12 banned books you can read at the Library
Have you ever read a banned book? It’s entirely possible you have without realising it! The Bible, Little Red Riding Hood, and even the Dictionary have been banned somewhere at some point. Of course over time, attitudes change and most of the books banned in the past seem tame by today’s standards. Read on to find out more about some of the most controversial books in our collection. Which one will you read next (you rebel)?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Banned by some libraries in America for “depicting women in strong leadership roles”. Some groups also claim it promotes witchcraft.
Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The young Max misbehaves and is sent to bed without dinner. Banned in America for it’s “dark content”, it was even labelled as “psychologically damaging for 3- and 4-year-olds” by a child psychologist in the ’60s.
The Lorax by Dr Seuss
Criticized for its “excessive portrayal of consumerism” and banned in a California school because it was believed to portray logging in a poor light and would turn children against the foresting industry.
The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Banned by some American schools for being “satanic”.
Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The earliest published criticism came from Sweden, where it was alleged that Anne Frank never existed. Banned in Lebanon for its “positive depiction of Jews”, it is also challenged by some American schools for its honest depiction of sexuality and growing up.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Banned in Lebanon for its “offensiveness toward Christianity”.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Banned in South Africa for being “objectionable and obscene”.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was banned in American schools because of violence and its use of the N-word.
Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
Banned in Malaysia, along with the film adaptation, for being a “threat to morality”.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Orwell’s famous political satire, which reflects on the Russian Revolution, was banned in Russia (and was strongly promoted by the CIA during the Cold War). It was also banned in the United Arab Emirates because its “anthropomorphic pigs go against Islamic views”.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
Banned in many American schools and libraries for being “irreligious”, the movie adaptations were also called into question by an anti-smoking group in England because they feature people smoking.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence
This book was banned by Australia, as well as China, UK, Canada, Poland, Ireland, Japan and India, for being “blasphemous, indecent and obscene”.