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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

By Maya Angelou
Didn’t Make the List
This book was not added to The Good and the Beautiful Booklist due to the following reasons, which parents may want to consider:
  • It contains 1 use of the A** word
  • It contains 7 uses of the D**n word
  • It contains 9 uses of the H*** word
  • It contains 6 uses of the Bi*** word
  • It contains 3 uses of the Sh** word
  • It contains at least 20 instances of taking God’s and/or Christ’s names in vain

Note: most of the books on the Books That Didn’t Make the Booklist list have not been reviewed completely. They may have been reviewed only through a Kindle search and/or through reading sections of the book. The concerns listed may not represent every concern in the book.

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All books on The Good and the Beautiful Book List are deemed appropriate and wholesome, but some books have more emphasis on moral principles than others. A lower rating for moral value does not mean the book is inappropriate; it only means that moral values are not as highly emphasized.

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Although all books on this list have educational value in the sense of increasing vocabulary and other important skills, the educational value scale is based on how well the book helps the reader gain knowledge about historical time periods, cultures, geography, science, etc.

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Books that score high in literary value include exceptional writing, use of literary devices, and a rich vocabulary. All books on The Good and the Beautiful Book List are well-written, but some have a higher literary value than others.

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