Banned Authors

Many banned authors find their books challenged over and over again. Complaints against a book targeted for removal from a school or classroom vary according to the views of the person or group challenging the book

Reasons may also change depending on the particular time in history, such as one of Mark Twain's most famous - and one of the most challenged books ever - Huckleberry Finn.  

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Several books by Toni Morrison have been targeted for all sorts of reasons that range from "should require parental supervision", to calling her work "pornography" and "smut"."

Probably the most well-known is her first book, The Bluest Eye. It's the story of an 11-year-old girl who is raped by her father.

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Maya Angelou 's books are often under fire, especially the one about her childhood and early teen years, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  

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Both Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou write from personal experience and real life situations.

Although sometimes gut-wrenching and difficult to read, rather than being harmful to young people, this material can be beneficial.

These books, and others like them, show us the lives of others, and can cultivate understanding and compassion for people unlike ourselves.

Couldn't we all use more of that?

Others:

Pat Conroy
Stephenie Meyer

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