"Book of Bunny Suicides" riles up censorship concerns. Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com

Score one for the first amendment.

In a story that may have flown under the radar, with all the hubbub of politics and war invading the news, a battle over books was brewing in Brownsville, OR.  Complaints began when Taffey Anderson’s son brought home a book entitled “The Book of Bunny Suicides” by Andy Riley. In the book, bunnies are committing suicide in various ways and this concerned Anderson enough to complain to the school board. Since October, the school board has voted multiple times on whether the book should be banned from the high school library.

Today, the first amendment one a minor victory, as the members of the board voted to allow the book to remain in the library, unrestricted and available to students.  The attempt to ban the book brings to attention the many books banned or attempted every year and the fiery fight on both sides.

Every September, the American Library Association has an event to celebrate books that have been previously banned and educate the public on the subject of censorship. It’s interesting to note that of 2007’s most challenged books, authors such as Maya Angelou, Mark Twain and Alice Walker all make an appearance. Yet the list also shows the wide range of reactions and reasons for censorship, such as sexuality explicit content, racism, religious viewpoint and death celebration & morbidity (in the case of the Bunny Suicides).