The Waiting Game...

So, I went to BAM! this morning to buy 'America' and they did not have it in the store. They had book #99, which I went ahead and bought. I suppose I could go ahead and read #99, then read #100 when it comes in next week, but I have a slight case of OCD :-) I don't like to do something out of order when I've already decided how I'm going to do it.

Alas, boys and girls, I will not be able to start reading until May 1st. During this waiting period, I've looked over the list of 100 titles/series that I'll be reading. I've got a question I would like your opinion on:

For the titles on the list that are series, should I read the ENTIRE series?

If so, there's one series on the list (there's 11 different series on the list, by the way) that has 62 books in it so far. Granted, these books on the list are generally teenaged reading (sometimes younger), but still.... 62 books?!

Now, I don't mind buying the books and getting them, but I was wondering what your opinions are. Let me know!!!! =)

#100: 'America' by E. R. Frank

Beginning my reading list is America by E. R. Frank.

Book info

242 Pages
Age 13 - 17 is the proposed reading level
ISBN-13: 9780689857720

Synopsis: Looks to be about a 15-year old boy with emotional issues who loses the will to live. Until a doctor steps onto the scene and helps the 15-year old with his problems.

Reason for being banned/challenged: Because the book contains an inappropriate use of language and graphic description of sexual activity.

I will be going to the bookstore tomorrow and buying this book so that I can begin reading it. Once I've started and read into the book a few chapters, I will update everyone with my thoughts about it.

Stay tuned.... =)

Groundless Fear or Valid Point(s)...???

This interest all began when my mother-in-law gave me a list of books (was not 100) and asked me to find out why they were banned from being read in some public schools.

Now, I've already read some of the books on the Top 100 (list acquired from www.ala.org), but in the interest of this blog, I'm going to re-read them. What I'm intending to do is start with the least challenged book (#100) and work my way up to the most challenged book (#1). Before I begin reading, I will post a blog with book info (title, author, overview of book, etc.) and then give you the reasons I found as to why it's a banned/challenged book. I will post various blogs during the course of my reading the book. Once it's finished, I will post my opinion on whether I find the banned/challenged reasons valid.

I don't expect anybody to join me in reading these books, but if you would like to I would welcome the comments to any or all of my blogs.

I don't know how long this will take me to work thru all 100 titles/series, so I'm not even going to begin to give myself a time limit.

Some books I'm sure I will find boring, while I find others exciting and easy to read. However, throughout it all I'm hoping to expand my literary knowledge and to develop a deeper appreciation of the written word.... which, to me, is losing its ground in this new technological phase this world has entered into over the past 20 years.

So, join me on my journey thru the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000 - 2009!

=)