Have you taught a banned book lately? If you’re a Plugged-in teacher, you may have! Janet Allen hand-picked all the titles for Plugged-in, and some of the high interest, high quality, award winning books she picked have actually been challenged or banned in the past. Banned Books Week is a great time to bring up the topic with your students.

The ALA has comprehensive lists of banned and challenged books since 1990, even noting the most frequently challenged books of 1990-1999, but even their lists don’t catch all the challenges.

Though it’s a sensitive topic, it’s one that is especially important to address in some way with today’s kids. Has censorship or book challenging touched your classroom? We’d love to hear your story and learn how you dealt with the situation. Do you bring up the topic with your students? How do you deal with controversial topics in books? If you know of a book being challenged in your area, encourage your students to get involved and share stories of how a banned or challenged book changed their lives.

The following Plugged-in books have been banned or challenged in the past:
• Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher (ALSC Notable Recording, ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Best Book for YA, ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, SLJ Best Book, SLJ Best of the Best Book, 1992 Michigan Library Association Best Young Adult Book, Nominee 1992-1993 Maine Student Book Award, Nominee 1995 Garden State Teen Book Award, Nominee 2004 Isinglass Teen Read Awards)
Plugged-in to Reading Level 3
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: homosexuality, offensive language

• Go Ask Alice by Anonymous/Beatrice Sparks (YALSA 100 Best Books (1950-2000), YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults)
Plugged-in to Nonfiction Level 3
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: drug use, offensive language, sexually explicit

• The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson (ALSC Notable Recording, AudioFile Earphones Award, National Book Award Winner (Young People’s Literature), Newbery Honor Book)
Plugged-in to Reading Level 1
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: blasphemy, offensive language, not suitable for age level

• The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney (Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, Pacific Northwest Young Reader’s Choice Award, Tennessee Volunteer State Award, Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award, Iowa Children’s Choice Award, Iowa Teen Book Award, Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award)
Plugged-in to Reading Level 2
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: offensive language, sexual situations

For some additional (and very clever!) inspiration, check out this video from ALA: “I’d like to find *BLEEP*.” (Hat tip to @cathyjo for reminding me about it!) Bonus points if anyone can figure out the books he’s mouthing that get bleeped out or (a bit easier) the covers that are blurred!