When I was in middle school, I leafed through Harriet Beecher Stowe's, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Around that same time, I think I read most of Judy Blume's "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." In high school, I read both of Twain's most popular, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.
Why did I read these? Because I wasn't supposed to! Duh!
Why else would a 12 year old boy be reading about slaves and female puberty? Okay, maybe the female puberty stuff makes more sense. But the reason-the ONLY reason I ever picked these books up was because I knew they had "questionable" content..
In Ohio, there's a famous situation going on right now. A high school had planned to dramatize Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" for their spring production. Tain't gonna happen. Apparently, the school board caught flack for this because some take offense to the term "indian." Understandable. Native Americans have every right to be called whatever they want to be called. Is it offensive? I don't know-I'mm not of the heritage in question.
But ya know what? I now want to read this classic work! Yup, throw it in with my readings of "The Slaughterhouse Five" and "Catcher in the Rye" and everything else eveer deemed "questionable."
Ban a book and insure it's popularity. Ban books and you'll certainly have more little Marcus Engels out there reading them. Ban books and see how many kids are inspired to read!
My idea? Ban amazon.com altogether and we'll get every kid in America reading! Wishful thinking? Yes. And I'm not serious-I obviously love amazon.
Just know that the more something is shunned by, well, anyone, makes it fair game of interest for everyone else.
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Ten Little Indians is a really great Christie novel. I've read them all. The "Ten Little Indians" refers to the children's song we all used to sing...duh. School Boards can be so stupid!!
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