The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received a total of 420 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. According to Judith F. Krug, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, the number of challenges reflects only incidents reported, and for each reported, four or five remain unreported.
The 10 most challenged books of 2007 reflect a range of themes, and are:
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group.
- The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence.
- Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language.
- The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman Reasons: Religious Viewpoint.
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain Reasons: Racism.
- The Color Purple, by Alice Walker Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language.
- TTYL, by Lauren Myracle Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group .
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou Reasons: Sexually Explicit.
- It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit.
- The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group.
1 comment:
For balance, read about BBW being "shameless propaganda."
Or read the Annoyed Librarian at the Library Journal - "Censors" are So Scary.
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