Banned Book Profile: Twilight
Another book, or book series, that, you might be surprised to learn, has been banned, challenged, or otherwise censured by groups or organizations since publication. I’ve not read the Twilight series myself, but I know what it’s about, and I know feelings about it run from the Harry-Potter-like fanatical, to the my-three-year-old-nephew-could-have-written-better disdainful. Most of the latter category, though, wouldn’t be calling for the series to be banned, unlike the groups listed below.
THE FACTS:
Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
First Published: 2005-2008
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Co.
Where/When/Why Banned or Challenged (from examiner.com):
- In September 2008, the Twilight books were temporarily removed from and then later returned to middle-school libraries in the Capistrano Unified School District in California. It was the district’s instructional materials specialist who initially “ordered” the books removed.
- In May 2009, the series was challenged at Brockbank Junior High in Magna, Utah. A parent complained about the “over sexual content” in the novel “Breaking Dawn,” which is part of the series.
- In September 2009, “Twilight” was banned from library at Santa Sabina College Strathfield in Australia for being “too racy,” according to Library and Information Science News. The “Twilight” series was removed from “schools because they believe the content is too sexual and goes against religious beliefs,” according to Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom in November 2009.
I find this hilarious because I’m pretty conservative and don’t find these books “overly sexual.” Yes, Bella wants to have sex with Edward, but they don’t till after marriage, and the sex is never dramatized or even summarized. You just see the “aftermath” of it, i.e. the bed torn apart by Edward (gag me), and Bella is pregnant.
Anywho! I would demand they not be included in instructional material either because there’s nothing to learn from those books. They’re just candy-reading. All fluff and fun, no substance.
What I find particularly amusing about the allegations, considering I’ve not read the series, is that Stephenie Meyer is a Mormon (i.e., member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), and follows their conservative values. That’s not to say someone with conservative values wouldn’t write characters that don’t share those values, but doesn’t it give people any comfort to know that, at least from the viewpoint of moral standards, the author is on the same side?
With regard to their value as instructional material, as I said, I’ve not read the books so I can’t comment on their suitability. Who knows, maybe in 100 years kids will be assigned these to read as “classics.” 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Kris!
Oh yes, Stephenie Meyer is Mormon, as am I! So it really makes me laugh when people say the books have anti-religious views. Because I know exactly what Meyer believes! Which just goes to show: you can interpret a story anyway you want (as long as you have the evidence). That doesn’t mean that’s what the author intended, AND that should mean as authors, we shouldn’t get too uptight about readers’ interpretations of our work.
I agree with Kris 100%. It’s amazing what people can get incensed about, honestly. Have you heard about the debacle over Harry Potter in Georgia? This one mother thought Harry Potter taught children to worship the devil or something. Utter nonsense. People truly amaze and frighten me sometimes.
And many of these same people would have their children read Narnia and Lord of the Rings! Let me share my Harry Potter story.
When Goblet of Fire came out, I saw the news stories and heard the controversy. I thought it might be interesting to read the books and find out what the fuss was about, but I let it pass. I had three kids at the time (getting ready to have #4), my oldest was 7 and didn’t seem at all interested, so I thought nothing of it. I did continue to hear people say the books promote witchcraft and that no God-fearing parent should ever let their children near the books.
Roll on to 2004. Order of the Phoenix had come out, my children were getting older, and the series was getting harder to ignore. One day, I thought, they’re going to want to read them, and if I say “no,” I need to have a darn good reason why not. Do they really teach witchcraft? Are they really going to turn my kids on to Satanism? One of the principles I took away from my undergrad degree in Theology was, wherever possible, to check out facts with primary sources. Don’t rely on “so-and-so quotes so-and-so that said…” Go to the source and make sure “so-and-so” quotes “so-and-so” correctly in context. Applying this principle, I went out and bought the first two Potter books. And I read them. And to my shame, shock, horror, and dismay… I enjoyed them! They were witty, poignant, fascinating, and a lot of other adjectives. In fact, the only adjectives I couldn’t apply to them were “evil-promoting,” “devil-worshiping,” and “morals-destroying.” I bought books 3, 4, and 5. Read them. Found the same thing to be true: the witchcraft and wizardry of the novels are the setting and context for a much deeper, much more profound story of a boy who has suffered much, and still finds the ability to love and to stand on the side of right against horrific evil. Needless to say, I ended up reading them to my kids. Surprisingly, I didn’t ever once need to teach them NOT to join the occult or practice witchcraft. Funny that. 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Bailey!