Banned Books: From the House On Mango Street to the Lord of the Flies

3 units

In this course we will read a number of Young Adult novels that have been banned and examine what cultural and social elements lead to the banning of a book. Why are YA novels particular targets of censorship, and why does society attempt to sanitize narratives about adolescence? The novels we will cover, by Toni Morrison, Stephen Chbosky, and Sandra Cisneros, among others, have been banned in the United States on political, religious, sexual, ethical, or social grounds. We will gain insight into the controversies these novels started and also consider the themes and questions raised by the texts and their moral implications. In written assignments and class discussion, we will explore what, if anything, these novels have in common and what they may contribute to the study of literature. Students will be asked to engage critically with the texts they encounter and to hone their close reading skills while also considering historical and cultural contexts of the novels.