She has also decided it isnt fit for any student in the district, so she filed a complaint against the acclaimed and popular novel. Within a week, a single complaint led to a countywide ban. While i understand the intent behind banning books from places like school libraries the desire to protect kids from bad influences, i disagree with the ban on looking for alaska. Yes, the book contains teen drinking, smoking, sexual content and language, but lets face reality for a moment. You can buy looking for alaska from your favorite retailer via the penguin portal. He didnt say whether the book was still in the schools. May 09, 2017 looking for alaska is a book offers teen readers the opportunity to see the same issues they might face in their lives worked out across the pages of the novel. The kids right to read project is standing against this sudden, widereaching ban. Most complaints were for offensive language and sexually explicit descriptions. Oct 19, 2015 in fact, a new jersey school recently tried to ban john greens looking for alaska and actually violated the school districts own policies in doing so.
Before a reader has even opened the book, the writer has acknowledged that this is a story, and that the story does not faithfully recount events that actually occurred. John greens awardwinning young adult novel looking for alaska once more became the target of censorship when it was recently banned from classrooms in sumner county, tennessee. This gives you new directions and point of thinking. The florida teen is used to the sun, but not the stifling, sticky heat of the deep south. His many accolades include the printz medal, a printz honor, and the edgar award. Looking for alaska national book store javascript seems to be disabled in your browser. John greens looking for alaska under attack in wisconsin. Feb 25, 2016 looking for alaska is a widely challenged book due to its racey content filled with sexual contentthat is not suitable for teenagers bertin. The book has been challenged for content dealing with sexually explicit situations. Looking for alaska is told from the point of view of sixteenyearold, miles haltera tall, lanky boy obsessed with learning the last words of. The book had already been banned as pornography in knox county in march, 2012 after a parent protested that the book went against what she was trying to teach her child. If people were rain, i was drizzle and she was a hurricane.
The book was retained at marion county high school, and many readers rejoiced. But when you write fiction, as with looking for alaska, it says a novel right on the cover. A parent in waukesha, wi has formally requested a districtwide ban on john greens awardwinning and beloved novel looking for alaska. A parent in waukesha, wi has formally requested a districtwide ban on john greens. Looking for alaska is a widely challenged book due to its racey content filled with sexual contentthat is not suitable for teenagers bertin. School library journal john green says looking for alaska challenged by colorado parents. Looking for alaska isnt a stranger to alas top ten list.
Nov 28, 2014 while reading looking for alaska, it became clear to me why some schools might ban this book from their libraries. Enjoy same store prices at national book store online. Number seven on the list of challenged books for 2012 is looking for alaska by john green. Best books on alaska 74 books goodreads share book. Jul 22, 2014 looking for alaska challenged in wisconsin, second challenge to a john green book this summer new york, ny kids right to read project and other organizations have expressed concern about a request for a districtwide ban on john greens awardwinning novel looking for alaska in waukesha, wisconsin schools. Sep 08, 2016 john green is most commonly known for his best seller, the fault in our stars, which was converted into a major motion picture in 2014, however the author rose into the spotlight for rather controversial reasons following the publication of his first novel, looking for alaska, in 2005.
All they had to do to allay their fears of leading kids off the straight and narrow path of moral living was to read the book itself. Looking for alaska, an abundance of katherines, paper towns, and the fault in our stars. It is particularly disturbing that the complaint of one parent triggered a countywide ban within the span of a single. Rather, it teaches that every person has a purpose, a great perhaps, as pudge would say.
What usually happens with looking for alaska is that a parent chooses one page of the novel to send to an administrator and then the book gets banned without anyone who objects to it having read more than that one particular page. I did not choose looking for alaska because i wished to expose my students to inappropriate material. So it could mean that the characters are looking for alaska both in the physical and the metaphorical sense. John green fights back against banning of looking for alaska. Looking for alaska pulled from school libraries comic book legal. Looking for alaska by john green goodreads share book. Looking for alaska is a young adult novel by john green, published in march 2005 by dutton juvenile. In 2005, paramount pictures received the rights to produce a film adaption of looking for alaska. Looking for alaska banning debate rages on in kentucky. Kids are more mature than you know, so instead of banning a book in high school, just dont ruin the fun for others who want to read it in their english classes. Author john greens first novel, looking for alaska, was number one on the list, ranking higher than fifty shades of grey.
Miles halter is tired of his predictable and friendless life check out the goingaway party for him at the beginning of the book, so he decides to attend culver creek boarding school in alabama for his junior year of high school. Apr 26, 2016 john greens looking for alaska has been named the most challenged book of 2015 challenge meaning someone requested to have the book removed from a school or library in a survey by an american. May 08, 2012 today, john green announced on his twitter that his awardwinning novel looking for alaska was banned in a tennessee school district. Miles life so far has been uneventful, uninspired, and he hopes that attending culver creek boarding school will allow him to find what the dying french renaissance.
A new jersey school district tried banning john greens. Best books on alaska score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Miles wants to know who alaska is when she is alive in the book, but he never really finds her, and after her death the colonel and miles search for an explanation, but they never really solve anything. Apr 28, 2016 a school in kentucky is being urged not to drop john greens novel looking for alaska from its curriculum, following a complaint from a parent that the book would tempt pupils to experiment. Now a parent in marion county, kentucky has described it. Today, john green announced on his twitter that his awardwinning novel looking for alaska was banned in a tennessee school district. We write to oppose efforts to remove the book, looking. It teaches that life is a beautiful thing, struggles and all. Dec 28, 2006 looking for alaska is another fantastic book by john green. More specifically, looking for alaska was challenged and banned because it includes a scene wherein miles and his girlfriendofoneday lara engage in oral sex.
Us battle over banning looking for alaska continues in kentucky. Unnecessary reasons for banning looking for alaska by nick. A school in kentucky is being urged not to drop john greens novel looking for alaska from its curriculum, following a complaint from a parent that the book would tempt pupils to experiment with pornography, sex, drugs, alcohol and profanity. School library journal ban on john greens looking for alaska sparks anger. Banning looking for alaska will not solve the problem of keeping bad influences out of schools because it is not a bad influence. Looking for alaska banned books project by ashley nelson on. Looking for alaska pulled from sumner county classrooms. Us battle over banning looking for alaska continues in.
Read our letter and watch the authors video statement. Looking for alaska will give older teens a lot to think about, most obviously about loss and what it means to journey into a great perhaps. Mueller, superintendent members of the board of education depew union free school district 591 terrace boulevard depew, new york 14043 february 22, 2008 dear superintendent mueller and members of the board of education. As for why looking for alaska was banned, one of the main reasons is some people consider the book to be sexually explicit. Profanity and an explicit scene featuring oral sex got looking for alaska on a banned list. Looking for alaska by john green challenged at depew high school, depew, ny kimberly a. The school decided to keep the book despite the protest. Looking for alaska is a book offers teen readers the opportunity to see the same issues they might face in their lives worked out across the pages of the novel.
Miles halter is a rising junior in a boarding school in rural alabama. If you love john green then you should definitely read this. Schools in kentucky, tennessee, and several other states have attempted to place bans on the book. Miles pudge halter is abandoning his safeokay, boringlife. Looking for alaska challenged at depew high school. Banned looking for alaska gets defense from anticensorship.
John greens looking for alaska has been named the most challenged book of 2015 challenge meaning someone requested to have the book removed from a. Buy a cheap copy of looking for alaska book by john green. Have you read a book like looking for alaska that had offensive content but also important big ideas. Looking for alaska is told from the point of view of sixteenyearold, miles halter a tall, lanky boy obsessed with learning the last words of. Tennessee is probably one of the more recognized bans. Looking for alaska banned books project by ashley nelson. All 4 books signed in person by john green directly on the title page. Looking for alaska has been featured on the 2006 top 10 best book for young adults, 2006 teens top 10 award, and 2006 quick pick for reluctant young adult readers. Students in a high school english class in sumner county, t. While reading looking for alaska, it became clear to me why some schools might ban this book from their libraries.
Looking for alaska premiered as a hulu original on october 18, 2019. Apr 29, 2016 the debate to ban looking for alaska rages on at a high school in marion county, kentucky following a parental complaint that the book would tempt students to experiment with pornography, sex. If youve read the book and are completely prepared for spoilers, visit the looking for alaska questions page for much, much more information on the book. Photos of john green at his book signing event will be included with the signed books. National coalation against censorship looking for alaska under fire in kentucky. Looking for alaska challenged at depew high school national. Sources but that night, the booze felt great, as the warmth of the wine in my stomach spread through my body. Convenient online shopping for school and office supplies, arts and crafts, gifts for all occasions, and the latest bestselling books. Jul 02, 2017 marshall university libraries banned books looking for alaska.
It is for many the crucible of our personalities, where the me of existence is forged for all time. The book deals with many touchy and sometimes dark subjects that schools might not want their students reading. Colorado parents of fort lupton middle and high school challenged the books. Looking for alaska is the story of miles pudge halter, an awkward, unpretentious boy who leaves home and public school for a boarding school in alabama, the same one his father attended. A parent in waukesha, wisconsin, has decided that john greens looking for alaska is not a book her high school daughter should read. John green is most commonly known for his best seller, the fault in our stars, which was converted into a major motion picture in 2014, however the author rose into the spotlight for rather controversial reasons following the publication of his first novel, looking for alaska, in 2005. John greens looking for alaska challenged in wisconsin. John greens looking for alaska has been named the most challenged book of 2015 challenge meaning someone requested to have the book removed from a school or library in a survey by an american library association. Looking for alaska has been named the most complained about book of 2015 in america for its offensive language and sexually explicit descriptions from many schools. His whole life has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the great perhaps even more francois rabelais, poet. It is particularly disturbing that the complaint of one parent triggered a countywide.
John greens looking for alaska has been named the most challenged book of 2015 challenge meaning someone requested to have the book. Sep 27, 2019 profanity and an explicit scene featuring oral sex got looking for alaska on a banned list. Ellen cox said when she and her husband looked at the book looking for alaska, which was on her daughters. In which john discusses the american library associations recent announcement that his book looking for alaska was the most challenged book in the u. Marshall university libraries banned books looking for alaska. Looking for alaska challenged in wisconsin, second.
John greenes printz awardwinning looking for alaska has been. But since thats the category of books most frequently challenged in public schools and libraries and highlighted during the american library associations banned book week, its all part of my job. Jul 25, 2014 a waukesha mom who wanted a book eliminated from the district has lost her battle. The main sex scene is a very brief and non vivid description of something that happens. I chose an award winning novel that i knew would engage and inspire my students. Mar 21, 2018 john greens response to the backlash was absolutely spot on,text is meaningless without context. School library journal ban on john greens looking for alaska. If youve read the book and are completely prepared for spoilers, visit the looking for alaska questions page for much, much more information on. Looking for alaska, john green looking for alaska is john greens first novel, published in march 2005 by dutton juvenile. Their objection to the book was that it contained graphic language and sexual content. The tennessee legislature recently passed a bill that says teachers cannot encourage gateway sexual activity. Abc affiliate wisn 12 news reported on the attempt to ban looking for. Unnecessary reasons for banning looking for alaska why should looking for alaska not be banned. In fact, a new jersey school recently tried to ban john greens looking for alaska and actually violated the school districts own policies in doing so.
Waukesha a waukesha school district committee voted unanimously friday to reject a parents motion to ban the book looking for alaska from schools ellen cox filed the request after her. Exclusive discounts when you shop online from the philippines most loved book store. A school in kentucky is being urged not to drop john greens novel looking for alaska from its curriculum, following a complaint from a parent. The kids right to read project, a joint project of the national coalition against censorship ncac and the american booksellers foundation for free expression abffe, is opposing the books removal. Panel rejects parent request to ban looking for alaska. Work cited sex scenes are one of the leading causes for people trying to ban looking for alaska.
Greens bestselling novel, which won the american library associations michael l printz award for the best book written for teens, based entirely. The book does contain a twopage oral sex scene, one of two mildly erotic passages in the book, but if that is the part of the book that people decide to focus on, they missed the main. Looking for alaska is another fantastic book by john green. Fascinated by the last words of famous people, pudge leaves for boarding school to seek what. When it comes to guilt and grief, its important to forgive not only others but also ourselves.
A special 10th anniversary edition of looking for alaska was released in 2015. The debate to ban looking for alaska rages on at a high school in marion county, kentucky following a parental complaint that the book would tempt students to experiment with pornography, sex. Mar 03, 2005 looking for alaska, john green looking for alaska is john greens first novel, published in march 2005 by dutton juvenile. This is not the first time his novel has been targeted by. In 2005, paramount pictures received the rights to produce a. In his first novel, looking for alaska, john green captures that feeling with freshness, candor and heart. Anyone who comments on the blog between sept 20 and sept 29 will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of looking for alaska or another book from the ala banned book list. Smoking in looking for alaska alcohol in looking for alaska but there is so much to do. Sep 20, 20 your kids are growing up, which means looking for alaska is a great book for kids to read in high school english classes. A waukesha mom who wanted a book eliminated from the district has lost her battle.
Looking for alaska challenged in wisconsin, second challenge to a john green book this summer new york, ny kids right to read project and other organizations have expressed concern about a request for a districtwide ban on john greens awardwinning novel looking for alaska in waukesha, wisconsin schools. Looking for alaska has been featured on the 2006 top 10 best book for young adults, 2006 teens top 10 award, and 2006 quick pick for. Miles pudge halter is done with his safe life at home. Seizing the opportunity implied by the new law, officials in sumner county last week banned john greens young adult novel looking for alaska from the school curriculum because it contains an oral sex scene one of two mildlyerotic passages in the novel. What did people find so disturbing in a book that they wanted. May 15, 2012 banned looking for alaska gets defense from anticensorship groups. Apr 12, 2016 in which john discusses the american library associations recent announcement that his book looking for alaska was the most challenged book in the u. Why your kid should read banned books the washington post.
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