Celebrate freedom of speech by reading books that have been either challenged or banned during this year’s Banned Book Week, September 22-28. Challenged books are those that a person or group has tried to remove or restrict from libraries and the public, while banned books are those that have actually been removed from the public. Books are often challenged because they may express unorthodox or unpopular opinions, or feature material that is deemed inappropriate. Here is the list of most challenged books for 2012:
1) Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group
2) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
3) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
4) Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
5) And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
6) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
7) Looking for Alaska by John Green
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
8) Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
9) The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
10) Beloved by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence
For recent banned and challenged books, visit the ALA’s Yearly Lists of Challenged and/or Banned Books. For historically banned and challenged books, visit the ALA’s Banned and Challenged Classics list.