Every year, the American Library Association (ALA) compiles a list of books that are petitioned for removal from libraries, schools, and universities across the country. In celebration of Banned Books Week, below are a series of quotes from their 2017 Top Ten Most Challenged Books List.
***Please note, half of these titles are children’s books banned simply for shining a positive light on LGBQT characters. However, the other half, include explicit language. The quote for Book 4 is particularly graphic and some readers may find it distressing. That being said, I do believe all of these books — and their messages — should be accessible.***
10. I am Jazz
I have a girl brain but a boy body. This is called transgender. I was born this way!
They didn’t spend much time withthegirl
penguins, and the girl penguins didn’t spend much time with them. Instead, Roy and Silo wound their necks around each other. Their keeper Mr. Gramzay noticed the two penguins and thought to himself, “They must be in love.”
8.The Hate U Give
PAC said Thug Life stood for The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody.
7.To Kill a Mockingbird
“You aren’t really a nigger-lover, then, are you?”
“I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody… I’m hard put, sometimes—baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.”
6.Sex is a Funny Word
“Only boys and girls? What about the rest of us?”
“Excellent question, Zai. If everybody is different, how could there be only two kinds of people?”
“Wait. What?”
“I think this is the part where they tell us about the difference between boys and girls.”5.George
George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the sounds. ‘Mom, what if I’m a girl?’
4. The Kite Runner
Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan’s hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan’s back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn’t struggle. Didn’t even whimper. He moved his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face. Saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb.
3. Drama
West still doesn’t know if he’s really gay. Or, I dunno, bi, or whatever.
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
All my white friends can count their deaths on one hand. I can count my fingers, toes, arms, legs, eyes, ears, nose, penis, butt cheeks, and nipples, and still not get close to my deaths.
1. Thirteen Reasons Why
Statement number one: “I’m only playing, Hannah.”
Translation: Your ass is my play-toy. You might think you have final say over what happens to your ass, but you don’t. Not as long as “I’m only playing.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these books and their quotes!
To see more on banned books, check out our posts from previous years, here and here.
By Rina Mody
Rina’s a marketing assistant at a publishing company in NY. She’s an avid traveler and loves to go to new places – both real and fictional.
