On the Banning of Looking for Alaska
On the Banning of Looking for Alaska
In which John discusses the American Library Association’s recent announcement that his book “Looking for Alaska” was the most challenged book in the U.S. in 2015, responds to those who try to get the book removed from schools and libraries, and discusses the role of teachers and librarians in American life.
You can find the list of the 10 most challenged books in the U.S. here: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10
Thanks to the American Library Association and the Office for Intellectual Freedom, and to all the courageous librarians and teachers out there who stand up for intellectual freedom and banned books.
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The idea of banning just about any book from a library, even one contained in a school, to me is rather appalling. Whether you agree with a book, whether it contains sexual content, whether it talks of death; these are things that young people should be allowed to read.
I remember in 2nd grade, i was reading Fear Street mostly, and those books often contained sexual content, death, betrayal, etc. but they also made me love reading. Id hate to think where id be had they been banned, and only the dullest of books allowed.
Not banned, not banned, not banned, not banned, not banned, not banned, not banned. Simply not subsidized by a school library. Yes, taking up some small bit of real estate at a public school is subsidizing.
Stop being whiny.
Looking for Alaska is my favourite stand alone novel. I actually couldn’t stop myself from buying the 10th edition hardcover signed copy (as a second copy!) when I found it at the bookstore
I first read Divergent when I was 8, and for multiple years afterwards I did really hope to get the chance to jump onto a moving train
No everyone likes cheese pizza
ok groomer
I really just want to have coffee with you
Looking for Alaska man I watched the hulu show in 10 hours it was so good I loved it really had me in tears and that’s hard to do well that 1 season was the best damn tv show I’ve watched
I’m just reading the list of banned books in 2015 and there reasons and I’m sorry but two boys kissing is on there because of “homosexuality and condones public displays of affection”, what’s wrong with homosexuality and PDA?
I love this book I wish I cld of had a book like this when i was a teen i lost my copy 3 yrs ago in a move and miss it dearly
Beat out 50 Shades of Grey. That’s gotta be one steamy book.
A CRITERIA THAT IS SURE TO GET A BOOK BANNED COWSANDPIGSMAKETHEEARTYHWARM IS A BANNED BOOK IN 20 BLACK OWNED BOOKSTORES AND HAS JUST BEEN PICKED UP BY SEVEN LARGE ON LINE RETAILERS. IT IS ABOUT A SMALL BLACK GIRL THAT SAVES THE WORLD, LIVING SUSTAINABLY AND AN END TO DESPARITY. SVE THE WORLD, STOP THE WARS, PEACE AND LOVE
wait I read divergent and definitely thought "I should jump on moving trains"
Banning books makes me want to read them more which I’m pretty sure isn’t the intended objective
Fun fact, I threw my book across the room at 1 in the morning when they approached the bj thing. Needed some space.
It was both embarrassing and comedy gold tbh. Really had me sobbing a few pages later tho huh?
Can we just stop and appreciate the fact that looking for Alaska beat out the Bible.
Very true except for the fact that propaganda and ideology spread via written or spoken form has been proven to be very effective at corrupting populaces both large and small. For reference see Germany and Italy in the early 20th century. There are 2 types of people in this world, those who think for themselves and those who outsource their thinking to other people. Unfortunately, it seems that the latter outnumbers the former.
Librarians are trained to NOT ban books, we are not gate keepers of knowledge. We share freely. I mean, you’re not even renting the book for the week, you’re getting it free!
There’s a guy in my county running for school board 100% based on how he “found this book” in a middle school library… and it’s not even in the county’s database/didn’t have a barcode to scan. But everyone thinks he’s Harold Hill, & this is River City. I am so sorry that these people want to ban your book, without reading it (I can only assume at this point, that they can not read… as it’s been over a year & they still have not read it!) People are so ridiculous. Thank you for this video!
“To be fair, the Bible does contain its fair share of explicit passages.”
Understatement of the year.
Now that I think about it I totally should jump onto a moving train.
my school is especially strange. they made us read The Good Earth and 1984 in middle school, yet banned Looking for Alaska and refused to let us watch any movies other than the Polar Express 😂
I saw the title and spontaneously saluted. Good work, sir.
at some point some a**h**e tried to ban Harry Potter. So I dont believe this banning stuff makes any sense. Anyway, if they ban it then more ppl will read it 😀 😀
We’re studying it in English Rn lol
Dude, you’ve been grooming teen girls on a massive scale for decades. All authors of fiction are propagandists. Don’t deny your motivations. They’re obvious.
Your last line, that is exactly the problem isn’t it. They don’t want their worldview undone, no matter how flawed it is. They don’t want critical thinkers, because it is a threat to their worldview. Thus they will grasp any straws to stop people from critically engaging with any kind of content.
THANK. YOU.
I am literally 6 years late but I just wanna say that I am extremely lucky to have been in the class that had this book as the book project
This book should be banned from school library’s. It should be allowed in a public library.
Your book SHOULD be banned, there’s no doubt about that, precisely because you described oral sex in cold terms. What’s wrong with you?
You are a prophet. An eloquent prophet. Thanks, and thanks, and many thanks.
Interesting video
My first Highschool gf actually said “learned” how to give a bj from this book ahaha
I don’t want my kid reading your perverted thoughts about children.
from teenagers to children PROGRESS. We love that don’t we? yall disgust me
2:23 YES. teachers and librarians spends everyday with the students and get to know them. Administrators sit in an office and make decisions while only thinking about themselves
You are a prophet. An eloquent prophet. Kudos. And thanks, and thanks, and many thanks.
The algorithm sent me here in May 2022
We are better off with kids reading explicit books? How does that help kids start businesses? Or become functional adults?
When I was 13 I got in trouble for writing a review in my school magazine of looking for Alaska. I do not remember if it’s because part was copied from the blurb or because my teacher was a prude. I think likely both.
I gotta be honest, I’m halfway through LFA and I also own all of John’s books. It’s not very good imo. It feels like John’s Younger Years where he’s still finding his footing but hey a lot of people love it so don’t let me stop you. Personally I think Pudge, Cornel, Alaska and Takumi are all insufferable and a chore to read about but I am over exaggerating for dramatic effect.
Makes me wish I could feel romantic attraction 😮💨
FREE GUY in THEATERS AUGUST 13th (of some year)
So well said!
Some of these "bans" aren’t bans. Saying, "This book isn’t appropriate for this specific venue," isn’t a ban. We live in a multi-cultural society and different children will have different tolerances for different things depending on culture. Yes, a 13 yr old with unsupervised cable TV in her room can read that scene with no adverse consequences. Another with a more sheltered upbringing would be reading something quite disturbing to her.
The Nampa School board just banned it
And that’s fine for adults but not for elementary students which this book has been found in some elementary school libraries wake up parents
Huh. This is suddenly quite relevant again.
I love that one book is wanted gone because of atheism and the next book wanted gone is the bible 😂
My school MADE us read the curious incident of the dog in the night so kudos