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10 Books You Might Be Surprised To Know Are Banned

If you have read any of these, you are a literary rebel.

Melissa Curtis

Oct 05, 2015

University of Northern Iowa

120

10 Books You Might Be Surprised To Know Are Banned

If you are not already aware, Sept. 16, through Oct. 3, is Banned Books Week. The purpose of this week every year is to celebrate our freedom to read. This celebration started in 1982 and over 11,300 books have been challenged due to various reasons.

To find out more info, check out the Banned Books Week website.

1. The Dictionary

Yes, the dictionary is a banned book in some parts of California for including sexual definitions.

Apparently, some libraries still think it's called "the stork came to visit."

2. "A Light in the Attic" by Shel Silverstein

Does anybody else remember reading this book (maybe you had it read to you) or other books by Mr. Silverstein? This particular book of poems is banned in some school libraries in Florida because it promotes violence and disrespect.

Some people don't know a classic if they tripped over one.

3. "Little House on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I can't be the only one who is surprised by this one. We grew up reading this series and watching it on PBS Kids. According to a South Dakota school, this is banned because of comments made about Native Americans by some of the characters.

4. "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson

If you have either read and/or watched the movie, you know the feeling of complete and utter devastation it left in your soul. For all who suffered through this book, it makes that pain hurt even worse to know it is banned by a school in Pennsylvania school for offensive language and disrespect to authority figures.

Obviously, they just want us to suffer even more.

5. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl

This is just getting completely ridiculous. The classic novel is not only banned but locked in a collection cabinet because a Colorado librarian thought Charlie Bucket and the tour of the chocolate factory showed a "poor philosophy of life."

SOMEBODY needs to eat a Snickers.

6. The "Where's Waldo?" Series

I mean, COME ON. Give me a break here. I could almost bet my life that almost everyone tried finding Waldo at least once during their childhood. Some places in Michigan and New York banned it for questionable characters in the crowds. Example: a topless woman on the beach.

Um, maybe it was a NUDE beach.

Also, Disney got away with many sexual references, but I don't hear anyone complaining about that.

7. "Little Red Riding Hood" by Charles Perrault

You think I'm kidding? Well, I am not. Two California schools banned this because one of the refreshments in the basket was wine.

I think the grandmother is old enough to enjoy a little wine before she, you know, gets eaten by a wolf.

8. "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

This one doesn't surprise me as much, because when I read it, my teacher informed the class on how controversial the book was. Still, this is a classic that should be on everyone's "before I die" reading list.

But what does an avid reader know?

9. "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White

I absolutely adored this book when I read as a young girl, and it tears at my heart strings that's it banned for a stupid reason. Talking animals is unnatural and "blasphemous."

Someone better alert Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks about all the talking animals. Oh, I guess it's OK if it's in a movie format.

10. "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss

If I have learned anything about this, it is that some of my favorite childhood authors who wrote some of my all-time favorite books are "banned writers." The absurd reason this book received banishing is the logging industry got offended by the plot line.

Gee, I guess you should try not to offend anyone and keep to writing a happy, pleasant story. Sadly, someone would find a reason to ban that one, too.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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10 Books You Might Be Surprised To Know Are Banned

If you have read any of these, you are a literary rebel.

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You are fun, but firm.

"Getting drunk with your best friends is an experience in and of itself. It takes us on wild and ridiculous adventures with the people we trust with our lives."

The Mother Hen

The Instigator

The One Who Always Texts Her Ex

The Shakira

The Philosopher

The Reluctant Homebody

The MMA Fighter

The "I'm Not Even Drunk!" Girl

The Joey Tribbiani

The Horny Toad

The Aspiring Rapper

It's so rude that we have finals.

1. When you look at your finals schedule and become immediately overwhelmed:

2. When your professor says that the final is only going to be short answer questions:

3. When you text your parents to tell them that you're going to have a mental breakdown and drop out of college and they're just like:

4. When you're trying to study with friends, but then you realize that you haven't gotten anything done:

5. Then you just end up going on your phone.

6. When you're two weeks away from finals and your professor tells you that you should probably start studying now:

7. When you sit down to take your final and the first question hits you like:

8. When you start the practice problems and you're just like:

9. When you're in your final and find a question that you actually know the answer to:

10. When that one annoying kid in your class says that the final was super easy and they aced it:

11. When you come back from your 7:30 a.m. final and crash:

12. When your professor tries to teach you new material a week before the final:

13. When you decide to eat away the pain that is finals week by ordering massive amounts of food:

14. Filling out course evaluations for that one difficult professor like:

15. When it's right before your first final and you're just like:

16. When your professor tells that you the final is cumulative:

17. When the kid next to you keeps looking over at your test:

18. Looking back on the outfits that you wore during finals week like:

19. When it's been two hours and you've only gotten through five notecards:

20. When you finally make it to the end of the week:

There's always chaos in the restaurant business.

Anytime you turn a corner the words "corner!" without you even realizing.

People are amazed at how professional you are when speaking to strangers, or on the phone

When we say "table 17 is on a bus", table 17 isn't LITERALLY on a bus.

You understand the frustration of the functions of another existing restaurant when going out to eat.

When you repeat the same spiel 40 times you start to sound like a lifeless robot.

The rush of prime dinner service. The chaos is riveting.

You have "that guy" at a table that makes you want to pull your hair out.

Getting stiffed an entire tip is worse than dealing with a difficult human being.

When you're sitting in a restaurant you don't dare interrupt your servers table presentation.

At the end of the night, you take the first opportunity you get to take a seat.

Not everything you learn in college can be found in a textbook.

Your self control and motivation directly correlate to how close the end of the semester is.

Group projects seem to be something created by the devil himself.

Remember when you were young and you knew everything there was to know? Wrong: you knew nothing.

If there is free food offered - go!

Never believe a professor when they tell you "Don't worry, this won't be on the test."

If you want a relationship with someone, it will take effort.

Check your email before you trudge all the way to class to find out it is cancelled.

You do not need a ton of friends, just a couple of really good ones.

Take the time to do what you love.

Every Saturday you will avoid doing homework like it is the plague. When Sunday rolls around you will complain that you have way too much stuff to do and not enough time to do it.

Your college experience is what you make of it.

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