Banned Books Week: Witchcraft and Sorcery is a problem, seriously ... NOT!

Yes, in the 21st century there are actually people who are concerned about witchcraft and sorcery, not just in practice but also in Fiction, young adult fiction to be precise.

After all I've said this week, I know none of you are surprised to find out that the entire Harry Potter series by JK Rowling was banned/challenged.  Where I get my laughs is from the reasons stated for why they should be pulled off shelves.

Here are a few from the Banned Books 2007 Resource Guide:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Retained at Orange Grove Elementary School in Whittier, Calif [2000]. It was challenged for dealing with magic and bad experiences.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Challenged, but retained in Frankfort, Ill. School District [2000].  Parents were concerned that the book contains lying and smart-aleck retorts to adults.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Challeneged, but retained in Arab, Ala. school libraries and accelerated reader programs [2000] over objections that the author "is a member of the occult and the book encourages children to practice witchcraft."

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Challenged, but retained in the Newfound Area School District in Bristol, N.H. [2000] despite an objection the book "is scary".

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Removed by the Wilsona School District trustees from a list recommended by a parent-teacher committee for the Vista San Gabriel, Calif. Elementary School library [2006] along with twenty-three other books. ... The Wilson School District board approved new library book-selection guidelines in wake of trustees' controversial decision.  Books now cannot depict drinking alcohol, smoking, drugs, sex, including "negative sexuality, implied or explicit nudity, cursing, violent crime or weapons, gambling, foul humor, and dark content."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Nope, I didn't change a word ... bad experiences, smart alecks, scary, dark content ... were all reasons given.  Ridiculous!  It looks like all the books can be borrowed for free from Pottermore through Amazon if you're a Prime member, go read them all over again!