DeShea JonesLSIS 5525-OL2Summer 2010

Challenged Books: Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan

They only wanted to scare their English teacher, not kill him.

Even the best-laid plans sometimes go wrong.

Killing Mr. Griffin InfoDuncan, Lois. Killing Mr.

Griffin. New York: Bantum Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1978. Print.

Genre: Thriller

Interest Level: Young Adult (middle and high school)

PlotA group of students decide to who decide to

carry out a prank on their English teacher to get back at him for being so tough.

However, the students do not realize the teacher has a heart problem and he dies after they have kidnapped him.

One of the students is not mentally stable and ends up killing someone else as well

Susan, is the character of reason, but she still gets roped into the plot.

Assessment of the BookWell written and entertaining to readIs suspensefulDuncan does a nice job of showing the different

perspectives of the characters and has great character development

Does not give much detail on the consequences for the student’s actions

Richard Peck in New York Times Book Review commented that “The value of the book lies in the twisted logic of the teenagers and how easily they can justify anything“ (Lois Duncan).

The ending of the book becomes too melodramatic (Lois Duncan)

Overall the book is a great read.

Challenge InfoKilling Mr. Griffin has been challenged

numerous times- read and challenged since its publication in 1978

From 1990-1999 Killing Mr. Griffin was number 64 on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Book list and 25 on the 2000-2009 list.

Has been challenged at school and public libraries

Reasons for ChallengeThere are two swear words in the bookHowever, parents objected to the plot of

the book, meaning student kidnapping and killing their teacher (Harper).

Some parents did not feel it is appropriate for middle school students, only high school students (Harper)

Reasons for Inclusion in CollectionOn the ALA’s Best of the Best Books for

Young Adults list in 1978 and 1994 (Harper)The book discusses peer pressure and why

students should not do something they know is wrong (Harper).

Book also discusses acceptance, leadership,

responsibility, and revengeBook is well written and entertaining

What to do if Challenged

1. Review the selection policy of the library2. Review the complaint, maybe discuss the

situation with the person who filed the complaint3. Discuss the situation with my administrator4. Check the policies of the profession (ALA website)5. Gather resources on the book (reviews, info on

awards, etc.)6. Re-read the title7. Keep the material in the collection until a decision

is made8. Create the argument for keeping the book in the

collection

ResourcesHarper, Jennifer. Challenged Book Chosen

for Library Book Club. Summit Daily News, 23 Sept. 2005. Web. 11 June 2010. <http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20050923/AE/109230043>.

"Lois Duncan." Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults, 2nd ed., 8 vols. Gale Group, 2002. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2007.