This year marks the 27th annual celebration in support of literary freedom, the weeklong Banned Books Week sponsored by The American Library Association (ALA). The ALA updates the list each year to coincide with the events of Banned Books Week with new books being added in each subsequent year.
These selections come from a result of 420 formally submitted challenges placed to the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom filed by either a library or school. Complaints are commonly made due to what is deemed to be inappropriate content and subject matter.
Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2007-08
Here is a brief overview of the most frequently challenged books of 2007-08 along with what have been the most commonly made objections for each one.
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
- The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
- Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language.
- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Religious Viewpoint
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Racism
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker.Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language
- TTYL by Lauren Myracle.Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Sexually Explicit
- It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
- The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Reasons stated for challenging the book's suitability for schools and libraries: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
It might be worth noting that several books have fell of this year's list. Those were both written by Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye and Beloved.
Top 10 Challenged Authors of 2007-08
Some of the most widely challenged authors of 2007-08 include the following:
- Robert Cormier
- Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
- Mark Twain
- Toni Morrison
- Philip Pullman
- Kevin Henkes
- Lois Lowry
- Chris Crutcher
- Lauren Myracle
- Joann Sfar
The thematic concepts and overall subject matter of these books is a bone of contention between teachers, parents, libraries and young readers alike. Issues of censorship arise, as well as an increased interest in children's desires to read books that are deemed off-limits.
For more information about this year's most frequently challenged books, visit ALA's website.
Lisa Rufle - If I had to describe myself in one word, it would easily be: curious. So as a natural extension of my curiosity, reading is my life's ...
