light up the bonfires its book-burning time welcome to watchmojo.com and today
time welcome to watchmojo.com and today
time welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the
we’re counting down our picks for the
we’re counting down our picks for the top ten books that were banned for
top ten books that were banned for
top ten books that were banned for ridiculous reasons
ridiculous reasons
ridiculous reasons before we begin we publish new videos
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every day so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re
more great content for this list we’re
more great content for this list we’re covering books that were either
covering books that were either
covering books that were either challenged or banned outright for
challenged or banned outright for
challenged or banned outright for reasons that don’t make a whole lot of
reasons that don’t make a whole lot of
reasons that don’t make a whole lot of sense to most people however we’re
sense to most people however we’re
sense to most people however we’re excluding any books intended for very
excluding any books intended for very
excluding any books intended for very young children and picture books like
young children and picture books like
young children and picture books like Where’s Waldo
number 10 are you there God It’s Me
number 10 are you there God It’s Me Margaret Judy Blume this 1970 young
Margaret Judy Blume this 1970 young
Margaret Judy Blume this 1970 young adult novel focuses on all the perils of
adult novel focuses on all the perils of
adult novel focuses on all the perils of growing up as a girl it was considered
growing up as a girl it was considered
growing up as a girl it was considered revolutionary thanks to its frank
revolutionary thanks to its frank
revolutionary thanks to its frank discussion of issues like religion
discussion of issues like religion
discussion of issues like religion family and sexuality he called me
family and sexuality he called me
family and sexuality he called me Slugger until I got my first training
Slugger until I got my first training
Slugger until I got my first training bra in the book Margaret gets her first
bra in the book Margaret gets her first
bra in the book Margaret gets her first period go shopping for her first bra and
period go shopping for her first bra and
period go shopping for her first bra and experiences many other common
experiences many other common
experiences many other common coming-of-age landmarks dad yeah it
coming-of-age landmarks dad yeah it
coming-of-age landmarks dad yeah it happened what happened however over the
happened what happened however over the
happened what happened however over the years the book has been challenged or
years the book has been challenged or
years the book has been challenged or banned for being quote profane and quote
banned for being quote profane and quote
banned for being quote profane and quote sexually offensive considering the
sexually offensive considering the
sexually offensive considering the book’s goal is to teach young girls
book’s goal is to teach young girls
book’s goal is to teach young girls about the issues they will inevitably
about the issues they will inevitably
about the issues they will inevitably have to deal with this seems
have to deal with this seems
have to deal with this seems short-sighted to say the least
short-sighted to say the least
short-sighted to say the least thank you Jesus Oh actually it wasn’t me
thank you Jesus Oh actually it wasn’t me
thank you Jesus Oh actually it wasn’t me it’s okay I am used to it number nine
it’s okay I am used to it number nine
it’s okay I am used to it number nine slaughterhouse-five Kurt Vonnegut in
slaughterhouse-five Kurt Vonnegut in
slaughterhouse-five Kurt Vonnegut in what is widely considered Kurt
what is widely considered Kurt
what is widely considered Kurt Vonnegut’s most vital work the main
Vonnegut’s most vital work the main
Vonnegut’s most vital work the main character Billy Pilgrim uses time travel
character Billy Pilgrim uses time travel
character Billy Pilgrim uses time travel and a nonlinear storytelling style to
and a nonlinear storytelling style to
and a nonlinear storytelling style to share his tale it looked like the end of
share his tale it looked like the end of
share his tale it looked like the end of the world what looked like the end of
the world what looked like the end of
the world what looked like the end of the world mr. pilgrim president after
the world mr. pilgrim president after
the world mr. pilgrim president after the bombing this sci-fi tome was well
the bombing this sci-fi tome was well
the bombing this sci-fi tome was well received by critics upon its release but
received by critics upon its release but
received by critics upon its release but in the year since it’s been challenged
in the year since it’s been challenged
in the year since it’s been challenged for its so called profanity vulgarity
for its so called profanity vulgarity
for its so called profanity vulgarity sexual content and quote mention of
sexual content and quote mention of
sexual content and quote mention of religion in a 1982 Supreme Court case
religion in a 1982 Supreme Court case
religion in a 1982 Supreme Court case relating to the removal of
relating to the removal of
relating to the removal of slaughterhouse-five from the libraries
slaughterhouse-five from the libraries
slaughterhouse-five from the libraries of public schools the court ruled
of public schools the court ruled
of public schools the court ruled a book could not be banned simply
a book could not be banned simply
a book could not be banned simply because some people disliked its content
because some people disliked its content
because some people disliked its content yet even today it’s prohibited in many
yet even today it’s prohibited in many
yet even today it’s prohibited in many schools and is challenged regularly
schools and is challenged regularly
schools and is challenged regularly number 8 Harriet the Spy louise Fitzhugh
number 8 Harriet the Spy louise Fitzhugh
number 8 Harriet the Spy louise Fitzhugh many children’s books have been banned
many children’s books have been banned
many children’s books have been banned for seemingly ludicrous reasons but this
for seemingly ludicrous reasons but this
for seemingly ludicrous reasons but this one seems truly unbelievable Harriet the
one seems truly unbelievable Harriet the
one seems truly unbelievable Harriet the Spy is a landmark piece of children’s
Spy is a landmark piece of children’s
Spy is a landmark piece of children’s literature and beloved by many you’re
literature and beloved by many you’re
literature and beloved by many you’re probably thinking that there isn’t
probably thinking that there isn’t
probably thinking that there isn’t anything sensitive in this book no
anything sensitive in this book no
anything sensitive in this book no budding sexuality no swear words nada
budding sexuality no swear words nada
budding sexuality no swear words nada well the reason it was contested by one
well the reason it was contested by one
well the reason it was contested by one Ohio school board is that it apparently
Ohio school board is that it apparently
Ohio school board is that it apparently quote teaches children to lie spy and
quote teaches children to lie spy and
quote teaches children to lie spy and backtalk so what luckily this ban did
backtalk so what luckily this ban did
backtalk so what luckily this ban did not go through though other schools and
not go through though other schools and
not go through though other schools and libraries were indeed successful in
libraries were indeed successful in
libraries were indeed successful in their bids to get it off the shelves
their bids to get it off the shelves
their bids to get it off the shelves number seven the Diary of a young girl
number seven the Diary of a young girl
number seven the Diary of a young girl and Frank considering this memoirs
and Frank considering this memoirs
and Frank considering this memoirs historical merit and considering how
historical merit and considering how
historical merit and considering how many school curriculums include it it
many school curriculums include it it
many school curriculums include it it seems shocking that anyone would
seems shocking that anyone would
seems shocking that anyone would consider banning it Anne Frank’s diary
consider banning it Anne Frank’s diary
consider banning it Anne Frank’s diary has been widely read in the decades
has been widely read in the decades
has been widely read in the decades following her death during the Holocaust
following her death during the Holocaust
following her death during the Holocaust it contains her thoughts and feelings
it contains her thoughts and feelings
it contains her thoughts and feelings about a wide variety of subjects which
about a wide variety of subjects which
about a wide variety of subjects which she jotted down while hiding from the
she jotted down while hiding from the
she jotted down while hiding from the Nazis in an attic in Holland however
Nazis in an attic in Holland however
Nazis in an attic in Holland however considering the book was written by
considering the book was written by
considering the book was written by Frank in the years leading up to her
Frank in the years leading up to her
Frank in the years leading up to her death at age 15 it does feature the
death at age 15 it does feature the
death at age 15 it does feature the budding sexuality of a teenaged girl
budding sexuality of a teenaged girl
budding sexuality of a teenaged girl especially the revised 50th anniversary
especially the revised 50th anniversary
especially the revised 50th anniversary edition for this reason some parents and
edition for this reason some parents and
edition for this reason some parents and schools have tried to ban it number 6
schools have tried to ban it number 6
schools have tried to ban it number 6 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll this children’s novel was
Lewis Carroll this children’s novel was
Lewis Carroll this children’s novel was penned by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
penned by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
penned by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson better known as Lewis Carroll in 1865 it
better known as Lewis Carroll in 1865 it
better known as Lewis Carroll in 1865 it took nearly a century after its initial
took nearly a century after its initial
took nearly a century after its initial publication for readers to begin
publication for readers to begin
publication for readers to begin associating the fantastical tale with
associating the fantastical tale with
associating the fantastical tale with drug culture why don’t you try the
drug culture why don’t you try the
drug culture why don’t you try the bottle on the table table however
bottle on the table table however
bottle on the table table however decades before that the Chinese
decades before that the Chinese
decades before that the Chinese government actually banned the book for
government actually banned the book for
government actually banned the book for an entirely different reason officials
an entirely different reason officials
an entirely different reason officials did not like the fact that in the story
did not like the fact that in the story
did not like the fact that in the story animals were able to speak using the
animals were able to speak using the
animals were able to speak using the same language as humans because quote it
same language as humans because quote it
same language as humans because quote it put animals and humans on the same level
put animals and humans on the same level
put animals and humans on the same level it’s just a rabbit with a race coat
number five Lord of the Flies William
number five Lord of the Flies William Golding William Golding won the Nobel
Golding William Golding won the Nobel
Golding William Golding won the Nobel Prize for Literature
Prize for Literature
Prize for Literature but that didn’t offer his book any
but that didn’t offer his book any
but that didn’t offer his book any protection from attempted bans Lord of
protection from attempted bans Lord of
protection from attempted bans Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of
the Flies tells the story of a group of
the Flies tells the story of a group of schoolboys stranded together on an
schoolboys stranded together on an
schoolboys stranded together on an island and what happens when they’re
island and what happens when they’re
island and what happens when they’re forced to essentially create a new
forced to essentially create a new
forced to essentially create a new system of order the takeaway from this
system of order the takeaway from this
system of order the takeaway from this book is that humans can revert to
book is that humans can revert to
book is that humans can revert to brutish behavior and do anything to
brutish behavior and do anything to
brutish behavior and do anything to seize power in 1981 one North Carolina
seize power in 1981 one North Carolina
seize power in 1981 one North Carolina high school attempted to ban the book
high school attempted to ban the book
high school attempted to ban the book due to the fact that it is quote
due to the fact that it is quote
due to the fact that it is quote demoralizing in that it implies that man
demoralizing in that it implies that man
demoralizing in that it implies that man is little more than an animal hey they
is little more than an animal hey they
is little more than an animal hey they managed to encapsulate the intended
managed to encapsulate the intended
managed to encapsulate the intended theme of the novel pretty well a plus
theme of the novel pretty well a plus
theme of the novel pretty well a plus [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
number four 1984 George Orwell most
number four 1984 George Orwell most people are familiar with the premise of
people are familiar with the premise of
people are familiar with the premise of 1984 because it was on their assigned
1984 because it was on their assigned
1984 because it was on their assigned reading list in high school the novel is
reading list in high school the novel is
reading list in high school the novel is a seminal piece of dystopian fiction
a seminal piece of dystopian fiction
a seminal piece of dystopian fiction that imagines a future where a
that imagines a future where a
that imagines a future where a totalitarian government has full control
totalitarian government has full control
totalitarian government has full control over its citizens lives what’s more it
over its citizens lives what’s more it
over its citizens lives what’s more it offers a scathing critique of tyrannical
offers a scathing critique of tyrannical
offers a scathing critique of tyrannical politicians and totalitarianism which
politicians and totalitarianism which
politicians and totalitarianism which some people interpreted as a commentary
some people interpreted as a commentary
some people interpreted as a commentary on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and
on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and
on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and principle the war effort is always
principle the war effort is always
principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of
planned to keep society on the brink of
planned to keep society on the brink of starvation that’s why it’s so ironic
starvation that’s why it’s so ironic
starvation that’s why it’s so ironic that 1984 was challenged in 1981 by a
that 1984 was challenged in 1981 by a
that 1984 was challenged in 1981 by a group of Florida parents for supposedly
group of Florida parents for supposedly
group of Florida parents for supposedly being Pro communists
being Pro communists
being Pro communists even so this book’s legacy lives on
even so this book’s legacy lives on
even so this book’s legacy lives on thanks to its enduringly pertinent
thanks to its enduringly pertinent
thanks to its enduringly pertinent message and for inspiring phrases like
message and for inspiring phrases like
message and for inspiring phrases like Orwellian and big brother number three
Orwellian and big brother number three
Orwellian and big brother number three Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury banning a
Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury banning a
Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury banning a book that’s about banning books is not
book that’s about banning books is not
book that’s about banning books is not only meta but also comically ironic the
only meta but also comically ironic the
only meta but also comically ironic the overarching theme of this 50 sci-fi
overarching theme of this 50 sci-fi
overarching theme of this 50 sci-fi novel is how damaging censorship can be
novel is how damaging censorship can be
novel is how damaging censorship can be to a population in the world of
to a population in the world of
to a population in the world of Fahrenheit 451 all books are banned and
Fahrenheit 451 all books are banned and
Fahrenheit 451 all books are banned and if one is found it has to be burned
if one is found it has to be burned
if one is found it has to be burned immediately by firemen like any other
immediately by firemen like any other
immediately by firemen like any other good work it’s also variety man David
good work it’s also variety man David
good work it’s also variety man David Byrne Miller just a two-storey Wednesday
Byrne Miller just a two-storey Wednesday
Byrne Miller just a two-storey Wednesday what Whitman Friday Faulkner of course
what Whitman Friday Faulkner of course
what Whitman Friday Faulkner of course that didn’t stop some people from
that didn’t stop some people from
that didn’t stop some people from censoring the book on censorship a
censoring the book on censorship a
censoring the book on censorship a school in Irvine California decided that
school in Irvine California decided that
school in Irvine California decided that rather than banning it they would simply
rather than banning it they would simply
rather than banning it they would simply black out offensive words like hell and
black out offensive words like hell and
black out offensive words like hell and damp to make it suitable for their
damp to make it suitable for their
damp to make it suitable for their students other places did however ban
students other places did however ban
students other places did however ban the book in its entirety failing to see
the book in its entirety failing to see
the book in its entirety failing to see the irony in their actions number two
the irony in their actions number two
the irony in their actions number two Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone JK Rowling see this is why we can’t have
JK Rowling see this is why we can’t have
JK Rowling see this is why we can’t have nice things
nice things
nice things considering the quick rise to global
considering the quick rise to global
considering the quick rise to global popularity experienced by the Harry
popularity experienced by the Harry
popularity experienced by the Harry Potter series it was invariably going to
Potter series it was invariably going to
Potter series it was invariably going to have its detractors noting the
have its detractors noting the
have its detractors noting the restricted section
restricted section
restricted section and sure enough despite the fact that
and sure enough despite the fact that
and sure enough despite the fact that the debut novel is relatively tame in
the debut novel is relatively tame in
the debut novel is relatively tame in terms of scares or violence compared to
terms of scares or violence compared to
terms of scares or violence compared to later books in the series the
later books in the series the
later books in the series the Philosopher’s Stone was challenged
Philosopher’s Stone was challenged
Philosopher’s Stone was challenged citing its themes of magic and
citing its themes of magic and
citing its themes of magic and witchcraft some religious groups called
witchcraft some religious groups called
witchcraft some religious groups called for the book to be banned in some
for the book to be banned in some
for the book to be banned in some countries claiming it would endorse
countries claiming it would endorse
countries claiming it would endorse real-life sorcery and promote children’s
real-life sorcery and promote children’s
real-life sorcery and promote children’s interest in the topic
interest in the topic
interest in the topic she needs to saw her priorities well we
she needs to saw her priorities well we
she needs to saw her priorities well we can’t exactly say they were wrong we’re
can’t exactly say they were wrong we’re
can’t exactly say they were wrong we’re still waiting for our Hogwarts letters
still waiting for our Hogwarts letters
still waiting for our Hogwarts letters number one to kill a mockingbird Harper
number one to kill a mockingbird Harper
number one to kill a mockingbird Harper Lee this book is widely considered one
Lee this book is widely considered one
Lee this book is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the past
of the greatest novels of the past
of the greatest novels of the past century and perhaps that’s exactly why
century and perhaps that’s exactly why
century and perhaps that’s exactly why it’s been a lightning rod for
it’s been a lightning rod for
it’s been a lightning rod for controversy a constant refrain in
controversy a constant refrain in
controversy a constant refrain in battles over Harper Lee’s seminal work
battles over Harper Lee’s seminal work
battles over Harper Lee’s seminal work is that the text features racist
is that the text features racist
is that the text features racist language similar to how Mark Twain’s
language similar to how Mark Twain’s
language similar to how Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has also
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has also
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has also been challenged for its inclusion of
been challenged for its inclusion of
been challenged for its inclusion of racial slurs and yeah
racial slurs and yeah
racial slurs and yeah To Kill a Mockingbird also includes
To Kill a Mockingbird also includes
To Kill a Mockingbird also includes slurs but that’s kind of the point the
slurs but that’s kind of the point the
slurs but that’s kind of the point the Pulitzer prize-winning novel dissects
Pulitzer prize-winning novel dissects
Pulitzer prize-winning novel dissects issues of racial inequality in the
issues of racial inequality in the
issues of racial inequality in the American South of the 1930s in a frank
American South of the 1930s in a frank
American South of the 1930s in a frank and realistic way she did something that
and realistic way she did something that
and realistic way she did something that in our society is unspeakable
in our society is unspeakable
in our society is unspeakable she kissed a black man however despite
she kissed a black man however despite
she kissed a black man however despite its literary and artistic merits a
its literary and artistic merits a
its literary and artistic merits a Mississippi school district as recently
Mississippi school district as recently
Mississippi school district as recently as 2017 banned it because it quote made
as 2017 banned it because it quote made
as 2017 banned it because it quote made people uncomfortable do you agree with
people uncomfortable do you agree with
people uncomfortable do you agree with our picks check out these other great
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