Harry Potter by J.K Rowling- The first book was published when I was in fourth grade, which was 1997.  Although I read it later in my life, it is something that I can re-read over and over again.  I can, but at the same time I can’t  understand why it would be banned.  I understand that parents might not want their kid to be reading about magic and monsters, but at the same time it’s all fiction.  I also feel like it promotes use of one’s imagination and thinking more creatively.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – I had to read this for a college class and at first hated it.  It took me a while to fully understand the importance of what this book is about.  The 1920’s were a somewhat difficult time in the United States, and was a huge part of American history. The reasons for this book being banned to me are utterly ridiculous, language and sexual references.  Sex is human nature people.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien- Banned for being satanic in one community.  I don’t see anything satanic about his book at all, but that’s just my opinion.  The series is very cultural as there are many different cultures in the book.  The books could be used to teach people to accept those from other cultures that are different from their own.  If you look at the Fellowship there’s so many different cultures that come together to form common goal.

Friday Night Lights by HG Bissinger- Banned in one community due to racism, profanity and references to sex.  Number one, this book is nonfiction meaning it is a true story, the things that happened in this book are 100% real.  The main thing about this book has to do with high school football.

1984 by George Orwell- I had a difficult time with this one, because there were so many others that I could have chosen.  However I chose this one because I remember reading it and thinking it was such a creepy book, because of “Big Brother.”  Some things that stood out to me, looking back, that really bother me today is how in the book individualism and individual thinking are considered crimes.  Something that is now celebrated is individualism and individual thinking.  I couldn’t imagine living in a world where those things were a crime.