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Initech

(99,915 posts)
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 01:34 PM Apr 2013

2012's Banned Books: Kids Book "Captain Underpants" and "50 Shades Of Grey" Top List

The steamy trilogy joins the list of books most-often challenged at libraries, joining the ranks of Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Beloved" and Dav Pilkey's popular "Captain Underpants" books.



NEW YORK — Here's a list "Fifty Shades of Grey" was destined to make: The books most likely to be removed from school and library shelves in the U.S.

On Monday, E L James' multimillion selling erotic trilogy placed No. 4 on the American Library Association's annual study of "challenged books," works subject to complaints from parents, educators and other members of the public. The objections: Offensive language, and, of course, graphic sexual content.

No. 1 was a not a story of the bedroom, but the bathroom, Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" books (Offensive language, unsuited for age group), followed by Sherman Alexie's prize-winning "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" (Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit), and Jay Asher's "Thirteen Reasons Why" (Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide). Also on the list, at No. 10, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison's "Beloved" (Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence).

"It's pretty exciting to be on a list that frequently features Mark Twain, Harper Lee, and Maya Angelou," Pilkey said in a statement. "But I worry that some parents might see this list and discourage their kids from reading 'Captain Underpants,' even though they have not had a chance to read the books themselves."

http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/fifty-shades-makes-list-of-books-people-want-banned-from-libraries


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2012's Banned Books: Kids Book "Captain Underpants" and "50 Shades Of Grey" Top List (Original Post) Initech Apr 2013 OP
My two older boys (ages 4 & 6) love captain underpants. Skinner Apr 2013 #1
Yep, I remember my nephews loved them when they were at that age AgingAmerican Apr 2013 #5
I can't help but be a little amused by a country that bans books but not guns. Aristus Apr 2013 #2
Yup. That's the only freedom they care about: shooting first and asking questions later. Initech Apr 2013 #3
What you said libodem Apr 2013 #4

Skinner

(63,645 posts)
1. My two older boys (ages 4 & 6) love captain underpants.
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 01:47 PM
Apr 2013

Not surprised some parents disapprove--lots of potty humor and tweaking authority figures.

Personally, I really enjoy reading them to my kids. Some of the humor is really juvenile, but some of it is actually surprisingly smart. The books are silly and fun and a little bit subversive. Anything that'll make my boys beg me to read more is a great thing.

Aristus

(66,097 posts)
2. I can't help but be a little amused by a country that bans books but not guns.
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 02:54 PM
Apr 2013

OTOH, we're rapidly becoming the backward, provincial, ignorant, gun-crazed idiocracy the teabaggers want us to be, so it all makes sense...

Initech

(99,915 posts)
3. Yup. That's the only freedom they care about: shooting first and asking questions later.
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 03:06 PM
Apr 2013

Any other right you attempt to address - the right to food, shelter, clean air, clean water, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, illegal search and seizure, right to a living wage and health care, they're quick to make a Nazi comparison faster than Hitler annexed Poland.

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