Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Twilight is the first book in a series centuring around a high school girl named Bella Swan who moves to Forks, Washington to live with her dad. At her new school she encounters a mysterious boy named Edward Cullen who takes a strange interest in her. She soon discovers that Edward and his family are all vampires. Despite Edward's self-loathing for what he is, Bella falls in love with him and a romance kindles.

* For a more detailed summary - http://www.fantasybooksandmovies.com/twilight-book.html

Twilight is a fairly new book, only having been published in 2005. Despite this book only having been out for a little over 6 years, it has been challenged and even banned by many schools.Several Catholic schools in the states have banned the book from their libaries for issues ranging from the sexual content of the novel encouraging sex in young adults to cliques being created in schools in which those who have read the books freely pick on those who haven't. Other Catholic and Christian schools have banned the book simply for featuring supernatural creatures.

* For more info on the banning of Twilight in religious schools - http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/schools-ban-racy-twilight-books-by-stephanie-meyer/story-e6frewyr-1225772090737

* And also -  http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/christian-coalition-wants-twilight-books-banned

Do you think Twilight is an acceptable book to be read in schools? Do you think kids are influenced by the material in any negative or positive ways to argue your side?

* 5 points extra credit

Happy reading,
Ms. Lewis

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

A personal favorite of mine.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic tale of innocence, prejudice, and courage. The story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama and centers around a young girl named Scout who is naive of the injustices happening around her,but becomes exposed to the issues of the world as her father, a lawyer, takes on a case defending a black man who is accused of beating and raping a white woman. As the trial progresses, it is made apparently clear by Scout's father that the black man in question could not have beaten or raped the woman. However, the man is still found guilty and is later shot and killed when attempting to escape his unjust fate.

* For a more detailed summary follow this link - http://www.wikisummaries.org/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird


To Kill a Mockingbird was first challenged and banned in 1997 in Eden Valley, Minnesota for using the terms "damn" and "whore." It was challenged again in 1981 in Township schools of Warren, Indiana by three black parents who stated that the book does "psychological damage to the positive integration process" and "represents institutionalized racism under the guise of good literature." The book has faced many challenges in the time between then and now, the most recent being in 2007 when it was retained in the English curriculum by the Cherry Hill, New Jersey Board of Education because the residents feared that the book would upset any black children reading it.

* For more information on the challenges/bannings of To Kill a Mockingbird - http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsbanned

What do you think about the issues these people had with To Kill a Mockingbird? Do you think their issues were valid? Do you agree or disagree with them? Would you want To Kill a Mockingbird allowed to be read in your school?

* 5 points extra credit

Hello class,

This is the first entry of Ms. Lewis' Banned and Challenged Book Club. This blog will not only provide interesting information on books that were once banned from schools in the US and other nations, but also information on books that are challenged today. Many believe that there are no longer such issues with certain literature in schools today, but it's far from the truth.

These blogs will provide a short summary of the books featured, information on recent challenges against the books, and the reasons why the books in question were/are being challenged or banned.

Students will recieve 5 extra credit points for commenting on the blogs with their thoughts and opinions on the books and the reasons they were banned or challenged.

Hopefully this blog will provide you with insight on importance of literature and the issues involved with it.

Happy reading,
Ms. Lewis