It's Always Banned Book Week

Although Banned Book Week is officially over, censorship never sleeps. On either side of the Atlantic. Here in Kanawha County, author Pat Conroy is the subject of controversy in a high school AP English class. Why?

Because some parents (well, OK, a whole two of them) think his novels Beach Music and The Prince of Tides are too "adult" for their kids to handle (nearly adult kids, keep in mind). The county's main English guru appears to be fighting an uphill battle:Gillian, the language arts curriculum specialist for Kanawha County schools, is asking board members to let a committee of local volunteers decide whether the books should be suspended.

'Is there any concern about age appropriateness?' [school board member] Raglin asked.

'Age and maturity are two different things,' Gillian said. She believes that should be defined by parents and teachers.

Raglin persisted, saying he wants to know what’s age appropriate.

'This is not a situation where absolutes will work,' Gillian said.

Perhaps the school board will seek an ally in the UK with the Happy Ending Foundation. It argues that children's books that don't have happy endings should be banned. And they're old school about it:

The Happy Ending Foundation is planning a series of Bad Book Bonfires for later this month, when parents will be encouraged to burn novels with negative endings.

The foundation has also written to school librarians across the country to coincide with Children's Book Week, which began on Monday, urging them to take ' controversial' books off shelves.

Shockingly, this all begins with a troubled child and clueless parent:

Adrienne Small founded the organisation when her ten-year-old daughter became depressed and withdrawn after reading the first book in the Lemony Snicket series.

She said: 'I talked to other mothers and friends and we decided to do something positive with books that were more upbeat.

"I'm not trying to say the world should be viewed with rose-tinted glasses but you have got to do your best to protect your children.'

And because you failed in that role, Ms. Small, the rest of the populace has to suffer?

Contrary to what Tears for Fears may think, not everybody loves a happy ending. Kids should get a little idea of what the world might be like in their literature - where they can absorb it, digest it, and discuss it with adults and each other before the reality of the real world comes crashing through their door.