A middle school mom, Ann Wentworth of Fon du Lac Wisconsin wants these books banned from her daughter’s school district. She’s petitioned the school (at the expense of local taxpayers) and lost the first request for censorship. She keeps adding books to her list. I imagine every time she reads one it ends up going on her list. I’ve read a lot of these books and, she’s right, they suck. But they’re not written for me, a 35 yr old mom. They’re written for adolescent girls. There’s talk of losing virginity, which is what the mom finds so offensive. Psychologically speaking, the characters are somewhat realistic and struggle with the same things other adolescent girls struggle with. I think this woman must have some kind of weird relationship with her daughter that they can’t just discuss the character’s decisions and move on. She’s become attached apparently to the idea that these books will be the downfall of society and must be removed from her daughter’s library. I can’t imagine how embarrassed that young girl must feel, to have her mother parading around like she’s the literary police and all. I wonder if this ridiculous event will drive an even bigger wedge between her & her daughter. Perhaps I’m being cynical to question her relationship with her daughter, but this action seems so extreme. ASKING for censorship? It’s just insane. Maybe I’ll go petition for removal of all books that imply “learning comes from schools” or perhaps let’s petition to get rid of history books that only tell half the story, or perhaps we should petition to censor books that teach false science, about medicine or maybe the religious should petition for removal of the science books that make fun of evolution. Perhaps we should seek removal of all the books that teach kids about college planning, because it’s really NOT all it’s cracked up to be. Perhaps we should remove all the books about vampires because they might play biting games or fall in love with vampires.
For every book on the shelf, there is SOMEONE who isn’t going to like it.
To assume that the readers will develop an unhealthy lifestyle, habit, belief or fixation is really to give the books way more power than is necessary.
If her daughter goes out & has premarital sex, will it be because she read the stupid Sisterhood books? Or will it be because teens are horny, full of hormones and surrounded by people who have told them lies all their life, about everything?
When people are influenced by literature is it because they read the book or is it be because the book spoke to a certain part of themselves, calling forth ideas and thoughts that were already part of the reader?
If this woman would talk to her daughter about these books, instead of talking to the school board, she may find that her daughter thinks they’re stupid, or that her daughter thinks about sex constantly and wants some real guidance, or perhaps her daughter is indifferent. Maybe she’ll finish the entire series simply because she can’t stand to miss the conclusion, and not because she identifies sexually with the characters.
Anyway- these are the books that Ann Wentworth wants banned, enjoy.
“One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
“The Second Summer of the Sisterhood 
“Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood 
“Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood 
“Get Well Soon
“What My Mother Doesn’t Know
