Obscene in the Extreme

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck has always drawn fire for its honest and raw portrayal of migrant life in the 1930s. Now a new book -- Obscene in the Extreme -- gives a more complete picture of the opposition it has faced over the years. Read an excerpt.

Grapes of Wrath Even More Pertinent

One of the challenged books I read for the "Banned Book Challenge" this year was The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Rather than being dated, I found its insight into the trappings of poverty very relevant. While some things have changed, especially in the area of social assistance, the root causes of poverty remain and people still fall through the cracks when it comes to services.

Telling however, was the emphasis placed on family and the importance of unity -- perhaps missing from our society where families experience divorce or grandparents are not a short visit away.

For student resources on The Grapes of Wrath, see A Research Guide for Students. There are also resources for other banned or challenged books such as The Crucible, The Great Gadsby, Lord of the Flies, and To Kill a Mockingbird.