up little songs to go with the tune.

I was in elementary school when I first read the Little House books. I remember reading the passage above and thinking that the sight and smell of all those foods would make an attic even more wonderful to play in. The image has stuck with me ever since. Does Laura and Mary's attic sound like a place you would like to play in?

Rhythm and Rhyme: Books for People Who Love Poetry

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I love poetry. For as long as I can remember, I've loved to read it and I've loved to write it. It's been awhile since I've written any (I need to change that!) but I have been lucky enough to read A LOT of poetry over the last several months. Below are the books of poetry that I enjoyed the most. There is something for everyone in this collection -- funny poetry, sad poetry, classic poetry, brand new poetry, a book about a poet, a book with ideas for writing poetry, and much more!

Picture book:

Enormous Smallness:

A Story of E. E. Cummings,

written by Matthew Burgess

and illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo, 2015

A biography of E. E. Cummings, this book tells the tale of a boy who loved words: "What words say and how they sound and look. He loved the way they hum, buzz, pop, and swish." Edward Estlin Cummings began composing poetry at the age of 3; his mother wrote the poems down for him and collected them in a little book. And then this little boy with the big imagination grew up to become one of America's best loved poets. The book includes a timeline of events in Cummings's life as well as several of his poems.

I have long been a fan of E. E. Cummings, but I didn't know much about his life before reading this book. I found the story fascinating! Burgess's playful text and Di Giacomo's sweet illustrations combine to give young readers this charming glimpse into the life of a poet. I liked this book so much that it is now on my "to buy" list!

***

Middle grade poetry:

Sing a Song of Popcorn:
Every Child's Book of Poems,
selected by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers,
Eva Moore, Mary Michaels White, and Jan Moore,
and illustrated by Marcia Brown, Leo and Diane Dillon,
Richard Egielski, Trina Schart Hyman, Arnold Lobel,
Maurice Sendak, Marc Simont, and Margo Zemach, 1988

This collection for children contains over 100 poems from writers such as David McCord, A. A. Milne, and Christina G. Rossetti. The poems are organized by theme (for example, "Mostly Weather", "Mostly Nonsense", or "In a Few Words"), and each section is illustrated by a different Caldecott Medal Artist.

***

The Death of the Hat:
A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects,
selected by Paul B. Janeczko
and illustrated by Chris Raschka, 2015

The publisher says this about The Death of the Hat: "A celebrated duo reunites for a look at poems through history inspired by objects -- earthly and celestial -- reflecting the time in which each poet lived." The book includes poetry from Rumi, Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Billy Collins, William Wordsworth, and more. Raschka's colorful artwork pairs nicely with each poem.

***

Poetry for Young People:
Langston Hughes,
edited by David Roessel & Arnold Rampersad
and illustrated by Benny Andrews, 2006

"One of the central figures in the Harlem Renaissance—the flowering of black culture that took place in the 1920s and 30s—Langston Hughes captured the soul of his people, and gave voice to their concerns about race and social justice. His magnificent and powerful words still resonate today...." So begins the blurb on the inside front cover.

This book contains Hughes's best known and well-loved poems, such as "My People", "Words Like Freedom", and "I, Too".

***

Vile Verses,
written by Roald Dahl
and illustrated by many, 2005

In the mood for some silly poetry with a bit of dark humor on the side? If so, try this book! Most of the poems are from Dahl's novels and earlier poetry collections, but there are also a few previously unpublished ones. The fun illustrations really complement Dahl's words.

***

Poems to Learn by Heart,
selected by Caroline Kennedy
and illustrated by Jon J. Muth, 2013

Kennedy compiled over one hundred of her favorite poems for this volume. About the memorization of poems she says, "If we learn a poem by heart, it is ours forever - and better still, we can share it with others, yet not have to give it away." 

Writers featured in this book include Nikki Grimes, Ogden Nash, Linda Sue Park, and even Abraham Lincoln! In addition to the poetry, I also appreciated Muth's gorgeous artwork throughout.

***

Poem Depot:
Aisles of Smiles,
written and illustrated by Douglas Florian, 2014

Looking for a book of poetry to make you giggle? Florian delivers just that with his Poem Depot, which is jam-packed with 170 of his nonsense poems and amusing line drawings.

***

Understanding Poetry:
Rhyme, Meter, and Other Word Music,
written by Jennifer Fandel, 2005

In this educational book, Fandel offers definitions for various poetry-related terms and talks about the rhythm of poetry -- how it is achieved and why it is effective. She also includes several well-known poems as examples.

***

Young adult poetry:

Poetry Comics:
An Animated Anthology,
selected and illustrated by Dave Morice, 2003

In this book, Morice takes 37 different poems from famous writers, from Shakespeare to William Wordsworth to Emily Dickinson to Edgar Allan Poe, and turns them into comic strips. (He also includes a step-by-step guide to creating your own poetry comics.) I really liked several of the comic strips but my favorite had to be Morice's take on Poe's "The Raven"!

***

Navajo: Visions and Voices
Across the Mesa,
 written and illustrated by Shonto Begay, 1995

Accompanied by his beautiful paintings, Begay's poetry focuses on various subjects "from creation stories to childhood memories, reflections on tribal rituals to the profound effect, good and bad, of white people on Navajo land and culture". 

***

This Same Sky: A Collection
of Poems from around the World,
selected by Naomi Shihab Nye, 1996

Nye's anthology contains the work of 129 poets from 68 different countries. Each poem within celebrates the natural world, with its human and animal inhabitants. As a reviewer said on Goodreads, it is "a peek into poetry around the world". 

***

Quiet Storm:
Voices of Young Black Poets,
selected by Lydia Omolola Okutoro, 2002

For this book, Okutoro selected the work of forty-nine poets, ages 13 to 21, from around the globe. Each chapter begins with a well-known poet's verse and then continues with the writings of teens and young adults, about a wide variety of subjects: home and homelessness, falling in love, dreams of a brighter future, and more.

***

I Just HOPE It's Lethal:
Poems of Sadness, Madness, & Joy,
collected by Liz Rosenberg & Deena November, 2005

This collection includes poetry from Margaret Atwood, T. S. Eliot, Dorothy Parker, Rumi, Sylvia Plath, and many others. Each section centers around a specific emotion that teens (and other humans!) are familiar with.

***

Time You Let Me In:
25 Poets Under 25,
selected by Naomi Shihab Nye, 2010

In this, the second anthology I read that was compiled by Nye, she brings together the work from 26 (even though the title says 25) young adults, poets like Mary Selph, Gray Emerson, Amal Khan, Jonah Ogles, and Margaret Bashaar.

***

Postcard Poems:

A Collection of Poetry for Sharing,

edited by Paul B. Janeczko, 1979

This collection, the oldest book in today's post, includes poems from writers such as D.H. Lawrence, William Carlos Williams, Marianne Moore, Carl Sandburg, and Eve Merriam.

***

I Am Writing a Poem About...:
A Game of Poetry,
edited by Myra Cohn Livingston, 1997

As a teacher of poetry at UCLA, Livingston gave an assignment to her class: write a poem with the word rabbit in it. Later, she asked her students to write another poem and include the words ring, drum, and blanket. Finally, the classmates were to write a poem with these six words: hole, friend, candle, ocean, snake, and either scarecrow or bucket. The resulting poems from these assignments were as varied as the people who wrote them! In this slim volume, Livingston shares 43 of the poems from her students -- many of whom went on to become well-known writers.

***

Please Excuse This Poem:

100 New Poets for the Next Generation,

edited by Brett Fletcher Lauer & Lynn Melnick, 2015

As the blurb on the inside cover says, "Here is a cross-section of American poetry as it is right now—full of grit and love, sparkling with humor, searing the heart, smashing through boundaries on every page. Please Excuse This Poem features one hundred acclaimed younger poets from truly diverse backgrounds and points of view, whose work has appeared everywhere from The New Yorker to Twitter, tackling a startling range of subjects in a startling range of poetic forms."

***

Have you read any of the books shown above? If so, what did you think of them? What are some of your favorite poetry collections?

Scare Up a Good Boooooook

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I love reading scary books -- the kind that make me shiver from head to toe -- whether it's Halloween time or not. I know that not everyone feels the same. However, if you, too, are a fan of the horror genre and are looking for a spine-tingling read, here are a few books that I recommend for various ages:

Picture book:

Hansel and Gretel,
retold by Neil Gaiman
and illustrated by Lorenzo Mattotti, 2014

A woodcutter leaves his children in the woods and when they try to find their way home, they stumble upon a house made of gingerbread.

As Gaiman recounts this well-known fairy tale, he doesn't stray far from the original story. He does add his own sinister touches, however, and his words pair well with Mattotti's dark, eerie artwork. This book, like all good picture books, begs to be read aloud. (I suggest reading it out loud in a dark room, with only a flashlight to see the words and pictures, for maximum effect!)

***

Middle grade fiction:

The Thickety: A Path Begins,

written by J. A. White, 2014

The same night that six-year-old Kara's little brother Taff is born, her mother is executed for witchcraft. Now, many years later, the siblings are still shunned by the people of their village. The villagers believe magic to be evil and fear it more than anything -- except for the dark and wild woods nearby, the Thickety.

I first spotted this novel at a book store. The title and cover art intrigued me, so I opened it up and began reading. After just a couple of pages, I jotted the title and author down in my "to read" list on my phone; the next time I visited the library I checked out the book. I really liked this fantastical tale and it is one that I would've enjoyed at age 10, as well. (It may have given me a nightmare or two back then, however!)

This is the first book in The Thickety series, which also includes The Whispering Trees (2015) and Well of Witches (coming out in 2016). I'm hoping to read the second book soon and will look for the third one next year!

***

The Night Gardener,
written by Jonathan Auxier, 2014

This Victorian ghost story follows a pair of young orphans who go to work as servants in a tumble-down house far from town. It does not take Molly and Kip long to discover that both the house and the family who lives there are not quite what they seem....

I saw that a reviewer on Goodreads wrote this about The Night Gardener: "Long story short, this novel is Little Shop of Horrors meets The Secret Garden." I thought that was a fitting description! I found this to be a delightfully creepy book and have recommended it to my 10-year-old, Ben.

***

Lockwood & Co.:
The Screaming Staircase,
written by Jonathan Stroud, 2013

For over 50 years ghosts have stalked the land, frightening the living, wreaking havoc, and even killing those poor souls unlucky enough to come in contact with them. Psychic Investigations Agencies have been formed across the country to seek out the horrifying spectres and destroy them. When the young agent Lucy Carlyle arrives in London looking for work, she is offered employment with the smallest, most unconventional agency in the city, Lockwood & Co. She and her coworkers, Anthony Lockwood and George Cubbins, quickly find themselves in the middle of a dangerous mystery. Can the three of them survive long enough to solve it?

This book is shelved in our library's middle grade section and also the young adult section. I personally feel that it is most suited for older children, teens, and adults. (I know I would've been terrified if I'd read the book when I was 8 or 9!) Ben had been planning on reading it, which is why we checked it out, but while he was working his way through another book, I read this one. I'm glad that I got to it first -- afterwards I talked with Ben about it and we decided that he should probably wait a couple of years before reading it himself.

That being said, I absolutely loved this book! And it truly scared me. Stroud is a masterful writer. (I adored his Bartimaeus trilogy, as well.) The main characters are very likable and well-written. In addition to the suspense that Stroud injects into every chapter, he also provides many laugh-out-loud moments.

This is the first title in the Lockwood & Co. series, which also includes The Whispering Skull (2014) and The Hollow Boy (2015). I have not read the others yet, but am eager to do so -- hopefully soon!

***

Young Adult Fiction:

The Ocean at the End of the Lane,
written by Neil Gaiman, 2013

When a man returns to his childhood home for a funeral, he finds himself drawn to the farm at the end of the lane. While there, images he hadn't thought of in years come flooding back, memories of the strange, frightening events he'd witnessed as a boy -- and a magical girl named Lettie who promised to protect him.

I found this book (which a friend aptly called "a grown up fairy tale") in the adult section of our library, but there is also a copy in the young adult section. I am a Neil Gaiman fan and was excited to read this when it came out. I was not disappointed. It is a beautifully written, haunting book that I plan to reread soon!

***

For more hair-raising book recommendations for kids and teens, check out my posts from previous years: Oh, the Horror! and Books That Go Bump in the Night.

Have you ever read any of the books listed above? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear about your favorite spooky stories. I'm always looking for new ones to read!

Such an amazing world...

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An excerpt:

     "Look at something small," Lina said. "Like a leaf or a bug."

     Doon riffled among the leaves on the ground and found an ant, which he set on the palm of his hand. Holding the glass above the ant, he looked through it. "Oh!" he said. "Look! You can see its knee joints! And even..." He trailed off, absorbed in looking. Then he raised his eyes to Lina. "It's like a miracle!" he said. He blew the ant from his palm and looked around until he found a beetle. "Look at this!" he cried. "You can see it chewing!" He tried a feather, and a bit of moth wing, and a blade of grass.

     "This is such an amazing world," he said finally, putting the glass and the magnet into his pocket. "I love it here, except for the troubles with people."

~ from The People of Sparks,

written by Jeanne DuPrau

Have you ever looked at nature through a magnifying glass, like Doon does in this excerpt? There are so many little details that we normally overlook or can't even see without one. We really do live in an amazing, wonderful world -- except for the troubles with people.

Interview with a BookWyrm: Destiny

Destiny, reading A Discovery of Witches

Name: Destiny

Age: 17

Do you have a favorite reading spot? I love to read on my bed with soft pillows and soft blankets. Or outside, especially in autumn when the weather's nice.

What kinds of books do you like to read? I typically stick to fantasy and science fiction. I love romance novels, action stories, anything that gets me to read it with rigorous attention. Lately, I've been reading mythology, psychology and philosophy -- subjects I've always thought interesting. I would like to pursue a career in one of those three things so learning about them is both fun and educational.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? I'm really into the arts -- singing, theatre, drawing... any kind of crafting, really. I love watching fantasy movies and action movies. I'm learning how to crochet, so I'm working on that as well. My friends are a big part of my life, so I try and see them whenever I'm not doing school work or the like.

Name three favorite books (or series): The Iron Fey [by Julie Kagawa], The Mortal Instruments/The Infernal Devices [by Cassandra Clare], and Catcher in the Rye [by J. D. Salinger].

Who are your favorite authors? Deborah Harkness -- the author of The Discovery of Witches,
Rick Riordan -- the author of Percy Jackson & the Olympians as well as The Heroes of Olympus and The Kane Chronicles, and Shakespeare -- I mean, he's Shakespeare, need I say more?

What book are you reading now? I'm currently reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (by choice) for school.

Out of school I'm desperately trying to find time to finish Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, as well as The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.

Name a book on your "to read" list: There are so many.... Not counting finishing the 5 different series I'm getting to the end of, I would say the next book on my "to read" list would probably be Peter and the Starcatchers [by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson].

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? For both teens and adults I would recommend any of the "classic" novels or authors: C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carol, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, Jane Austin...

For those of the younger persuasion, read the Artemis Fowl series [by Eoin Colfer] or Harry Potter [by J.K. Rowling].

***

Destiny, thank you very much for doing this interview and sharing your love of books with us! I will be sending you a bookmark to show my appreciation. :)

For the rest of you: I am looking for more volunteers age 18 and under (or parents, volunteering their children!) to appear in future interviews. If you are interested, please message me on the Blue Sky, Big Dreams Facebook page. I will send you a list of the interview questions which you can fill out at your leisure and then return to me along with a photo of your child (or yourself) reading. (The BookWyrm's face does not need to show in the picture and I will only share the first name or first initial of the BookWyrm, depending on your preference. I respect your privacy and safety.) I will send out a handmade bookmark to each of my interviewees.

A world where there are Octobers...

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An excerpt:

     October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths.

     Anne revelled in the world of color about her.

     "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill -- several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them."

~ from Anne of Green Gables,

written by L. M. Montgomery

I agree wholeheartedly with Anne -- I'm SO glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. I've decided in the last few years that this is my favorite month. (Though I like all the seasons and months!) I love the beautiful colors everywhere, the crunchy leaves underfoot, the delicious foods we eat this month (at our house we eat all kinds of dishes made with pumpkins or apples, along with chili and different kinds of soups), our tradition of apple-picking, and, of course, anything to do with Halloween! How about you -- do you agree with Anne?

Banned Books Week 2015

Artwork courtesy of the
American Library Association

A few weeks ago, while preparing for this post, I looked through the American Library Association's "Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books Lists of the 21st Century".  I focused my attention on the lists from the past 5 years or so and then picked a few of those frequently challenged books to share with you here. Some of these books are ones that I had read previously and others are books that were new to me, that I specifically read for this post. There was only one picture book listed (And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell), but I have already written about that one in a previous post, so the following are all books for older children and teens.

Middle-grade fiction:

Captain Underpants (series), 

written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, 1997

George and Harold love to play pranks and also create their own comic books about super hero, Captain Underpants. However, their school principal Mr. Krupp does NOT appreciate the comic books or the boys' pranks. Finally, Mr. Krupp comes up with a plan to stop George and Harold's shenanigans. Unfortunately for him, the plan backfires in a most uproarious way!

I have seen this book (and the rest of the series) before -- and I've heard people talk about it -- but no one in our family had ever read it before I brought it home from the library last week. The other day I was sitting in my living room, reading the book and laughing out loud at some of the very silly humor inside. My ten-year-old Ben walked in to see what was going on -- apparently, the sight of his mother reading Captain Underpants was hilarious. He fell to the floor in a fit of giggling that lasted several minutes. :) I told him he should read the book when I was done. He did and the giggling resumed! We are both eager to read more books from the series and see what wackiness Captain Underpants gets up to next.

This series has been challenged due to offensive language, being unsuited for its age group, and violence.  I'm thinking that the people who want to ban it must have no sense of humor....

***

Bone (series),

written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, 1991

When three cousins (Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone) are run out of town, they get lost in the desert. A storm of locusts sweeps through, separates the cousins, and deposits them in a strange land. Soon the three find themselves in the middle of an epic adventure complete with dragons, rat creatures, and ghost circles.

At the beginning of this year, I committed myself to a set of book challenges that involves reading about 65 different books. Over the summer I asked friends and family for suggestions for a graphic novel so that I could complete one of the challenges. My daughter Emmalie (19) recommended Bone. She and my son Nick (16) had both read the series before and really liked it. I checked all 9 books out from the library -- then ended up "fighting" for each issue because all 3 of my kids decided to read (or reread) them, too! 

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical about this story at first and wasn't sure it would be something I'd enjoy. I was wrong. Towards the end of the series, I could not put the books down. I just had to find out what would happen next. At the time I read it, I had no idea that it had ever been challenged and when I found it on the lists recently, I was surprised. I don't remember being at all concerned that my 10-year-old was reading it. (By the way, at our library this series can be found both in the juvenile section and the young adult section.)

 "Political viewpoint, racism, and violence" are the reasons cited for challenging this series.

***

Young adult fiction:

The Chocolate War,
written by Robert Cormier, 1974

Jerry Renault is a freshman at Trinity, a private Catholic school, with a poster in his locker that reads: Do I dare disturb the universe? Jerry begins disturbing his universe and making waves when he refuses to participate in the annual school fundraiser, selling chocolates. But then, when he challenges The Vigils (a secret society of bullies at school), his actions lead to all-out war.

This book has been around since I was a young girl, but I had never read it until this week. I found it to be a powerful, haunting book about the evil that can be found in the world. It reminded me somewhat of Lord of the Flies, which is another frequently challenged book that I reviewed here. Parts of the book made me uncomfortable -- but I believe that was Cormier's intention, and that we should feel uncomfortable about cruelty towards others.

This book has been challenged for the following reasons: nudity, offensive language, being sexually explicit and unsuited to its age group.

***

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,

written by Sherman Alexie,
with art by Ellen Forney, 2007

Junior is a young adolescent living on the Spokane Indian reservation. He loves to draw cartoons, he lives with a variety of medical issues, and is picked on by almost everyone. Determined to receive a good education, Junior decides to transfer to an all-white school in a nearby town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Now considered a traitor by others on the reservation, he must learn to navigate a world that's very different from the one he calls home.

Nick was assigned this book for an English class back when he was a freshman. He read it, then told me that he found it "interesting" -- which is pretty high praise from a guy who normally only reads non-fiction. :) I decided to give it a try myself, and am very glad that I did. Alexie wrote this book beautifully, somehow managing to make it both funny and heart-breaking at the same time.

This book has a long list of reasons that it's been challenged for: being anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, being unsuited for its age group, violence, and depictions of bullying.

***

Looking for Alaska, 

written by John Green, 2005

Eager to escape a dull existence in Florida and seek his "Great Perhaps", Miles Halter (who has a fascination with famous last words) transfers to a boarding school in Alabama. Suddenly his boring life becomes anything but -- thanks mostly to a girl named Alaska who steals his heart.

This, his first novel, has been out for ten years now, but I only discovered John Green's works fairly recently. I am a big fan. I read Looking for Alaska about a year ago now, when I was systematically checking out book after book of his from the library. As he often does, Green weaves a tale here that not only made me laugh out loud but also wipe tears (many tears) from my eyes. The story is both silly and profound. It's hard to believe that a 200-page novel can contain so much truth about loss, suffering, and the meaning of life, but it does -- something I've come to expect with Green's writing.

Offensive language, being sexually explicit and unsuited for its age group are among the reasons cited for this novel being challenged.

***

The Perks of Being a Wallflower,

written by Stephen Chbosky, 1999 

Charlie is a freshman, a shy, socially awkward boy trying to navigate his way through high school. As the blurb on the cover of the book says, "Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor."

As a wallflower myself, I've been wanting to read this book for many years now. I finally had my chance this week. I found it to be a thought-provoking, poignant read and now I'm hoping to watch the movie sometime!

Some of the reasons why this book has been challenged over the years include homosexuality, drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, being sexually explicit and unsuited for its age group.

***

The Hunger Games (trilogy)

written by Suzanne Collins, 2008

Frequently challenged for "anti-ethnic" and "anti-family" themes, insensitivity, offensive language, and violence, this series (one of my favorites!) was featured earlier on Blue Sky, Big Dreams in this post.

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Have you read any of the challenged books above? If so, what did you think of them? What are some of your favorite challenged books?

If you're looking for more banned or challenged books to read, please check out the following links to some of my previous posts:

Banned Books Week 2011: Picture Books

Banned Books Week 2011: Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

Banned Books Week 2012: Picture Books

Banned Books Week 2012: Middle Grade Books

Banned Books Week 2012: Young Adult Books