CHALLENGE BANNING FACTORS:
CENSORING OF STEPheN KING
Four of Stephen King’s books made it to the American Library Association’s (ALA) list of the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 1990 – 1999.” Cujo, being the highest at number 49, followed by Carrie and The Dead Zone at numbers 81 and 82 respectively, with the last one, Christine, at number 95. These books fell off the ALA list for 2000-2009, however; that has not removed these books, and many others written by Stephen King, from being in the crosshairs of parents, who are cited as being the largest initiator of book challenges, without a doubt. In the time period between 1990 and 2010, there were 6,103 challenges to books by parents. This is followed by the second largest initiator of a patron, with a meager 1,450 challenges. The ALA does not consider their reports to be comprehensive; they feel that for every reported incident of censorship or challenge, as many as four to five go unreported.
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The top four books of Stephen King to be challenged/banned are as follows along with the cited reasons:
SONGS ON VIDEO ABOVE: Showdown at the Ballet, Treaty, Complications from Carter Burwell's Twilight Score. If you would like to hear the full song they can be found respectively at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxTpvA-pUG0 http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=8XdN9Mf6qos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFCyYeQktPQ
The top four books of Stephen King to be challenged/banned are as follows along with the cited reasons:
CUJO - 1981
o 1984:
§ Mississippi parents of students in the Rankin County School District, challenged book because of profanity and sexually objectionable material. The school board voted to keep the book in the libraries.
o 1985:
§ Parents in Bradford, New York complained the book was “a bunch of garbage.” It was removed from the library.
§ School Trustees in Hayward, California refused to approve a purchase order (also Chrstine) for the high school library because of “rough language” and “explicit sex scenes.”
§ The Board of Education in Washington County, Alabama unanimously voted to remove the novel (and Christine) from all school libraries based on “unacceptable language” and being “pornographic.”
o 1987:
§ School officials in Durand, Wisconsin did not like the book because of “violence” and “inappropriate language.” The school board appointed a nine-member panel to review the matter – it was never pursued and the book remained.
o 1992:
§ Parents asked for removal of this book (including Christine and The
Dead Zone), citing “filthy language” and “not suitable for high school
students.” The School Board voted 5-1 to ban the books.
§ Parents in South Portland, Maine asked the school board to remove the book because of “profanity” and “sexual references.” The review committee recommended it be kept and it was not removed.
§ Parents in Sparta, Illinois asked for ALL books written by King to be
removed stating the are “violent” and “contain sex and explicit language.” The board honored the parents request to not allow the children to read the books in the classroom, but refused to ban the books from the school library.
§ Banned in the school system of Peru, Indiana, because the books are considered “filthy.”
o 1994:
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Carrie, Christine, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged the books because of “age appropriateness.”
o 1998:
§ Thrown in the trash by the principal at Cook County High School in
Prineville, Oregon. Parent, Sue Baca wanted all of King’s books as well as other horror books removed from shelves, stating, “I object to any book by Stephen King as he writes horror fiction, which has no value.”
§ Parent, Ann Carver filed complaint stating her sixth grade son, of West Hernando Middle School, had been upset by the sexually explicit scenes and vulgar language. The librarian stated the book had been in the library since the school first opened and was popular with the students. Book was eventually placed in a restricted access area of
library.
THE DEAD ZONE – 1979
o 1987:
§ Book removed from West Lyon Community School library in Larchwood, Iowa cited as “it does not meet the standards of the
community.”
o 1992:
§ Has been restricted to high school students and requires parental
permission in Duval County, Florida school system because of “filthy
language.”
§ Banned in the school system of Peru, Indiana, because the books are considered “filthy.”
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Carrie, Cujo, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the
Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged
the books because of “age appropriateness.”
o 1984:
§ Mississippi parents of students in the Rankin County School District, challenged book because of profanity and sexually objectionable material. The school board voted to keep the book in the libraries.
o 1985:
§ Parents in Bradford, New York complained the book was “a bunch of garbage.” It was removed from the library.
§ School Trustees in Hayward, California refused to approve a purchase order (also Chrstine) for the high school library because of “rough language” and “explicit sex scenes.”
§ The Board of Education in Washington County, Alabama unanimously voted to remove the novel (and Christine) from all school libraries based on “unacceptable language” and being “pornographic.”
o 1987:
§ School officials in Durand, Wisconsin did not like the book because of “violence” and “inappropriate language.” The school board appointed a nine-member panel to review the matter – it was never pursued and the book remained.
o 1992:
§ Parents asked for removal of this book (including Christine and The
Dead Zone), citing “filthy language” and “not suitable for high school
students.” The School Board voted 5-1 to ban the books.
§ Parents in South Portland, Maine asked the school board to remove the book because of “profanity” and “sexual references.” The review committee recommended it be kept and it was not removed.
§ Parents in Sparta, Illinois asked for ALL books written by King to be
removed stating the are “violent” and “contain sex and explicit language.” The board honored the parents request to not allow the children to read the books in the classroom, but refused to ban the books from the school library.
§ Banned in the school system of Peru, Indiana, because the books are considered “filthy.”
o 1994:
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Carrie, Christine, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged the books because of “age appropriateness.”
o 1998:
§ Thrown in the trash by the principal at Cook County High School in
Prineville, Oregon. Parent, Sue Baca wanted all of King’s books as well as other horror books removed from shelves, stating, “I object to any book by Stephen King as he writes horror fiction, which has no value.”
§ Parent, Ann Carver filed complaint stating her sixth grade son, of West Hernando Middle School, had been upset by the sexually explicit scenes and vulgar language. The librarian stated the book had been in the library since the school first opened and was popular with the students. Book was eventually placed in a restricted access area of
library.
THE DEAD ZONE – 1979
o 1987:
§ Book removed from West Lyon Community School library in Larchwood, Iowa cited as “it does not meet the standards of the
community.”
o 1992:
§ Has been restricted to high school students and requires parental
permission in Duval County, Florida school system because of “filthy
language.”
§ Banned in the school system of Peru, Indiana, because the books are considered “filthy.”
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Carrie, Cujo, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the
Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged
the books because of “age appropriateness.”
CARRIE - 1974
o 1975:
§ Challenged at Clark High School Library in Las Vegas, Nevada,
considered “trash.”
o 1978:
§ Delegated to a special closed shelf at Union High School library in
Vergennes, Vermont citing it could “harm” students, especially “younger
girls.”
o 1987:
§ Book removed from West Lyon Community School library in Larchwood, Iowa cited as “it does not meet the standards of the community.”
o 1991:
§ Banned from all of the district libraries of Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, New York.
o 1994:
§ Challenged by a parent in the Junior High East Library located in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Complaining of “the book’s language,” sexual descriptions and a “satanic killing” sequence.
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Cujo, Christine, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged
the books because of “age appropriateness.”
CHRISTINE – 1983
o 1985:
§ The Board of Education in Washington County, Alabama unanimously voted to remove the novel (and Christine) from all school libraries based on “unacceptable language” and being “pornographic.”
o 1987:
§ Book removed from West Lyon Community School library in Larchwood, Iowa cited as “it does not meet the standards of the
community.”
o 1989:
§ Parent complained about “offensive passages” and it was removed from the Washington Middle School library in Larshwood, Iowa.
o 1990:
§ Removed from the Middle School library in Llivingston, Montana because of the violence, explicit sex and inappropriate language.
It was deemed not “suitable for intended audience.”
o 1992:
§ Banned in the school system of Peru, Indiana, because the books are considered “filthy.”
o 1993:
§ Challenged (along with all other King novels) at the Webber Township High School library in Bluford, Illinois.
o 1994:
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Carrie, Cujo, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged
the books because of “age appropriateness.”
"ALA." ALA | Home - American Library Association. 2000. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedby
decade/1990_1999/index.cfm>.
Challenges by Initiator, Institution, Type, and Year." ALA | Home - American Library Association. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged
/challengesbytype/index.cfm>.
Challenge Reporting & Assistance." ALA | Home - American Library Association. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrary
materials/challengereporting/index.cfm>.
Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: 2007 Resource Book. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2007. Print.
Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A.: a Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2002. Print.
Sova, Dawn B. Literature Suppressed on Social Grounds. New York: Infobase Pub., 2006. Print.
o 1975:
§ Challenged at Clark High School Library in Las Vegas, Nevada,
considered “trash.”
o 1978:
§ Delegated to a special closed shelf at Union High School library in
Vergennes, Vermont citing it could “harm” students, especially “younger
girls.”
o 1987:
§ Book removed from West Lyon Community School library in Larchwood, Iowa cited as “it does not meet the standards of the community.”
o 1991:
§ Banned from all of the district libraries of Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, New York.
o 1994:
§ Challenged by a parent in the Junior High East Library located in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Complaining of “the book’s language,” sexual descriptions and a “satanic killing” sequence.
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Cujo, Christine, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged
the books because of “age appropriateness.”
CHRISTINE – 1983
o 1985:
§ The Board of Education in Washington County, Alabama unanimously voted to remove the novel (and Christine) from all school libraries based on “unacceptable language” and being “pornographic.”
o 1987:
§ Book removed from West Lyon Community School library in Larchwood, Iowa cited as “it does not meet the standards of the
community.”
o 1989:
§ Parent complained about “offensive passages” and it was removed from the Washington Middle School library in Larshwood, Iowa.
o 1990:
§ Removed from the Middle School library in Llivingston, Montana because of the violence, explicit sex and inappropriate language.
It was deemed not “suitable for intended audience.”
o 1992:
§ Banned in the school system of Peru, Indiana, because the books are considered “filthy.”
o 1993:
§ Challenged (along with all other King novels) at the Webber Township High School library in Bluford, Illinois.
o 1994:
§ A minister from Bismarck, North Dakota wanted this book and eight other King novels (Carrie, Cujo, The Dead Zone, The Drawing of the Three, The Eyes of the Dragon, Pet Semetary, The Shining, and Thinner), to be banned from the school libraries. He challenged
the books because of “age appropriateness.”
"ALA." ALA | Home - American Library Association. 2000. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedby
decade/1990_1999/index.cfm>.
Challenges by Initiator, Institution, Type, and Year." ALA | Home - American Library Association. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged
/challengesbytype/index.cfm>.
Challenge Reporting & Assistance." ALA | Home - American Library Association. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrary
materials/challengereporting/index.cfm>.
Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: 2007 Resource Book. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2007. Print.
Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A.: a Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2002. Print.
Sova, Dawn B. Literature Suppressed on Social Grounds. New York: Infobase Pub., 2006. Print.
