In Honor of Banned Books Week

#1 Challenged Book of 2013

The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Captain Underpants #1)
by Dav Pilkey

Pilkey plays with words and pictures, providing great entertainment. The story is immediately engaging - two fourth-grade boys who write comic books and love to pull pranks find themselves in big trouble. Mean Mr. Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them. The boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring and hypnotize Krupp, turning him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation. Later, Pilkey includes several pages of flip-o-ramas that animate the action. The simple black-and-white illustrations on every page furnish comic-strip appeal. The cover features Captain Underpants, resplendent in white briefs, on top of a tall building. This book will fly off the shelves.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I’ve read about half of the Captain Underpants series—out loud to a child—and loved them almost as much, if not more, than he did. The illustrations are a great complement to the story, which in itself is downright hilarious. This series is perfect for reluctant readers. It will show them that reading can be fun while still helping them develop the habit of reading sequentially from left to right with very manageable—and did I mention hilarious?!—text.

This book was challenged not because it was “unsuited for age group” but because Pilkey dared to have the two student protagonist challenge authority and because he portrayed school personnel in the way in which he experienced them himself; detached, indifferent, of often unkind. Teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world, they teach our children, but being over-worked, under-paid and under-appreciated has led many to simply not give a damn anymore. Parents, don’t blame the graphic novel, blame the fractured system. Them stop blaming it and do something about it.

The View from Saturday

by E.L. Konigsburg

Mrs. Olinski, paralyzed in a car crash ten years ago, returns to teaching and chooses four unlikely sixth-grade Academic Bowl team, who become unlikelier champions, in more than the state competition. Julian, the strangest one on the school bus, invites Noah, red-haired Nadia, and silent Ethan, to tea.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This book stood out to me when I read it as a tween, but it meant even more to me when I reread it as an "adult" two years ago. I wish I could have been as thoughful and introspective as the characters in this book when I was their age. I loved that, at age approximately 11, these characters were able to make such deep meaningful friendships with each other, find beauty and patience in the ugly and hectic, and give hope to so many younger folks at a challenging transition--socially and developmentally--in their lives. A must for children and inner-children alike.

Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1)

by Melissa de la Cruz (Goodreads Author)

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out.

(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Being the unobservant teen that I was, I didn’t notice the obvious bite marks as part of the cover art. The vampiric theme, therefore, was a pleasant surprise to me as the story developed. This is an interesting new take on a familiar supernatural being. Fun and thrilling at the same time.

A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth.

Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I read this book years ago, but I recently saw the first three of four out on the sidewalk for anyone to take. I quickly scooped them up and shoved them into by dear boyfriend's loving--paper-cut-free!--arms saying "just read 'em!" Few books emphasize so perfectly the power of words and the power we gain from using the right ones at the right times. A tale of magic, mystery, mistakes, development, and friendship, this is a great first story in a captivating series.

Wonder (Wonder #1)

by R. J. Palacio

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

What I loved most about this book, aside from everything, was the wonderful sense of perspective the author gave us. It wasn't just Auggie's story, but the story of his sister, her boyfriend, some of his classmates, etc. Even a character that never comes around to accepting Auggie's difference is treated with compassion. I would recommend this book to any person of any age.