Banned books response

Censored Books

The information here has been pulled from the ALA website and the Children's Literature Database

Whale Talk

Who censored?
Limestone County Alabama School District

Why was it censored?
Profanity- “We can’t allow students to go down our halls and say those words, and we shouldn’t let them read it,” said board member James Shannon. “That book’s got a lot of bad, bad words.”

Was there just a complaint or more formal censorship?
The District Superintendent recommended to the School Board that the book be removed from the high school libraries. The School Board rejected the recommendation on the basis that the message of racial tolerance is more important than the issue of bad language.

Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Crutcher's (Running Loose; Ironman) gripping tale of small-town prejudice delivers a frank, powerful message about social issues and ills. Representing one-third of his community's minority population ("I'm black. And Japanese. And white"), narrator T.J. Jones voices a darkly ironic appraisal of the high school sports arena. Despite his natural athletic ability (at 13, he qualified for the Junior Olympics in two swimming events), T.J. has steered away from organized sports until his senior year, when Mr. Simet, a favorite English teacher, implores him to help form a swim team for the school (and thereby help the teacher save his job). T.J. sees an opportunity to get revenge on the establishment and invites outcasts to participate on the team; he ends up with "a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon, and a psychopath." As might be expected, he accomplishes his mission: his motley crew of swimmers is despised by more conventional athletes (and coaches). The swimmers face many obstacles, but their dedication to their sport and each other grows stronger with every meet. The gradual unfolding of characters' personal conflicts proves to be as gripping as the evolution of the team's efforts. Through T.J.'s narration, Crutcher offers an unusual yet resonant mixture of black comedy and tragedy that lays bare the superficiality of the high school scene. The book's shocking climax will force readers to re-examine their own values and may cause them to alter their perception of individuals pegged as "losers." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-T. J. Jones, the mixed-race, larger-than-life, heroic, first-person narrator of this novel, lays out the events of his senior year, with many digressions along the way. The central plot involves T. J.'s efforts to put together a swim team of misfits, as he tries to upset the balance of power at his central Washington high school, where jocks and the narrow-minded rule. However, a number of subplots deal with racism, child abuse, and the efforts of the protagonist's adopted father to come to grips with a terrible mistake in his past. Crutcher uses a broad brush in an undeniably robust and energetic story that is also somewhat messy and over the top in places. T. J. himself is witty, self-assured, fearless, intelligent, and wise beyond his years. In fact, he has all of these qualities in such abundance that he's not an entirely plausible character. The novel's ending sweeps to a crescendo of emotions, as T. J.'s mentally tortured father saves a life and atones for past sins by diving in front of a bullet and dying in his son's arms. Young adults with a taste for melodrama will undeniably enjoy this effort. More discerning readers will have to look harder for the lovely passages and truths that aren't delivered with a hammer.
Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 8-12. Crutcher's fans will recognize the author's signature style and subject matter in his new novel, his first in six years. Adopted, biracial high-school senior The Tao Jones (his birth mother seems to "have been a little too 'spiritual'") is well-adjusted on the surface. A smart, likable kid with a great sense of humor and athletic ability, he glides through academia with everything an adolescent boy needs--decent grades and female companionship. What T. J. doesn't need is competitive sports, which Cutter High School jocks and coaches see as a personal snub. T. J.'s resolve weakens, however, when English teacher-coach Mr. Simet makes an unconventional offer: Be the anchor of the swim team and pick your fellow fish. Perfect, especially since racist football bully Mike Barbour has taken up letter jackets as a cause. It seems developmentally disabled Chris Coughlin has been wearing his dead brother's jacket, and Mike is annoyed. If Chris, naturally comfortable in the water, is on the swim team, T. J. reasons, Chris will earn a jacket of his own, and Mike will be put in his place. The veteran author once again uses well-constructed characters and quick pacing to examine how the sometimes cruel and abusive circumstances of life affect every link in the human chain, and a heartwrenching series of plot twists leads to an end in which goodness at least partially prevails. Through it all, as expected, shines Crutcher's sympathy for teens and their problems. For more about the book, see the Story-behind-the Story on the opposite page. Kelly Halls
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Awards
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Spring/Summer 2001 ; Book Sense 76; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001 ; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2001 ; Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media, Inc.; United States
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2001 ; Cahners; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 2001 ; Cahners; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002 ; American Library Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award, 2002 Winner Young Adult Readers United States
Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2003 Finalist United States
Pacific Northwest Book Award, 2002 Winner United States

State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003 ; Nominee; High School; Maryland
California Young Reader Medal, 2004 ; Nominee; Young Adult; California
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2002 ; Nominee; Colorado
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award , 2003-2004 ; Nominee; Indiana
Iowa High School Book Award, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; High School; Iowa
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Nevada
Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2002 ; Nominee; High School Students; Rhode Island
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2002-2003 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Wyoming
South Carolina Young Adult Book Awards, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; South Carolina
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2002 ; Texas
Virginia Young Readers Program, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; High (Grades 10-12); Virginia
Volunteer State Book Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Young Adult, Grades 7-12; Tennessee
Young Adult Reading Program, 2002 ; Grades 7-12; South Dakota
Young Reader's Choice Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Senior (Grades 10-12); Pacific Northwest

My conclusion
Whale Talk deals with a lot of very serious issues- racism, abuse, rape. It is important that these issues be presented to readers in a very true light. By including bad (but authentic) language, it helps to make the story all the more believable. I would whole heartedly endorse keeping this book in a school or public library. This book however should be marketed towards high school readers. Middle schoolers may not be able to appreciate all of the issues that the book deals with.



The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Who censored?
Stockton, Missouri School Board

Why was it censored?
The book was censored for content
Was there just a complaint or more formal censorship?
A parent complained and the School Board held an open forum to discuss returning the book to the library with restrictions. Despite letters and protests, the School Board upheld the decision to remove the book from classrooms and school libraries.

Reviews

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 7–10—Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, Alexie's first young adult novel is a semiautobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior grapples with questions about what constitutes one's community, identity, and tribe. The daily struggles of reservation life and the tragic deaths of the protagonist's grandmother, dog, and older sister would be all but unbearable without the humor and resilience of spirit with which Junior faces the world. The many characters, on and off the rez, with whom he has dealings are portrayed with compassion and verve, particularly the adults in his extended family. Forney's simple pencil cartoons fit perfectly within the story and reflect the burgeoning artist within Junior. Reluctant readers can even skim the pictures and construct their own story based exclusively on Forney's illustrations. The teen's determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie's tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Arnold Spirit, a goofy-looking dork with a decent jumpshot, spends his time lamenting life on the "poor-ass" Spokane Indian reservation, drawing cartoons (which accompany, and often provide more insight than, the narrative), and, along with his aptly named pal Rowdy, laughing those laughs over anything and nothing that affix best friends so intricately together. When a teacher pleads with Arnold to want more, to escape the hopelessness of the rez, Arnold switches to a rich white school and immediately becomes as much an outcast in his own community as he is a curiosity in his new one. He weathers the typical teenage indignations and triumphs like a champ but soon faces far more trying ordeals as his home life begins to crumble and decay amidst the suffocating mire of alcoholism on the reservation. Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience, and he doesn't pull many punches as he levels his eye at stereotypes both warranted and inapt. A few of the plotlines fade to gray by the end, but this ultimately affirms the incredible power of best friends to hurt and heal in equal measure. Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here. Chipman, Ian --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Awards
Best Books:
Amazon Editors' Picks: Top 10 Books, 2007 ; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008 ; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2007 ; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2008 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Choices, 2008 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Horn Book Fanfare, 2007 ; Horn Book; United States
Kirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2007 ; Kirkus; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, July 15, 2007 ; United States
Middle and Junior High Schoool Library Catalog, Ninth Edition Supplement 2008, 2008 ; H.W. Wilson Company; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2008 ; Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group IRA; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2007 ; New York Times; United States
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Best Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2007 ; Cahners; United States
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 ; American Library Association; Top Ten; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
American Indian Youth Literature Award, 2008 Winner Young Adult United States
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2008 Winner Fiction and Poetry United States
California Young Reader Medal, 2010 Winner Young Adult California
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Honorable Mention Favorite Book to Handsell United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Honorable Mention Hottest Selling Book to Go Out of Stock United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Winner Favorite Young Adult Novel United States
Cybil Award, 2007 Finalist Young Adult Fiction United States
Delaware Diamonds, 2009 Winner High School Delaware
Los Angeles Times Book Prize, 2007 Finalist Young Adult United States
Mind the Gap Award, 2008 Best book overlooked by the United States
National Book Awards, 2007 Winner Young People's Literature United States
National Parenting Publications Award, 2007 Gold Book Ages 12 & Up United States
Odyssey Award, 2009 Winner United States
Pacific Northwest Book Award, 2008 Winner United States
Thumbs Up! Award, 2008 Honor Book Michigan United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award, 2011 ; Nominee; Illinois
California Young Reader Medal, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; California
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2009 ; Nominee; Colorado
Delaware Diamonds, 2008-2009 ; Nominee; High School; Delaware
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Indiana
Florida Teens Read, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Florida
Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Teen; Arizona
Green Mountain Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Master List; Grades 9-12; Vermont
Iowa Teen Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Iowa
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2009 ; Nominee; Grades 9-12; Kentucky
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2009 ; Nominee; High School; Rhode Island
Sequoyah Book Award, 2010 ; Masterlist; High School; Oklahoma
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Wyoming
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; South Carolina
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2008-2009 ; Texas
Volunteer State Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Tennessee
West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA), 2009 ; Reading List; Older Reader; Australia
Wisconsin Battle of the Books, 2008-2009 ; Senior; Wisconsin
Young Reader's Choice Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Senior; United States

My conclusion
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a great book. Yes, it does have a masturbation scene in it. Yes, there is racism. However, it has been given numerous awards and honors. It clearly has literary merit. While I can see why some parents might not like the book, it has a definite place in both the school and public library. It should be placed in a YA section. It would be more appropriate for high schoolers than for middle schoolers but acceptable reading for both.