While a Christian mother of four, Laura Mallory, calls Harry Potter "evil," blames the influence of his books for school shootings, and tries to get the young wizard banned from her suburban Atlanta school district, J.K. Rowling's Potter series was named the "most challenged" books of the 21st century by the American Library Association in conjunction with Banned Books Week.
Challenges are defined as formal, written complaints filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness; and the ALA reports there were more than 3,000 attempts to remove books from schools and public libraries between 2000 and 2005 - over 3000 times where "I don't approve of this" turned into "This shouldn't be available."
ALA president Leslie Burger said, "Throughout history, there always have been a few people who don't want information to be freely available. And this is still true." Those wild-eyed librarians are out there on the battle lines fighting to keep controversial viewpoints available to all - God love 'em.
In addition to taking the honors for most challenged, the vastly popular Potter series, with over 300 million books sold throughout the green earth, was also voted favorite from among all challenged books by readers in an online ALA poll.
Harry Potter has sort of a George Washington primacy: "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen."
Maintaining her usual public equanimity, series author J.K. Rowling — the billionaire mother of three who lives in Perthshire, Scotland — wrote on her website last week, "Once again, the Harry Potter books feature on this year's list of most-banned books. As this puts me in the company of Harper Lee, Mark Twain, J. D. Salinger, William Golding, John Steinbeck and other writers I revere, I have always taken my annual inclusion on the list as a great honour. 'Every burned book enlightens the world.' - Ralph Waldo Emerson."
Interesting - Emerson's full quote enlightens further as to his meaning: "Every burned book or house enlightens the world; every suppressed or expunged word reverberates through the earth from side to side." The very act of burning or suppressing calls attention to that being suppressed.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
For a minute I thought that said Laura Malfoy.
2 - DJRadiohead
Excellent, EO. You do another fantastic job of going beyond the headlines and providing some context to the story.
3 - lori
Honk if you love librarians.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
aa-OOO-ga
5 - Robin Kavanagh
It still amazes me that the people who are so ardent about censorship still haven't figured out that if you don't want your kids looking at "offensive" materials or you don't want to either, then don't. You can turn off the radio or the TV, decide not to pick up that book or magazine. It's up to you. But what's not up to you is making that decision for me or my kids.
Honk honk! Librarians rule.
6 - Eric Olsen
thanks all! Librarians ARE the quiet guardians of our access to knowledge and information, and long may they reign!
7 - Donnie Marler
Fine story, Eric. I've never believed in the concept of banning a book. I find the very idea repulsive. I suppose it's the thought of another person taking it upon themselves to decide what I should, or should not, have access to.
One can find compelling stories in strange places. One of the finest, most heartbreaking stories I've ever read was entitled 'Undercover Angel'. It was about a California policeman who infiltrated the Hell's Angels, sent many of them to prison, and ended up as a convict himself. Where did I read this gripping narrative of a cop gone bad?
Penthouse magazine.
I don't remember a single photo, but I will never forget that story.
Censor yourself, leave me alone.
8 - Eric Olsen
great story Donnie, thanks
9 - Vikk Simmons
I imagine Rowling is pleased. Since Banned Books week is an annual event, her book is sure to be an ongoing feature and will continue to get ink. (Not that she doesn't have all that already.)
For other authors, though, who make the list it does manage to give them some additional sales and/or attention. When a friend of mine's book made one of the lists, she received an invitation to speak that year during Banned Book Week at a local bookstore.
10 - Eric Olsen
it IS an honor, since to make the list you have to be both read and provocative
11 - Snarkattack
How is it that the country that responsible for creating "Magic the Gathering" can find evil in Harry Potter? Yes, I know, thankfully only a select few in the States seem to hold this opinion.
Go librarians, go! We love you!
12 - Eric Olsen
there are people who believe anything that doesn't celebrate their particular religion is evil - I think it's as simple as that
13 - Schlubalybub
Oh goodness. Harry Potter is essential in the classroom. I have used Harry Potter in the classroom, and I assure you that none of my children have shot another since they have read Harry Potter. However, before I read it, one child shot another by accident with an air rifle. So I suppose I could argue that Harry Potter promotes the idea NOT to shoot up the school...
14 - nellbear
I just now read that Mrs. Mallory has never fully read any of the Harry Pottr books. How can she speak out on something that she has not read?