Banned Book Week runs through October 1-7, 2023.

Banned Book Week is a week that is celebrated in late September or mid-October in libraries and yearly in my home. The week is used to celebrate and discuss books and other content that has been banned or completely removed from public school and library shelves. Here are some examples of books that have been challenged:

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman Reason it was challenged or banned: LGBT content.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherin Paterson, the reason it was banned or challenged, encouraged occultism and satanism.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews reason it was banned or challenged. Contains sexual graphic content.

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by George Beard and Harold Hutchins- the reason why it was banned or challenged: it promoted terrible grammar and spelling.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner: the reason it was banned or challenged: topics of death and abortion.

Deenie by Judy Blume: content regarding mastrubation.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George: the reason it was challenged or banned: acts of violence.

Mick Hartic was here by Baraba Park. The reason it was banned or challenged: topics about death and profanity.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher. The reason why it was banned or challenged was profanity and sexual content.

Here is the video about one of the most frequently banned books on the list: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

I tend to use this month and most of October, reading banned books. This is my list of books to read:

1. Scary Stories to Read in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
2. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
3. Lucky by Alice Sebold
4. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
5. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

What are you currently reading? Comment below!

In the early 1990s, kids in the Chicago area reported seeing a clown driving in a white van and trying to lure children into the white with free candy. They nicknamed the clown “Homey the Clown” after the famous character created by Damon Wayans due to the clown dress’s similarity to the outfit worn on TV.

While numerous reports were made to the police from parents and concerned citizens in the Chicago area. The police never found any evidence or caught the person who was behind the clown costume. However, the police cautioned parents to tell the kids in the area to stay away and run to the nearest adult to report the sighting if they had seen the clown nearby. In addition, the police also caution parents to ensure that they know where their children are and to stay with them.

What I found interesting about this urban legend is that it happened before the time of cell phones and the internet. Kids who reported the clown mostly described a similar person who terrorized them when walking. After some time the police dismissed the sightings as a hoax and felt like it was more of an urban legend than a real threat. Although there were numerous reports throughout various areas for about a solid year about the clown.

Have you heard about this urban legend? Do you think it was real or fake? Comment below!

Until next time!!!

Resources:

Kendal X youtube channel:

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father is directed by Kurt Kuenne and released in 2008. It is a documentary about Dr. Andrew Bagby. Who was a dear friend of the director who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend Shirley Turner. After the murder, Turner announced that she was pregnant with Dr. Bagdy’s baby, and from there, a whole bunch of chaotic events happened as if the killing of Dr. Badgy was not the most horrific thing that occurred to Dr. Badgy’s parents and his friends. More tragic events soon followed from the lack of justice from the Canadian government.

I went through my Instagram over the weekend, looked at my feed, and stopped at a post about this documentary. It struck my interest, and I looked up where to watch it. Luckily, I was able to watch it through Tubi. This whole documentary left me with two feelings when I finished watching it. The first is how slowly the law worked in Canada and how preventable the events after the murder of Andrew Badgy could have been stopped. I do not want to give too much away about the documentary. So, I’ll leave it up to you to watch or learn more about this case.

If you are into documentaries, I highly recommend giving this a watch. It left me in tears for Andrew’s friends and family.

Have you watched this documentary? If so, share your comments below about it. Until next time!