Dangerously Daring People: Read a book week!

[holdouttrout]

I know what you're thinking. "Read a book? But I read books all the time!"

But it makes sense, I swear! For one thing, books are awesome. For another thing, people throughout history have believed that books are some of the most dangerously daring objects ever created by man. More dangerous than operating heavy machinery while on cold medicine!

Okay, so banned book week isn't until like, September, but the Young Reader's Choice Award nominees are quietly stalking library bookshelves near you. And if there's one thing about YRCA books, it's that some of them are regarded as very daring indeed.

Looking for Alaska, in the senior division, is a book about Miles "Pudge" Halter and his friends and experiences at a boarding school in Florida. It tackles some pretty hefty issues, and even has an (hilarious) almost-sex scene (on which grounds it was challenged by parents at Depew High School near Buffalo, New York for being "pornographic").

Or Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in the intermediate division, which has controversy following it simply because it's Harry Potter. (It also has some pretty mature themes.)

Of course, there are also some plain good reads among the nominees--and I don't think you can go too wrong with any of them. Personally, I love reading good YA literature, possibly even more than reading good "adult" literature. (I mean the normal fiction sections, you gutter-minded people.)

What books have you read recently that challenged you? Doesn't have to be YA or challenged...just challenging.

Comments

[shutthef-up.livejournal.com]

You know, I've always enjoyed good YA fiction. I've certainly enjoyed the entire Harry Potter series, as has my 70-something father.

I'm always rather amused and surprised by those folks to object to it, based on the whole witchcraft thing. First of all, it couldn't be further from *real* witchcraft/wicca if it tried. Secondly, magic really has nothing to do with the larger themes of the books. Prejudice, personal choices and bravery in the face of evil are *far* more important.

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

The people who loudly object to the books have never read them. They heard the word "wizard" and freaked out, and at least the ones I have talked to refuse to read even a paragraph, because they're positive it'll corrupt their sole, and possibly even that the books are the direct work of Satan, which is why everyone who has dared read has been blinded to the evil, or something. (The same person who said most of that to me also claimed that Buddha taught his followers to worship Satan. We're not talking rational debate here.)

[holdouttrout.livejournal.com]

Even though I admit the books are somewhat flawed, they are damn enjoyable and good books, full of characters who try to Do the Right Thing, even though they are not perfect.

So no, I don't get the witchcraft thing, either.