Banned Books Project

Hi Everyone,

Here is the list of most frequently challenged books from 2001-2008. Just to give you a sense of what your getting into, according to the American Library Association:

Over the past eight years, American libraries were faced with 3,736 challenges.
1,225 challenges due to “sexually explicit” material;
1,008 challenges due to “offensive language”;
720 challenges due to material deemed “unsuited to age group”;
458 challenges due to “violence”
269 challenges due to “homosexuality”; and
Further, 103 materials were challenged because they were “anti-family,” and an additional 233 were challenged because of their “religious viewpoints.”
1,176 of these challenges (approximately 31%) were in classrooms; 37% were in school libraries; 24% (or 909) took place in public libraries. There were less than 75 challenges to college classes; and only 36 to academic libraries. There are isolated cases of challenges to materials made available in or by prisons, special libraries, community groups, and student groups. The majority of challenges were initiated by parents (almost exactly 51%), while patrons and administrators followed behind (10% and 8% respectively). ("Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century")

Remember, I am looking for three things: 1) Background information about author (this could also include some social/historical perspective on the time the author lived. 2) A synopsis, or summary of the book and 3) (perhaps the most important part) Why was the book challenged or banned? What about the book was so controversial? If possible, be as specific as you can. Try to look for specific instances of the book being banned, whether in Lancaster/York county, Pennsylvania, or other states in the US.

While not required, think about some visuals to help bring home the point you are making about your book. Youtube and other websites are excellent to help with vidoes and pictures. Remember also that this is a collaborative project, make sure you are communicating with your group about what you want to achieve. These presentations will be similar to a learning colloquim, so make sure it will be things that will interest your peers.

Make sure to leave a comment in the comment section with who is in your group and what book you chose. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2001
Out of 448 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling Reasons: anti-family, occult/Satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group, and violence
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou Reasons: offensive language and sexually explicit
Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger Reasons: offensive language and unsuited to age group
Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group
Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous Reasons: drugs, offensive language, and sexually explicit
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers Reason: offensive language
Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis KlauseReasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2002
Out of 515 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling Reasons: occult/Satanism and violence
Alice Series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
Taming the Star Runner, by S.E. Hinton Reason: offensive language
Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey Reasons: offensive language and unsuited to age group
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain Reason: offensive language
Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language, and violence
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor Reason: offensive language
Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead GeorgeReasons: unsuited to age group and violence

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2003
Out of 458 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds NaylorReasons: sexual content, using offensive language, and being unsuited to age group
Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling Reasons: occult/satanism
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck Reason: offensive language
Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael BellesilesReason: inaccuracy
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers Reason: racism, sexual content, offensive language, drugs, and violence
Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous Reason: drugs
It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris Reason: homosexuality, nudity, sexual content, and sex education
We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier Reason: offensive language and sexual content
King & King, by Linda de Haan Reason: homosexuality
Bridge to Terebithia, by Katherine PatersonReason: occult/satanism and offensive language

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2004
Out of 547 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence.
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Meyers Reasons: offensive language, racism, and violence
Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael A. Bellesiles Reasons: inaccurate and political viewpoint
Captain Underpants (series), by Dav PilkeyReasons: offensive language and sexually explicit
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen ChboskyReasons: homosexuality, offensive language, and sexually explicit
What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya SonesReasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, and sexually explicit
In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak Reasons: nudity, offensive language, and sexually explicit
King & King, by Linda deHaan Reason: homosexuality
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Of Mice and Men, by John SteinbeckReasons: offensive language, racism, and violence

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2005
Out of 405 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie H. HarrisReasons: homosexuality, nudity, sex education, religious viewpoint, abortion, and being unsuited to age group
Forever, by Judy Blume Reasons: sexual content and offensive language
The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger Reasons: sexual content, offensive language and being unsuited to age group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier Reasons: sexual content and offensive language
Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher Reasons: racism and offensive language
Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds Reason: sexual content
What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones Reasons: sexual content and being unsuited to age group
Captain Underpants (Series), by Dav Pilkey Reasons: anti-family content, being unsuited to age group and violence
Crazy Lady!, by Jane Leslie Conly Reason: offensive language
It’s So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie H. HarrisReasons: sex education and sexual content

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2006
Out of 546 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, and unsuited to age group
Gossip Girls (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group
Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: offensive language and sexually explicit
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn MacklerReasons: anti-family, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicity, and unsuited to age group
Scary Stories (series), by Alvin SchwartzReasons: insensitivity, occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, and violence
Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher Reasons: homosexuality and offensive language
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Beloved, by Toni Morrison Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
The Chocolate War, by Robert CormierReasons: offensive language, sexually explicity, and violence

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2007
Out of 420 challenges reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter ParnellReasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, sexism, and unsuited to Age Group
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive Language, sexually explicity, violence
Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman Reason: religious viewpoint
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain Reason: racism
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit
TTYL, by Lauren Myracle Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou Reason: sexually explicit
It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris Reasons: sex education and sexually explicit
The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen ChboskyReasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2008
Out of 513 challenges as reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter ParnellReasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip PullmanReasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren MyracleReasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Scary Stories (series), by Alvin SchwartzReasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo AnayaReasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen ChboskyReasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von ZiegesarReasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. BrannenReasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
The Kite Runner, by Khaled HosseiniReasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle HarperReasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group