the bluest eye essay questions

by Toni Morrison

Bluest eye essay questions.

What does the title of The Bluest Eye mean?

The title of The Bluest Eye is a direct reference to the profound wish of Pecola Breedlove, who is the subject of the novel. To Pecola, blue eyes represent the beauty, love, and admiration white girls like Shirley Temple and the Fishers’ young daughter have. Struggling with low self-esteem and a loss of self, Pecola prays for blue eyes because she believes having them will improve her life and solve her problems. At the end of the novel, a series of traumatic and violent events have permanently scarred Pecola’s mind, leading her to develop a second self who she has animated conversations with. During one of the conversations Pecola voices her fear that her new blue eyes aren’t the bluest, and asks her new self to help her find the bluest eyes in the whole world. This demonstrates that although in her mind Pecola has her ultimate wish fulfilled, she is destined to continue wanting what she cannot have.

What was Toni Morrison’s purpose for writing The Bluest Eye ?

In her writings and interviews about The Bluest Eye , Morrison has revealed that the inspiration for her first novel came from a classmate she had in elementary school. The girl told Morrison that she wanted blue eyes, and Morrison at first recoiled at the mental image those words created in her mind. Years later, she began to wonder why the girl didn’t recognize her own beauty, and how she came to learn racial self-loathing. By writing The Bluest Eye , Morrison hopes to answer these questions, and peck away at the gaze that condemned her childhood classmate, and her character Pecola.

How are Pecola Breedlove and Maureen Peal foils to one another?

From the moment she is introduced in the “winter” section of the novel, it’s clear that Maureen is the polar opposite of Pecola. The first thing noted is Maureen’s skin color, which is on the other end of the spectrum from Pecola’s. Maureen’s “high-yellow” skin gets her very different treatment at school than Pecola’s dark skin. Everyone wants to be her friend, while Pecola is shunned and avoided like a plague. Teachers call on Maureen and smile encouragingly at her, while they only call on Pecola as needed and never try to even look at her. Furthermore, the schoolyard bullies continuously ridicule and torment Pecola, whereas when Maureen appears, they stop their bullying behavior because her “springtime eyes” cow them into inaction (Morrison 49). These differences in treatment demonstrate the pervasive power of colorism in everyday black life.

Another way that Pecola and Maureen are foil characters is their radically different family circumstances. Though we never meet Maureen’s family, it’s clear from her perfectly starched and expensive school clothes and her meticulously packed school lunches that she comes from a household that at least pays attention to her, if not dearly loves her. The opposite can be said of Pecola, whose family barely has time for her, so preoccupied they are with their own problems and demons. All of this results in Maureen being confident and having a strong sense of self, while Pecola is insecure and suffers from crippling self-doubt. By juxtaposing Pecola and Maureen, we see what Pecola could have been, had her parents, community, and society treated her the same way as they have treated Maureen.

How does Claudia rationalize Cholly’s actions?

When she’s older, Claudia looks back and reflects on what happened to Pecola. One of the conclusions she comes to is that Cholly in fact loved his daughter, “loved her enough to touch her, envelop her, give something of himself to her” (Morrison 154). This is in contrast to everyone else’s treatment of Pecola. For example, when Pecola goes to buy candy, Mr. Yacobowski, the store owner, is loath to even touch Pecola’s hand to take her money for the candy. At school, no one wants to sit next to Pecola, out of fear of accidentally touching her or being associated with her. And finally, even Pecola’s own mother gives nothing of herself to Pecola, and neglects her in favor of caring for the daughter of the white Fisher family. So in a perverse way, Claudia rationalizes Cholly’s rape of Pecola as an act of love, the most love she ever received. However, Claudia also asserts that Cholly’s love filled Pecola with death, because “love is never any better than the lover” (Morrison 154). Cholly was evil and perverted, and thus his love was the same.

What does “Pecola’s unbeing” mean, and who is to blame for it?

Pecola’s unbeing is one way Morrison refers to Pecola’s collapse and splitting of self. Though our gut reaction is to blame characters like Cholly, Mrs. Breedlove, Geraldine, and Pecola’s schoolmates for Pecola’s unbeing, this would be the simple and easy answer. In her 1993 Kopf edition afterword, Morrison makes it clear that while several characters in the novel contribute to Pecola’s unbeing, she did not want “to dehumanize the characters who trashed Pecola and contributed to her collapse” (Morrison 157). That’s one of the reasons why she shows us Cholly’s and Mrs. Breedlove’s formative years, to humanize them and show us that they too suffered from many of the insecurities and trauma they pass onto their daughter Pecola. Thus, characters such as Cholly, Mrs. Breedlove, etc. aren’t actors who cause Pecola’s unbeing, they are agents for the true sources of her collapse—colorism, racial self-loathing, poverty, and violence.

Bluest Eye Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Bluest Eye is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Bluest eyes

Check this out:

https://www.gradesaver.com/bluest-eye/study-guide/summary-prologue-and-autumn

Why does pecola enter Junior's house and what is her first impression of it?

Lured by the promise of a new kitten, Pecola follows him. Pecola is mystified by the size and beauty of the house, the clean furniture, the bits of decoration and evidence of care.

What does the word "festers" mean? What does it communicate about the Breedlove household?

Feester: To worsen, especially due to lack of attention . The prejudice and treatment that Pecola receives because of her skin color is called "colorism," a sister type of discrimination that has only recently been studied and researched. In...

Study Guide for Bluest Eye

Bluest Eye study guide contains a biography of Toni Morrison, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Bluest Eye
• Bluest Eye Summary
• Character List

Essays for Bluest Eye

Bluest Eye literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Bluest Eye.

• The Music and Silence of The Bluest Eye
• Pecola-The Bluest I
• Morrison Deconstructs White Standards of Beauty in The Bluest Eye
• The Front Tooth and My Foot
• The Unexamined Other: Confronting the Social Hypocrisy of Maureen in The Bluest Eye

Lesson Plan for Bluest Eye

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Bluest Eye
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Bluest Eye Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Bluest Eye

• Introduction
• Plot summary
• Author's intentions

• The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison

• Literature Notes
• Essay Questions
• Book Summary
• About The Bluest Eye
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Autumn: Section 1
• Autumn: Section 2
• Autumn: Section 3
• Winter: Section 1
• Winter: Section 2
• Spring: Section 1
• Spring: Section 2
• Spring: Section 3
• Spring: Section 4
• Summer: Section 1
• Summer: Section 2
• Summer: Section 3
• Character Analysis
• Pecola Breedlove
• Claudia and Frieda Macteer
• Cholly Breedlove
• Soaphead Church (Elihue Micah Whitcomb)
• Toni Morrison Biography
• Critical Essay
• An Overview of The Bluest Eye
• Full Glossary for The Bluest Eye
• Cite this Literature Note

Study Help Essay Questions

1. Discuss the narrative structure of the novel. Why might Morrison have chosen to present the events in a non-chronological way?

2. Write an essay in which you discuss Morrison's juxtaposing the primer's Mother-Father-Dick-Jane sections with Claudia's and the omniscient narrator's sections. What is the relationship between these three differing narrative voices?

3. Discuss the significance of no marigolds blooming in the fall of 1941.

4. Compare Pecola's character to Claudia's. Which of these two characters is better able to reject white, middle-class America's definitions of beauty? Support your answer with examples from the text.

5. Discuss the symbolism associated with Shirley Temple in the novel. What does she represent to Pecola? What might she represent to Maureen Peal?

6. Discuss Cholly's dysfunctional childhood. What is his definition of what a family should be? Does knowing about his upbringing affect your reactions when he rapes Pecola? Why or why not?

7. How does Morrison present gender relations in the novel? Are men and women's relationships generally portrayed positively or negatively? Support your answer with examples from the text.

8. Write an essay in which you compare Louis Junior's and Soaphead Church's treatments of Pecola. Is she treated worse by one of these characters than the other? If so, which one, and why? Is it significant that each relationship involves animals?

9. Discuss the mother-daughter relationships in the novel.

10. Does Morrison present any positive role models for Pecola and other girls like her? How might Morrison define what beauty is? Does she present any examples of such beauty in the novel?

11. Write an essay in which you discuss Pecola's dream of happiness and Langston Hughes' poem "Dream Deferred." Is Pecola's wanting the bluest eyes a "dream deferred"? Discuss Pecola's dream in terms of its worth, compared to the dreams of young Pauline, the dreams of Louis Junior's mother, Geraldine, and the dreams of Soaphead Church. What do these people dream for, and what will it take to make them happy? Are their dreams attainable, or will they eventually be deferred and dry up "like a raisin in the sun," as Hughes' poem suggests?

Previous Full Glossary for The Bluest Eye

Next Cite this Literature Note

72 The Bluest Eye Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the bluest eye topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting the bluest eye topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about the bluest eye, ❓ the bluest eye essay questions.

• The Main Characters and Themes of The Bluest Eye This essay discovers the child’s view of the problems of racism, poverty, incest, and the inability to love. Cholly’s Projection of Pain Cholly is the father of the Breedlaw family and the one who took […]
• The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison Tony Morrison is the author of the novel titled The Bluest Eye, which presents an overview of an African-American girl’s life and the challenges she encountered. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• The Bluest Eye by Morrison: Characters, Themes, Personal Opinion The girl believes that her eyes have turned blue, and she invents an imaginary friend who is always there and tells her that her eyes are the bluest in the world.
• The Influence of American Popular Culture on the Heroes of “The Bluest Eye” The same situation of blind following the popular culture idols that were hand-made by the promoters and PR managers who created an ideal white culture in the USA and managed to persuade the nation in […]
• Perception of Self-Identity in ”The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison The novel illustrates the concept of the relationship between the authoritative and internally persuasive difference between the white society and the black community.
• The Novel “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison Dandelions have a strong meaning to Pecola’s view if the world and the way the world views her. She can feel her resemblance to the dandelions and they amount to her feelings about the people […]
• Life and Grievances of Black Women in «The Bluest Eye» by Toni Morrison The novel suggests closure through its exploration of the tragedy of Pecola, mediated within the frame of the Dick-and-Jane story, and its evocation of the marigold symbol to signify Claudia’s passage from ignorance to knowledge.
• The Black Culture’s White Culture Shock Toni Morrison in The Bluest Eye traces the history of the black people in the most prolific and unique manner that traces their position and lives in the society.
• Self and Other Identification in Cortazar’s “Axolotl” and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye For the Breedlove family is poorer, and Pauline, mother of Pecola, is most unkind to her own family as they do not compare favorably with the white family for whom Pauline works as a maid.
• The Human Measure of Self Worth in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Impacts of White-Dominated Media on Blacks in Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”
• The Misdirection of Anger in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• Historical Context of “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Uses of God and the Church in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Search for Beauty in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye,” William Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Social Issues
• The Issues of American Culture in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• Critical Analysis of “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Portrayal of Feminism in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Scrutiny of Race and Beauty Within “The Bluest Eye”
• Violent Women in “The Bluest Eye” and “Beloved”
• The Importance of Every Relationship in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Effect of Standard of Beauty Toward Pecola in “The Bluest Eye”
• The Reinforcement of Racial Hierarchies in Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” and Neal’s “The Black Arts Movement”
• The Question of Morality and Use of Body in “The Bluest Eye” and “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• The Identities in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “The Bluest Eye”
• The Theme of Whiteness as a Standard for Beauty in “The Bluest Eye”
• The Consequences of Racial Inequality Through Pecola’s Character in “The Bluest Eye”
• Comparative Analysis of “The Bluest Eye” and “The House on Mango Street”
• The Complexity of Evil in Morison’s “The Bluest Eye”
• The Internal Conflict of Pecola Breedlove on Her Appearance in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• Effects of Racism on Sexual Lives of Characters in “The Bluest Eye”
• The Quest for Personal Identity in Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”
• Unorthodox of Narrative Features in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Concept of the Evils of Society in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, “Two Kinds by Amy Tan,” and “I Want to Be Miss America” by Julia Alvarez
• Violence and Socialization in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Portrayal of Cleanliness in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Parent-Child Relationships in “East Is East” by Ayub Khan-Din and “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• Writing Techniques Used in “The Bluest Eye”
• The Issues of Self Hatred and Beauty in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
• The Price of Persecution by Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”
• The Relationships Between Race, Beauty, and Identity in the American South Through the Black Women in “The Bluest Eye”
• What Is the Significance of Mary Jane in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Point of View Is “The Bluest Eye” Written in?
• How Is the Quest for Personal Identity in Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Are the Major Themes in “The Bluest Eye”?
• Who Is Dewey Prince From “The Bluest Eye”?
• How Does Maureen’s Family Make Money in “The Bluest Eye”?
• How Does Claudia Describe Mr. Henry When She First Meets Him in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Is the Plot of the Story “The Bluest Eye”?
• Why Does Toni Morrison Use Seasons in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Year Does “The Bluest Eye” Take Place in?
• Where in Exactly “The Bluest Eye” Can We Find a Clear Reference to What Maureen’s Ethnicity Is?
• What Do Blue Eyes Symbolize to Pecola in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Is the Essential Theme of “The Bluest Eye”?
• Should “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison Be Considered a Great American Novel?
• What Does Autumn Symbolize in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Is the Writing Style of “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Is Racism’s Consequences and Resistance Against It in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison?
• What Is the Central Conflict in “The Bluest Eye”?
• How Are Claudia and Pecola Different in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Does the Dandelion Symbolize in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Is the Conclusion of “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Are the Effects of Racism on Sexual Lives of Characters in “The Bluest Eye”?
• How Race and Gender Affect a Person’s Opportunity in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison?
• Is “The Bluest Eye” Based on a True Story?
• What Literary Devices Are Used in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Is the Message of “The Bluest Eye”?
• How Does Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” Relate to Modern Education?
• What Is the Author’s Purpose in “The Bluest Eye”?
• What Is the Difference Between Jealousy and Envy in the Novel “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison?
• How Morrison Deconstructs White Standards of Beauty in “The Bluest Eye”?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 72 The Bluest Eye Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-bluest-eye-essay-examples/

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "72 The Bluest Eye Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-bluest-eye-essay-examples/.

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The Bluest Eye

Toni morrison, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Bluest Eye: Introduction

The bluest eye: plot summary, the bluest eye: detailed summary & analysis, the bluest eye: themes, the bluest eye: quotes, the bluest eye: characters, the bluest eye: symbols, the bluest eye: theme wheel, brief biography of toni morrison.

Historical Context of The Bluest Eye

Other books related to the bluest eye.

• Full Title: The Bluest Eye
• When Written: 1962-1965
• Where Written: Syracuse, New York
• When Published: 1970
• Literary Period: Modernist
• Genre: Coming of age, tragedy, African American literature
• Setting: Lorain, Ohio, in the years following the Great Depression, 1940-1941.
• Climax: Pecola's rape by her father Cholly
• Antagonist: Cholly Breedlove, The White Standard of Beauty, and Racism
• Point of View: First person passages narrated by Claudia MacTeer, third person omniscient.

Extra Credit for The Bluest Eye

Controversy. Morrison's novel has experienced an abundance of controversy because of the novel's strong language and sexually explicit content. The American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom lists The Bluest Eye as no. 12 on its list of the top 100 banned/challenged books from 2000 to 2007.

Inspiration. The Bluest Eye was inspired by a real life interaction Toni Morrison had with a girl who wanted blue eyes. Her reaction to the girl, which was anger, stayed with her, and later she began to wonder what leads a young girl to desire such a radical transformation. These thoughts led to the writing of The Bluest Eye.

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Essays on The Bluest Eye

What makes a good the bluest eye essay topics.

When it comes to writing an essay on The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, choosing the right topic is crucial. A good essay topic should be thought-provoking, engaging, and relevant to the themes and characters in the novel. But how do you brainstorm and choose the perfect topic for your essay?

First, consider what aspects of the novel resonate with you the most. Are there specific characters, themes, or passages that you find particularly interesting or significant? Brainstorming about these elements can help you come up with unique and original essay topics.

Next, think about the message or messages that Toni Morrison is trying to convey in The Bluest Eye. What social, cultural, and historical issues does the novel address? Considering these broader themes can help you narrow down your topic and focus on a specific aspect of the novel.

Finally, a good essay topic should be specific and focused. Instead of choosing a broad topic, try to narrow it down to a specific aspect of the novel that you can analyze in depth. This will not only make your essay more manageable but also allow you to delve deeper into the text and its implications.

Ultimately, a good essay topic for The Bluest Eye should be original, thought-provoking, and relevant to the novel's themes and characters. By considering these factors and brainstorming effectively, you can choose the perfect topic for your essay.

Best The Bluest Eye Essay Topics

When it comes to writing an essay on The Bluest Eye, choosing a unique and creative topic can set your paper apart. Here are some of the best essay topics for The Bluest Eye that will help you stand out:

• The impact of beauty standards on the characters in The Bluest Eye
• The portrayal of race and identity in the novel
• The role of family and community in shaping the characters' experiences
• The symbolism of the blue eyes in the novel
• The theme of self-acceptance and self-worth in The Bluest Eye
• The intersection of gender and race in the novel
• The effects of trauma and abuse on the characters in the novel
• The portrayal of childhood innocence and the loss of innocence in the novel
• The significance of the setting in The Bluest Eye
• The use of language and narrative style in the novel

These essay topics go beyond the typical themes and characters in The Bluest Eye and offer a fresh perspective on the novel. By choosing one of these topics, you can create a unique and engaging essay that stands out from the rest.

The Bluest Eye essay topics Prompts

If you're looking for creative prompts to inspire your essay on The Bluest Eye, here are five ideas to get you started:

• Imagine you are a character in The Bluest Eye. How would you navigate the challenges and hardships faced by the characters in the novel?
• Write a letter from one character to another, expressing their thoughts and emotions about the events of the novel.
• Create a visual representation of a key theme or symbol in The Bluest Eye, using images, symbols, and colors to convey its significance.
• Rewrite a key scene from the novel from a different character's perspective, shedding new light on their motivations and experiences.
• Imagine a conversation between the author, Toni Morrison, and one of the characters from The Bluest Eye. What questions would you ask them about the novel and its themes?

These prompts are designed to spark creativity and encourage you to think outside the box when writing your essay on The Bluest Eye. By approaching the novel from a new angle, you can create a fresh and engaging essay that offers a unique perspective on the text.

Cholly Breedlove Character Analysis

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The Issue of Accepting One's Inner Beauty in The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

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Beauty and Belonging in The Bluest Eye

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Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye: The Stylistic Analysis of Metaphor

The front tooth and my foot, the demise of the ugly black girl in the bluest eye, blame in the bluest eye, the human condition of love in "the bluest eye" by morrison, the unexamined other: confronting the social hypocrisy of maureen in the bluest eye, the music and silence of the bluest eye, contempt and descent in the bluest eye, internalization and externalization of color in the bluest eye and the color purple, "the bluest eye" and "slaughterhouse five": comparing minor characters' representation and construction, powerful female characters in the bluest eye and beloved, analysis of pecola in the bluest eye, ethnic studies and "the bluest eye", the concept of the evils of society in the bluest eye by toni morrison, two kinds by amy tan, and i want to be miss america by julia alvarez, the idea of confusion as depicted the bluest eye and i want to be miss america, engaging the reader’s judgement in the bluest eye and hamlet, rooting for creating the black world: quest for cohesion in the bluest eye and sula, intersectionality in "zami" and "the bluest eye".

Toni Morrison

Novel, Fiction, Bildungsroman

Pecola Breedlove, Claudia MacTeer, Sam Breedlove, Pauline Breedlove, Cholly Breedlove

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The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

• Publication Date: May 8, 2007
• Genres: Fiction
• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Vintage
• ISBN-10: 0307278441
• ISBN-13: 9780307278449
• About the Book
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The Bluest Eye

99 pages • 3 hours read

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Top 100 Bluest Eye Essay Topics for Students

Sep 13, 2021 | 0 comments

Sep 13, 2021 | Topics | 0 comments

Essays are a critical part of education, and literature-based Bluest Eye essays make up an essay subgroup. Without the opportunity to write about “ The Bluest Eyes ” book, learners would not share their thoughts on its many aspects. That is the aspect that references Pecola Breedlove’s low self-esteem and her wish for blue eyes despite being one with all other black girls around her who have brown hair and dark skin like hers. The essay writing process in school often entails the teacher either directing students to an interesting area or providing them with The Bluest Eye ideas to get more clues on what to write about. Many students consider essay writing as very demanding, purely based on how much energy and time it requires from them. . A lot of students would rather engage in other fun activities than write essays . However, embracing essay writing can ensure the best outcome for students as it helps build self-discipline and deepens their understanding of current issues beyond their curriculum. You may have heard that writing a good essay can be challenging, but it doesn’t need to! The Blue Eye essays are interesting because they explore themes central to the book. Here’s how you write an exceptional one: Consider these examples for relevant topics on your paper title.

The Bluest Eye Essay Topic Examples

• My Life’s Art
• Essay on Themes of House on Mango Street , and The Bluest Eye
• A Personal Identity Quest in the book, The Bluest Eye
• Racial Standards of Beauty as Contained in The Bluest Eye
• Violence Forms in Morrison Toni’s The Bluest Eye
• Splendor and ‘The Bluest Eye’
• How Can Development of the Eye Influence Human Development?
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Here Are the Most Targeted Books of 2023

Amid a nationwide surge in book bans, memoirs and novels that deal with the experiences of L.G.B.T.Q. people or explore race received the most challenges.

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By Elizabeth A. Harris

The most challenged books in the United States in 2023 continued to focus on the experiences of L.G.B.T.Q. people or explore themes of race, according to a report released Monday by the American Library Association.

Amid an explosion of books bans across the country, the association counted more than 4,200 challenged titles , which is the most in a single year since it began tracking this information more than two decades ago. In the years leading up 2021, when the increase really took off, the average number of titles challenged in a given year was about 275, according to the library association.

“More and more, we’re seeing challenges that say, simply, This book has a gay character, or, This book deals with L.G.B.T.Q. themes, even if it has no sexuality in it,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the American Library Association’s office for intellectual freedom. “We’re seeing those naked attacks on simply the visibility of and knowledge about L.G.B.T.Q. lives and experiences.”

Traditionally, books were challenged when individual parents raised concerns about a specific book their child had encountered in school, and libraries have long had processes in place so that parents could prevent their children from borrowing books they consider inappropriate.

But organized groups have led the charge in this escalation, challenging large batches of titles and circulating lists online — sometimes including dozens or even hundreds of books — to encourage parents and others to seek them out at their local libraries en masse.

Parents and organizers who have pushed to remove certain titles say they are trying to protect children from stumbling on books that are explicit or inappropriate for their age.

Increasingly, Caldwell-Stone said, these challenges are taking place not only in school libraries but in public libraries as well. According to the library association’s report, 54 percent of the challenges they tracked took place in public libraries.

The report also highlighted efforts to counter book challenges. Some local elections and initiatives have come out against those trying to restrict access to books, federal legislators have held hearings on the subject and those who oppose restricting access to certain books have had some legal victories.

Here are the 10 most challenged books of 2023, along with the reasons they were targeted. Several, including “Gender Queer,” “The Bluest Eye” and “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” have been among the most frequently challenged in previous years.

1. “Gender Queer,” by Maia Kobabe

An illustrated memoir by Kobabe, who is nonbinary, was challenged because it contained L.G.B.T.Q. content and was called sexually explicit.

2. “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” by George M. Johnson

This memoir about the joys and challenges of growing up Black and queer was challenged because of L.G.B.T.Q. content and because it was considered sexually explicit.

3. “This Book is Gay,” by Juno Dawson

A nonfiction book that explores growing as an L.G.B.T.Q. person and includes topics like sex and stereotypes, this was challenged because it included L.G.B.T.Q. content, which was considered sexually explicit.

4. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

This best-selling book for young adults is about a high school freshman in the suburbs in the 1990s. It was challenged for its L.G.B.T.Q. content, as well as its inclusion of profanity, drugs and rape.

5. “Flamer,” by Mike Curato

“Flamer,” a graphic novel for young adults that draws on the author’s own experience, is about a child at Boy Scout camp who is coming to terms with being gay. It was challenged for L.G.B.T.Q. content and for being sexually explicit.

6. “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison

This was Morrison’s 1970 debut, and follows a Black girl who wishes for blue eyes so she will fit the standards of conventional white beauty. The book also address racism and sexual abuse. It was challenged for its inclusion of rape and incest and because its content was seen as promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.

Tie: “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” by Jesse Andrews

A best seller about high school students, this novel was challenged because of profanity and because it was deemed sexually explicit.

Tie: “Tricks,” by Ellen Hopkins

This novel, about teenagers who fall into prostitution, was challenged for being sexually explicit and including drugs, rape and L.G.B.T.Q. content.

9. “Let’s Talk About It,” by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan

A graphic novel about sex and relationships, this was challenged for being sexually explicit and including L.G.B.T.Q. content.

10. “Sold,” by Patricia McCormick

This National Book Award finalist is about a 13-year-old girl who is sold into prostitution. It was challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and included depictions of rape.

An earlier version of this article misstated a title of one of the targeted books. It is “This Book Is Gay,” not “The Book Is Gay.”

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