To Ban or Not to Ban Mark Twain's Works

As a look-ahead to the upcoming recognition of Banned Books Week, let's briefly consider Mark Twain's issues in this arena. Some of the author's works, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, outraged certain groups for the books' treatment of race, social mores, and personal character. A considerable portion of Twain's literary and commercial publishing career involved dealing with these and other charges. Over the decades since the publication of Twain's principal works, some of Twain's antagonists demanded the removal his titles from library shelves or offered highly negative, influential criticism of his books. Twain has also had his share of advocates, who have defended his right to write or his perspective on specific topics.

This episode in American literary and social history is a fascinating one, filled with intriguing personalities and contemporary relevance. Enslow Publishers' "Authors of Banned Books" series features writers who have struggled with censorship and book banning. Mark Twain: Banned, Challenged, and Censored provides a thoughtful, age-appropriate perspective on the issues and individuals associated with Twain's controversial works. Author Michelle M. Houle's 160-page book includes a rich lode of source material, further reading options, and succinct definitions of key terms that frame a consideration of censorship and banning.

Mark Twain: Banned, Challenged, and Censored is available in a library-bound edition for $25.95; the price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price for this title.

On this day in 1863, who used a pseudonym for the first time?

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (better known as Mark Twain) used that name as a pen name for the first time.

According to Mark Twain: Banned, Challenged, and Censored, the phrase mark twain is a riverboat term for two fathoms, or twelve feet. It was used to denote the line between safe and dangerous waters.

In this book, written by Michelle M. Houle, she discusses Twain's life and times, analyzes two of his best-known books, and explores both sides of the argument over censorship. She helps readers decide for themselves about whether Twain's books should be banned.

Enslow supports Banned Books Week

Each of the following five titles in Enslow's Banned Book series highlights authors and their books that may have been banned from school and library collections. Founded in 1982, this annual campaign is meant to bring attention to the importance of the freedom to read. Librarians and teachers celebrate the ability to retain frequently-challenged books in their collections while encouraging readers to examine banned and challenged books.

J.K. Rowling
John Steinbeck
Madeleine L’Engle
Mark Twain
Robert Cormier

Today would have been Roald Dahl's birthday

Roald Dahl was a British writer responsible for authoring some of the best known and most popular books for young people ever published, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the story of a group of children who get to tour a strange and fantastic candy factory, has been adapted into a classic film twice—first in 1971 (re-titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder) and then again in 2005 (directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp).

On this day in history

Samuel L. Clemens (aka Mark Twain) passed away on this date in 1910 in Connecticut.

Mark Twain Banned, Challenged, and Censored
Author: Michelle M. Houle
State Affiliation of Author: PA
ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-2689-6
Publication Year: 2008
Interest Level: Grades 9-12
Page Count: 160

Mark Twain—the pen name of Samuel L. Clemens—is considered to be one of the greatest American writers, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is thought by many to be the most important American novel. However, the language and attitudes in Twain's books make many people uncomfortable, since they reflect a more racist time in our country's history. As a result, there is a great deal of controversy over whether his books should be taught in school. Author Michelle M. Houle discusses Twain's life and times and analyzes two of his best known books. She also explores the history of book censorship, outlining why it occurs and possible ways to address it. She helps readers make up their own minds about whether the books should be banned.

On this day in 1911 . . .

A fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company killed 146 workers, most of them young immigrant women. To read more about this, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire explains how this horrific fire impacted the national labor reform movement.

To read an historically accurate, fictional account of this tragedy, The Locket follows the working experiences of two Russian-Jewish sisters who were working in this factory on the day of the fire.