What books do you think of when I saw English literature? What are the plots to those books?

Have you
read them in English or your own language? Write a brief summary of the most famous English book you
know and then share it with a partner.

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Today we are going to look at some books that have been banned, or that people have tried to ban, in
America. Work with a partner to think of some ideas for banning books:

To ban books To not ban books

Can you think of any books that have been banned? Either in your own country or in others? What reasons
were given for the bans?

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

“Which one is the boy with the reddish brown hair?” I asked. I peeked at him from the corner of my eye, and he was still staring
at me, but not gawking like the other students had today – he had a slightly frustrated expression. I looked down again.

“That’s Edward. He’s gorgeous, of course, but don’t waste your time. He doesn’t date. Apparently none of the girls here are
good-looking enough for him.” She sniffed, a clear case of sour grapes. I wondered when he’d turned her down. I bit my lip to
hide my smile. Then I glanced at him again. His face was turned away, but I thought his cheek appeared lifted, as if he were
smiling, too.

After a few more minutes, the four of them left the table together. They all were noticeably graceful – even the big, brawny
one. It was unsettling to watch. The one named Edward didn’t look at me again.
If you´ve read Twilight, or seen the film, can you think of any reasons why some parents would want to ban
it? (Apart from the atrocious narrative).

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Dear Nettie,
I don't write to God no more, I write to you.
What happen to God? ast Shug.
Who that? I say.
She look at me serious.
Big a devil as you is, I say, you not worried bout no God, surely.
She say, Wait a minute. Hold on just a minute here. Just because I don't harass it like some peoples us know don't mean I ain't
got religion.
What God do for me? I ast.
She say, Celie! Like she shock. He gave you life, good health, and a good woman that love you to death.
Yeah, I say, and he give me a lynched daddy, a crazy mama, a lowdown dog of a step pa and a sister I probably won't ever see
again. Anyhow, I say, the God I been praying and writing to is a man. And act just like all the other mens I know. Trifling,
forgitful and lowdown.
She say. Miss Celie. You better hush. God might hear you.
Let 'im hear me, I say. If he ever listened to poor colored women the world would be a different place, I can tell you.

What do you think about the language used in this extract? Is it good language? The Color Purple is
considered a fantastic piece of English literature even though the language used isn´t standard English.
Correct this version of the text using the correct grammar and spelling.

TTYL(talk to you later) by Lauren Myracle

This book isn´t considered to be a fantastic piece of literature. Who do you think this book is aimed at? The
language used is not standard like The Color Purple: what type of language is it? Where would we see this
type of writing? Is it easier to understand this or the previous extract? Write the correct version of this.
Below is a news report about books that people have tried to ban in America. If these are the answers,
what are the questions:

1. 460.
2. Sexual explicitness.
3. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, gr8r.
4. Vulgarity, profanity, obscenity and sexual explicitness involving minors.

Why are parents banning school books?

By Finlo Rohrer BBC News, Washington
In the US more and more parents are pressing schools to withdraw
books with bad language or sexual content. But should children's books
be restricted in this way?
There is a battle being fought in America over books.
The skirmishes see concerned parents "challenge" books which are
being used in schools. Other parents are fighting for the right of their
children to go into their school library and pick up those very same
books.
The issue is being highlighted by the American Library Association during
its Banned Books Week. The ALA recorded 460 attempts in 2009 to have a book withdrawn from a library or classroom.
Part of the problem lies in the rise of young adult fiction. Teenage readers are now a lucrative market around the world.
The Twilight series has brought author Stephanie Meyer millions, but she has also found her work in the top 10 most challenged, with
parents objecting to sexual explicitness and unsuitability for younger readers.
Shock
More surprising to many people would be the three established literary classics on the list. The 10 most challenged include The Catcher in
the Rye, The Color Purple and even To Kill A Mockingbird.
"I was shocked that anybody would find this book offensive," says Barbara Jones, director of the office for intellectual freedom at the ALA.
Harper Lee's book has been challenged by black parents who object to the use of the word "nigger". It appears 58 times in the book, notes
Ms Jones.
But for most challenged books, the issue is usually sex or sexuality. Lauren Myracle has endured a stream of angry e-mails from parents
who are outraged by her bestselling series about a group of teenage girls. They are all written in the style of instant messaging, and the
three books are called ttyl, ttfn and l8r, gr8r.
"They are angry," she says.
A typical e-mail reads: “I've got one teenager who has got a potty mouth," says Myracle. "These are high school girls, one is trying to
decide whether to have sex with her boyfriend."
Even books for younger readers, like Myracle's work Twelve, can generate floods of complaints.
Myracle argues that to engage with teenagers you need to write honestly about
them.
"Kids need to see their world reflected back to them. I've had many girls say thank
you for writing this."
There's a disparity between the US and UK. While in the US, formal challenges to
books in school libraries are routine, they are very unusual in the UK.
"Parents are perhaps less likely to complain about the content of books in the UK as, by and large, we are a less 'religious' society," says
Ms Duncan.
Across the Atlantic, one struggle has been played out in the small town of Stockton, Missouri, over Sherman Alexie's book The Absolutely
True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
The work has won a National Book Award, but the story of a 14-year-old Native American on a poverty-stricken reservation, touched by
tragedy, upset many parents in Stockton after they learned it was being used in lessons in the school.
The opposition to the book was led by lawyer and parent Mike Holzknecht: "The book is just chock full of vulgarity, profanity, obscenity and
sexual explicitness involving minors," he says. "It doesn't belong in a school."
The school board voted to withdraw the book from the school curriculum and the school library.
Cheryl Marcum was among those who were defending the book: "It was one of the best books I've ever read in my life. The themes are
pervasive poverty, alcoholism, bullying, racism and absolutely no hope. All of that applies to Cedar County [where Stockton is].
"We believe parents have every right and responsibility to monitor what their children read. But they don't have the right to prevent other
children from reading books, particularly national award-winning books."
Mr Holzknecht accepts the book is a "nice story" but can't accept the language or the sexual explicitness.
The fundamental split is between those who think teachers should be able to challenge and engage children with edgy books, and those
who think only the parents should be allowed to do that.
"We are overprotecting our children," suggests Ms Jones. "They have heard this language. They have probably said it themselves. It isn't
dangerous for children to be able to confront unpleasant ideas. These boards are fooling themselves that if they ban the book the kids
aren't going to get hold of them," says Ms Jones.
To kids, contraband is cool.

At the bottom of most BBC articles they have a section where you can send in your own comments. Have a
look at these three comments and then write your own:

I, for one, am pleased that in a world where the internet can provide every kind of inappropriate profanity, graphic image or introduction
to strangers, that novels can still get parents' knickers in a twist. Can I say knickers?

Ian Hart, Tunbridge Well, Kent

As a parent myself, I find the excuses above for banning literary works in schools quite unfathomable. I am sure though that the authors
will benefit from increased sales, in part due to the publicity as well as the lack of availability in schools. As for To Kill a Mocking Bird,
those objecting to the terms in it should recognise the book for the period in which it is set. There are considerable numbers of swear
words and sexual innuendo in the plays of Shakespeare that no one appears to object to, probably because those likely to object either do
not understand or think that their children won't!

Simon Paul, London

I am aware of this story, I appreciate that it makes the news in the UK. Although not an "expert", I have raised three daughters and agree
fully that teens need their world reflected, explained and contextualized. Does this (or any reading material) mean they fully understand?
No. But I contend that is what parenting is for.

Kevin Pearce, Newport News, VA, USA

You´ve had time to think about the issue, write a comment to send into the BBC , either supporting or
objecting to book censorship.