Zig and Zag

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

Here we are to the last day of the challenge. I have zigzagged across the world reading blogs and leaving comments. I didn't make it to as many blogs as I wanted. There were just too many this year! 

I took you on a zigzag though some smidgen, snippets, and bits of my life. I hope you enjoyed your time here. It will be nice to get back to normal again. Blogging everyday is hard. I sometimes lay awake thinking of what I could use for certain letters. I didn't chose a theme this year. I didn't write all my post ahead of time. Some I wrote the night before it was time for that letter. But I made it! 

That's a zigzag!!

Yearning for Yesterday

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

For those of you who were wanting to know more about my broken leg, mentioned in yesterday's post: I wrote about it in a former A to Z Challenge. Go here!!


Throughout this entire A to Z Challenge Richard has never been far from my mind. Well, to be honest, he is never far from my mind. I remember writing about all the places he and I went on vacation. And two years ago when I wrote about the care-giving process. It makes me miss him. I miss him every single day.

Thanksgiving 2004

It is hard, for me, to believe that it will soon be two years since he died! Two years!! That is such a long time. It seems like it was just last week. We were together for over 30 years! And that is really a long time. I miss that I won't get to spend MY old age with him. But that probably wasn't going to happen anyway since he was 18 years my senior. We always knew that we wouldn't be together when I was old. So we made the years we had together the best years for both of us.

I have no regrets! We did everything we wanted to do. Well, except get a hot tub for the patio. Or buy an RV and travel around the country. Because, you see, these two small kids showed up at our door just as we were getting closer to both being able to retire.(They are my oldest son's kiddos) It was his idea to take them in. And we never looked back. We just rolled with the punches and did what was right and what was best for them. Having Richard become their pseudo-father was the best thing to happen to either of them. He left them with good memories. And good up-bringing.Good manners!  I wished he could have been with them for many more years to come. He was a great man!!

Justin, Richard, and Danny 1983
These are our sons

We all keep him close to our hearts. And he is always on my mind. We love you, Richard! And I miss you. That's why I am yearning for yesterday!!  

Richard, me, Justin, Danny 1987

Our Wedding 1996

Papa with Darian 1998

Papa with Paige 2001

Papa with Harley 2003

In front of the tree where we were married
11 years later

Our last New Year's Eve 2014

X-Rays of My Past

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

This was how my fractures were fixed

As a registered nurse, I have seen my fair share of x-rays. Some have been quite impressive. And some have been ridiculous. And the most horrific one was my own, after I broke my right leg in four places. Two at the ankle and two at the knee. With tiny pieces of shattered bones scattered about. Then the x-ray following surgery which shows a titanium rod and four screws left me with a gaping mouth. 

This is not my xray but it looks exactly like it post-op

I have looked at x-rays of things that have been swallowed. We once took care of a jail inmate who had broken apart his bed and ate the steel springs! Not a pretty ordeal for him. But a bit hard to feel too sorry for him too. Did a lot of damage to his intestines.

Then there are the x-rays of things that penetrate the body. Like a construction worker who accidentally shot himself in the head with a nail gun. Really!! And he was okay after the nail was removed. I once cared for a gentleman who was trimming a tree, on a ladder, using a saw when he fell off the ladder and landed on a limb on the ground; which penetrated his chest. It was touch and go for awhile, but he survived and is still climbing ladders and trimming trees. 

Since I worked on the post-surgical floor for most of my career in the hospital, I saw a lot of chest x-rays and colon x-rays. It was easy to tell if someone had pneumonia or a bowel obstruction. X-rays can be a good thing. So many times today the simple x-ray is bypassed for the use of the CT scanners or the MRI's, but I think the simple x-ray still has an important place in medicine.

Last, but certainly not least, one morning as I was leaving the hospital, following my shift, I was stopped by a surgeon to come view an x-ray with him. There on the light box was the x-ray of a colon. And inside the colon was a hamster. He insisted the x-ray was real!! I don't know. Anything is possible. 

What about you? Ever had to have an x-ray taken? Seen any crazy x-rays?

Whether to Act on Weather Predictions

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

See Hutchinson...that's me

Whether we like it or not, weather can and will affect our lives. As I type this the weathermen in my state are all freaking out about possible storms heading our way. We are smack dab in the middle of their predictions. They have been telling us for the past three days how dire these storms will be. Softball size hail and damaging winds. 

We have to decide how much stock we want to take in these predictions. If we believe them, we must plan ahead. And if we don't believe them, we may be really sorry!! 

I have lived in Kansas all my life. We are in Tornado Alley. I have only seen one tornado, ever!

These pictures were taken last year, in July, while standing in my front yard. Only one structure, about ten miles from my house, was destroyed. For the most part it wasn't on the ground. I have never seen a real tornado cloud with my own eyes before this.

Many people are taking precautions right now. The TV is announcing all of the closings which will take place. Maybe a bit of over-kill? Or people using good judgment? That is the thing about weather. You just never know.   

Schools are currently canceling all after school activities. The storms are supposed to start firing up around 3 p.m.

I expect we will keep an eye on the news and see what is coming our way.

They are flying all the big planes out of McConnell Air Force base, in Wichita, just to be one the safe side. 25 years ago today was the huge F5 Andover Tornado. There was a lot of damage and 13 people were killed. Total property damage at that time was $274 million. The AFB at McConnell took a direct hit at that time.

  

When it comes to snow warnings, in the winter, people flock to the stores and the shelves are emptied of staples like bread and milk. I have only seen one storm that was so bad we were stranded at home more than one day. I was pregnant with my oldest son in 1971. We had a snow storm that dumped so much snow on the city no one moved for 3 days. We had two neighborhood stores (small mom and pop operations) on either end of our block. We managed to walk to those to restock what we needed. And their shelves became almost bare. 

I have yet to decide what we will do. We do not have a basement! The kids will ride the bus home from school. So far, the school hasn't announced they are closing early. Some schools are. All based on predictions!

How does weather affect your life? Been in any big tornadoes or crippling snow storms?

Do you plan ahead and prepare for the worst? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants?? 


(P.S. We were under a tornado watch all evening. Although, Wichita (where Justin lives) had a lot of rain and some small hail, we didn't get anything!! Just another big media hype of storm watches!!)

Please Pass the Vegetables

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

As most of you know we have been on a clean eating adventure at my house. What does clean eating mean? It means we have cut out all processed food. All dairy. All sugar. All grains. That leaves us mostly with meats and vegetables. Our new favorite foods have become vegetables.

We have developed a love for oven roasted sweet potatoes. I love to coat them with Ghee (a butter substitute) and then different spices. The one in the oven right now is McCormick's Chinese Five Spice. It is a blend of anise,cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and ginger. Gives a nice sweet, spicy flavor.

You can read about our adventures here on my other blog: Our Adventures into Whole 30 and Beyond 

We have eaten roasted asparagus and sautéed zucchini. Boiled cabbage, yum! Roasted white potatoes. California blend : broccoli, cauliflower, carrots is another favorite of ours. I like all of them, also, roasted in the oven with salt and pepper or garlic salt. A squeeze of lemon is good just before serving. 

I am keeping raw celery, carrots, and cauliflower in my beautiful blue mason jars sitting on the refrigerator shelf. Just ready for those times when a kid (or a granny) is really needing something to munch on. 

I have tried a variety of lettuces. My favorite to wrap around a meatball and turn it into a sub sandwich has been romaine lettuce. We also use leaf lettuce and iceberg lettuce for salads.

Both of my teens have found they really don't 'hate' onions as much as they thought they did. Especially little white onions cooked in their beef stew. Delightful. And chopped up fine in their egg fritatta's. Without the onions and garlic for flavor they wouldn't be as good. 

Who knows, I might get them ready to taste a rutabaga or a eggplant before this is over. What are your favorite vegetables? Do you eat the same ones over and over. Or do you get adventurous? 

Ugly Is ....

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.




One of my mom's favorite expressions was, "beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone." I don't think I much paid attention to what that really meant. But I have found out it is true. And I have also learned that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' I guess I could go ahead and say some of the most beautiful people I know are also some of the ugliest. 

Today I had a discussion with the teens at my house as to what they thought "ugly" meant. It is funny what they learned about themselves. First of all Harley thought it had to do with physical beauty and clothing. Things that she found to be ugly were bad skin, bad teeth, and dirty hair! After we talked for awhile she said: "I guess I sound pretty shallow." Darian looked deeper into personalities and attitudes. But he also thought it was important to have nice hair, nice eyes, and a nice smile. If someone has those qualities then they can't be ugly. According to him. At the end of the discussion I think the important lesson was maybe they jump too quickly to judge a person based on how they look. I reassured them we all do it. Hopefully, they will both look deeper now. 

However there are some things, people, animals, etc. that are just plain ugly. For example:

Ugly! But I'm sure someone loves him

The outfits, not the people!

What can I even say??

What is the ugliest thing you have ever seen. Do you believe there are ugly people?? Does ugly just apply to looks? How about ugly personalities?

8 Things I am Thankful For

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

I often spend too much time bitching. Bitching about things I can't do anything about. Or just your normal bitching about life in general. Today I am going to tell you what I am thankful for! 

1) I am thankful to have been married to my best friend and soul-mate for all the years I had him with me here on earth. I look forward to the day I join with him again.

2) I am thankful for the two sons I have. Even though one strayed from the normal path in life, I still love him and am always thankful for him. And for that younger son there just aren't the words to tell you what he means to me!

3) I am thankful for the wonderful grandchildren I have been blessed with. Even when they annoy me beyond your imagination, I am thankful to have been able to play such a big part in their lives.

4) I am thankful for the roof over my head. It is all mine. The mortgage ended 2 years ago. And I am really thankful for that.

5) I am thankful to have enough monthly income to pay my bills and provide us with more than enough to eat. Like most people I would love to have more. But I can't complain. So, I shouldn't!

6) I am thankful for everyday that my car continues to run and get me where I need to go. She is old (2001) and has a lot of miles (>120,000) but she is good to me. Yes, even without an A/C!

7) I am thankful for my good health. I do not have problems with blood pressure or heart problems. I don't take any medications. I am obese, yet I am working on that. I am thankful I can walk still. And have very little aches and pains.

8)I am greatly thankful for my eyesight. I do need to wear reading glasses but being able to do what I love to do most: read, gives me much to be thankful for.

I am probably leaving something out but I am thankful for that too. Tell me what you are thankful for? Do you think we spend too much time bitching and not enough with being thankful?

School Days, School Days

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

Oh my how school has changed since I was a student in the 1950's and the 1960's. First of all was kindergarten. It wasn't necessary for us to know how to write our name, say our ABC's, or all of those other things they need to know before kindergarten now. That was what kindergarten was for. That is where we learned our colors, our numbers, our letters,and etc. Not anymore!!

We learned to read in first grade. Period! Now many are starting to learn in kindergarten. I think we are rushing our kids and no longer allowing kids to be kids. And now if you don't go to pre-school for a few years you are already behind.

We went home for lunch. Everyday. Regardless of the weather, we walked. Now most kids eat at school. Here in our district they don't even get the option to go home for lunch. We are too far away from their school anyway. 

Also when I was going to school there wasn't any talking back to the teacher. If you talked back you were sent to the principal's office. AND your parent was notified.  Most often, the fact they were telling your parent, was enough to make you stop what you were doing. In the principal's office hung a paddle. It had little holes drilled in it. To make it hurt worse when you were hit with it, so they say. I never knew anyone that was actually paddled at school. I think the threat of it was enough. 

The stories my grandchildren tell about their school days raises the hair on the back of my neck. The language kids use to a teacher is so disrespectful and disgusting. I cannot believe teachers have no recourse. Harley tells me that even if these kids go to the office, not much is done to them. So what's the point? I heard from another teacher, who teaches at a grade school,  talk about some of the disruptive students in her classes. Now and in the past. They spend so much time trying to control those who are  disruptive that I wonder how they are teaching anyone anything. And once again she gets no support from anyone higher up. It does no good to complain. Parents will come to the school and cause a huge stink and no one is doing anything to change behaviors.

There is a child going to the kids school who doesn't like getting up in the mornings. So, at least one or two days a week, mom lets him sleep in and then she brings him to school. Once again, no repercussions. Wonder what it will be like when he starts working at a real job. 

I am certain these are not just stories happening in my hometown. It is sad! So Sad!
What are your thoughts on education? Do you hear the horror stories too? 

A Book REVIEW

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

Overview From Barnes and Nobel

In the summer of 1953, two eleven-year-old boys - best friends - are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen, after that 1953 foul ball, is extraordinary and terrifying.

Today I will write a Review!! A book Review. I finished A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving last week. To say it was a powerful book would not be telling you the truth. It was a struggle to read for the most part. I zipped through the beginning. The part that describes Owen Meany and his friend, the narrator, John Wheelwright. And then we get to the 'guts' of the book. It went on and on and on.I had decided I didn't like Owen Meany at all. He seemed a bit spoiled, a bit pompous, a bit smug.  But by the time I had gotten to the last, long chapter I was more than hooked. I was praying for Owen Meany myself. I knew he was going to die. We had known that for a good part of the book. But I knew I didn't want to let him go.Because like every character in the book, I was in love with this little guy.  One of those books that you want to never end. Because the end is the reason for the beginning. The very first sentence of the book says it all:

"I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice-not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany." Even the author will tell you this is the most important sentence in the entire book. 

I give A Prayer For Owen Meany 5 solid stars *****. This will be one of those books you will never forget. I know I won't!! As Owen Meany would say, everything happens for a reason...

3 Favorite Dr. Seuss Quotes

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

If you are interested in following Our Adventures into Whole 30 and beyond you can click here. 


I love quotes! And I like to collect them. My favorite of all quotes has always been those by Dr. Seuss! Such a wise, wise man!! Here are three of my favorites:

Do you have a favorite quote? Do you want to share it with me?

Politics and Kids

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

                  Politics and Kids


This is the first year my grandchildren have 'really' paid attention to the presidential campaigns. It is interesting to see how they make their choices of who they think should run our country. Darian is now old enough to vote. So, he is more interested thanHarley. She pretty much bases her beliefs on what her friends are saying. Or things she has picked up from her teachers. Or the exact opposite of what her granny believes. Because that is the way of a teenage girl, isn't it? Paige usually sides with what her mom or dad are saying!

Darian recently 'unfriended' one of his aunts from Facebook. When I asked him why he said it was because she was flooding his page with support for Bernie Sanders and he isn't a supporter of Bernie!! Interesting, huh? 

We talk about the issues. What each candidates beliefs are. It has been a fascinating time for us. Darian leans very heavily to the Republican beliefs; while Harley is much more liberal. They know which way granny leans but I won't discuss that here. Have you noticed how any of the young people around you are paying attention to this years campaign process? Do you try to influence their decisions? Have you ever based your decision on just plain 'not liking' a candidate? And this has probably not been a good year for the youth of America to decide which way they are leaning!! Some very childish candidates out there, in my opinion!

What I Ought To Have Done

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

Also we are starting our Whole 30 Adventure today and you can follow along by going to my other blog: Our Adventure in Whole 30 and Beyond. 

             Ought To Do's


If I Had My Life to Live Over
 by Nadine Stair

"I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, and I limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I've have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

Pick more daisies!

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."

Have you ever thought of what you would do if you could go all the way back to the beginning and do it all over again?? I read this passage recently in a book of the same title If I Had My Life to Live Over and I thought of things I ought to have done.

1) I would speak up more as a child. And listen less to my fears

2) I would wear clothes that I liked and not the ones my mom liked best.

3) I wouldn't wear shoes....ever!

4) I would have kissed and hugged my daddy more. And told him I loved him

5) I would not have cared (as much) at the messes my kids made.

6) I would have picked all the flowers from the gardens and carried them into the house!

7) I would have eaten ice cream every single day! And tasted all the flavors

8) I would have moved to the beach and lived in a hut and collected seashells to sell to the tourists. And drank beer while doing it!
With a ciggy dangling from my lips!! Ha! Ha!



What would you do?? Do you have things you would like to do over?



(P.S. I have a copy of the book If I Had my Life to Live Over that I would love to send to you! Please email me if you are interested!  I will select a winner from the emails?)

My Simple Woman's Daybook-April 16th Edition

Hello friends! Taking a break today from the A to Z Challenge. It is more than half way over.


For today...

Today is Saturday, April 16, 2016.


Outside my window...

It is dark and there are no stars. We are waiting for the rain to come! We need it. I currently have no outdoor faucet so I pray for rain to help turn my grass green. I have been receiving flood warnings on my phone all day. I'm not worried because I live higher up than the town. But flooding is never a good thing. 


I am pondering...

Tonight was prom for Darian. He was excited. And I think a bit nervous. They are dancing now and then have an after-prom party at the local Alley (which provides bowling, laser tag, go-carts, etc.)Sounds like a super lot of fun! In other big news at our house, Harley had her very first date on Friday night! Blush, giggle, blush. (She gave me permission to tell you)


I am learning...

Matthew 6:26-27
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add single hour to his span of life?





I am creating...

Menus!! And grocery lists. We are starting the Whole 30 on Monday. Getting ready for it all day tomorrow!!




Moving Forward...

I am reading...

I finished reading A Prayer for Owen Meany and will give a review when it is R day on the A to Z Challenge. What a book!! I have started Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I have never seen the movie or read the book. So far I am enjoying it. It is a very long book. Almost 1,000 pages. I am reading it for the book club I joined. It will be our July book and I need a head start. In June we are reading Blonde which is another long book.


On my camera...

Granny & Darian

Kat & Darian

Darian with Paige & Harley

Kat and Darian

Being siblings

In My kitchen...

This is the week we start Whole 30. You can go here to see what we are eating this week. Wish us luck!!

On my A to Z Challenge...

Some of the blogs I have bookmarked seem to have stopped in the midst of the challenge. Hopefully I will find some others. There is a lot of blogging going on among my friends.



A favorite quote for today...

A peek into my week...

This week Darian has Marines on both Wednesday and Thursday. He goes to Wichita on Wednesday to become acquainted with some drill instructors from San Diego! Otherwise, just a normal week here. 

In my backyard...

I have been raking and cleaning in the backyard. There are so many small tree limbs from our ice storm. I am going to see how much a small dumpster would be to have delivered and picked up for this removal. And piles of leaves. We will also start trimming down the pampas grass. 

Postscript...

I am linking with Peggy at The Simple Woman's Blog. Come and check it out!!

Not a Very Neighborly Neighbor

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.


                Neighbor

When we moved into our home more than 25 years ago, both Richard and I were still busy with careers and kids, so we didn't really spend much time getting to know our neighbors. We wave to them when we see them outside. And occasionally, there will be a chat in the yard. But for the most part we don't know them.

Peter Rabbit and Mr. McGregor

There is an elderly lady who lives in the house directly behind us. We call her "Mrs. McGregor. I named her for the wife of Mr. McGregor, the gentleman who had a garden near Peter Rabbit's home. Peter's mother forbid him and his siblings from entering Mr. McGregor's garden due to the demise of their father at the hands of Mr. McGregor and made into a pie. Of course, Peter doesn't listen. It makes for a wild tale. I named this woman because she seems bent on having everything her way. Once, while Danny (my oldest son) was cutting down a tree, she came over and asked him to stop so that she could eat her lunch in peace, on her patio. Another time she came and told Richard that the barrels we had at the back of our property were unsuitable because of their blue color and she would appreciate their removable. Richard and Danny both did as the lady asked.

A few years ago, both Paige and Harley were young, we had gotten a fairly deep snow fall the night before. While they were out in the back they discovered a deer's footprints and proceeded to follow them into Mrs. McGregor's yard. Mrs. McGregor came out and shooed them right out of her back yard.

Needless to say we aren't neighborly! She is probably now in her 80's. I don't see her as much as usual. Imagine my surprise recently when I heard a chainsaw being used early one Saturday morning. And, even more so, imagine my surprise when I looked out to see an elderly man cutting down the Hawthorne bushes at the back of my property. These bushes provide a barrier between my house and hers. They are my bushes. 

I went out and inquired "What's going on?" The man told me that Mrs. McGregor had hired him to take out the bushes. She came sauntering out of her house to join the conversation. 

Me: You know these are my bushes, right?

Her: Yes

Me: I don't want them taken down!

Her: Why not?

Me: Because I like the barrier they provide between my house and yours. And I like the shelter they provide for the birds, the rabbits and the squirrels.

Her: (turning to her hired man) Well, I guess that is that.

She then proceeded into her house, got a camera and came back to photograph the bushes. The hired man cleaned up what he had already done and left. I still have my bushes. But I bet I haven't heard the last of that!! 

Do you think I should have stopped her?? Do you have neighbors who you might squabble with? What would you have said to her? 

Most Challenged Books Listed By American Library Association

The A to Z Challenge takes us on a journey through the month of April. We write Monday through Saturday and take Sunday off. Hence, 26 days and 26 letters of the alphabet. Come in and see what snippet I'm sharing with you today.

MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2015

This week is National Library Week (April 10-16). One of my favorites things to do, when I was a child, and now, was go to the library. I don't go as much since I have gotten my Nook Color! I need a visit once again!

Interesting to me this week was the list of Most Challenged Books of 2015. I will list these books here for you!

1)Looking for Alaska by John Green. This book was singled out for offensive language, sexual explicitness, and being unsuitable for teens. This book has been on the list before and then dropped off last year only to be added again this year. 

2)Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James. This doesn't surprise me, does it you? The book was challenged for its sexual explicitness, unsuitability for age group, and that it is poorly written. This book was on the list in 2012 and 2013, then dropped off. Back again this year!!

3)I am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings. This book tells the story of a trans-gender child and her difficulties. The book was challenged for it's inaccuracies, homosexuality, and sex education challenges.

4)Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin. Challengers call this book anti-family and cites its views on homosexuality.

5)The Curious Incident of the dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. This is a story told from a teenager view about autism. It is challenged for its language and its suitability for its age group.

6) The Holy Bible. This is the first time the Bible has been on this list!! The challenge is for its religious viewpoint.


7)Fun Home by Allison Benchdel. This is a graphic novel talking about what growing up with a sexually closeted father was like. The book is challenged for violence and graphic images.

8)Habbibi by Craig Thompson is another graphic novel which focuses on the Islamic culture and two slave children. It is challenged for nudity and sexual content.

9)Nasreen's Secret School:A True Story from Afghanistan by Jeanette Winter. The book is aimed at kids aged 6-9 and tells the story of a little girl's life after the takeover of the Taliban in 1999. It was challenged for religious viewpoint and unsuitability for this age group. 

10)Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. The book was challenged for its depiction of homosexuality.


I found this to be a fascinating list. With the exception of The Holy Bible, I haven't read any of the other books. But, now, I want to. I am not in favor of censoring books. I think books that are in libraries where young people can have full access to them should be monitored. But that is up to a parent, in my opinion. This years list seems to focus on homosexuality and religion, which are both hot topics in todays world. I probably wouldn't have a problem with Darian and Harley reading any of these books if they wanted to. I would certainly look through the book first. What are your feelings about challenged or censored books? Doesn't it just make you more want to read it? Have you read any of these on the 2015 Challenged List?