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Top 10 List how we choose |
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1984
This book was written by George Orwell as he lay on his deathbed.
It is thought to make several political statements from the time
period. Learn about the concept of Big Brother and read other terms
that were not heard of before the book was published, but are now
part of common speech. The book is controversial because some people
believe it promotes communism and free sex. The
characters in the book do not regard freedoms as important. Free
speech and privacy are nonexistent. |
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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Samuel Clemens, writing under the pen name of Mark Twain,
published this book in 1885. The story is about a spirited young boy
who runs away with a black slave, escaping down the mighty
Mississippi River. The book has come under criticism on many levels.
Young Huck Finn readily lies to authority figures. The book has also
been criticized as being racist, because of some of the language
used and the portrayal of Jim. The book is now in the public domain
and readily available online. You can even view the original
illustrations. |
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Are You There God? It's me, Margaret
Young ladies across America have appreciated Judy Blume books for
many years. Still, her books are not without controversy, including
this coming of age book about a young girl worried about boys,
making friends, and increasing the size of her bust. Blume's book
has been criticized by some as having inappropriate content for
twelve year olds. Margaret also experiments with different religions
throughout the book, which has caused the story to be criticized by
some parents. Blume also wrote
Forever, which is often criticized as glorifying sex between
teenagers. |
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Flowers in the Attic
Virginia C. Andrews published Flowers in the Attic in 1979.
The book is about a mother who goes home because her father is dying
and she wants his money. The grandmother is abusive and believes the
children are evil because they are the result of an incestuous
relationship between the mother and her uncle. The four siblings are
locked in an attic in a small room together. There are many
controversial themes in this book, such as incest, child abuse, and
mothers who kill their children. The book was followed by
Petals on the Wind, which continues the story of the
Dollanganger family. |
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Harry Potter series
When J.K. Rowling penned the Harry Potter series, she likely had
no idea how big the books would become. With their popularity has
come some concerns from parents and others. The claims against Harry
Potter stem from concerns with the actual character. Harry is a
young wizard and attends a school of wizardry. Some feel the books
focus too much on the occult. Instead of clearly portraying good
versus evil, the opponents would say that the lines are blurred.
Others say the books are just harmless childhood fun. |
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If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer
The
O.J. Simpson murder trial is arguably one of the most famous
criminal tries of the 20th Century. Although he was found not guilty
at his criminal trial, a later civil court case found him liable.
Confessions of the Killer is O.J.'s description of how he would
have committed the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald
Goldman if he were actually the killer. There were cries of rage
from the Goldman family before the book was every released. Those
who felt O.J. got away with murder found the book highly offensive. |
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The Boy Who Lost His Face
Louis Sachar, also author of works of literature like
Holes and the
Wayside School series, penned The Boy Who Lost His Face.
The story is about a young man who is picking on an old woman and
winds up with a curse. The book has been criticized because of
elements like swearing, using the middle the finger, and the use of
graphic words. Those who worry over elements of the occult in books
will be concerned over the concept that the old woman is a witch and
is able to play a curse on the main character. |
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The
Catcher in the Rye
This book is one that seems to reach young people on their level,
even though it was penned in the 1950s. J.D. Salinger wrote many
books in his career, but The Catcher in the Rye is one of his
best known works. The site offers ideas for finding his other
published works. Those who have banned or attempted to ban this
book have cited the following reasons for their concern: language,
premarital sex, prostitution, and the use of alcohol. There have
also been several famous killers that were obsessed with the book. |
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The Da Vinci Code
This
Dan Brown book is actually a mystery fiction novel centered
around a detective named Robert Langdon. The book has been
surrounded in controversy because of the religious themes. Some of
the critics have complained that it covers issues they consider
blasphemous, such as that Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene. The
main complaint is against the contentious analysis of Christian
history. Despite its critics, the book and the movie made from the
book have made millions of dollars. |
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The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
The title of this novel is pretty funny and speaks to young girls.
The book is written by
Carolyn Mackler. It is about a young girl with a plus size body.
While some cheer Mackler for creating a book that has a character
that is built like many young girls are in reality, others criticize
the book for some of its content. Criticisms include that the book
has offensive language and focuses too much on the character's
weight. The book also has some sexual content that was cited as a
concern. |
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