What are banned or challenged books? They are books whose presence on library shelves in schools and public libraries has been challenged because the material has been found to be objectionable. Books that have been challenged include the Harry Potter series, The Color Purple, Looking for Alaska, and The Bible.
When a book is challenged, a committee meets and discusses the reasons the book is challenged, and will sometimes meet with the complainant. Both sides of the issue are thoroughly discussed before a vote is taken on whether or not to remove the material from the shelves. These discussions can become very heated. I've been fortunate that every committee that I've ever sat on has been very professional and respectful. I've heard stories from others that not all committees have this experience.
In recognition of these challenged books, the city of Washington DC has set up the ultimate scavenger hunt! They have hidden banned and challenged books throughout the city. The books are scattered at private businesses throughout the eight wards. Each book is covered with a wrapper that explains why the book was banned. If you find a book, it is yours to keep!
The hunt began at the beginning of the month, and runs through the end of the month.
If you're in the area, come join in the hunt!
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