Most Frequently Challenged of 2007
Sep
28
2008

The following books were the most frequently challenged in 2007 (taken from the ALA site):

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 consist of the following titles:

1) “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2) The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3) “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language

4) “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism

6) “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7) “TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8) “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9) “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10) “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Off the list this year, are two books by author Toni Morrison. “The Bluest Eye” and “Beloved,” both challenged for sexual content and offensive language.

Good gracious people are busy trying to shove their viewpoints down my throat by making only theirs available for me and mine to read.

One comment to “Most Frequently Challenged of 2007”

  1. Dana
    September 28th, 2008 at 1:02 pm · Link

    This may come off sounding like I’m a just a plain “simpleton”.

    But, as my kids refer to “back in the day” it usually boiled down to a letter home that required signiture of a parents consent over a potentially “risque” book.

    Also there was this little thing called “Majority Rules”.

    In this day and age it all seems to be the “wheel that squeeks loudest” gets oiled first.

    When it was deemed that refering to Halloween as such, Christmas as such (and so forth) was inappropriate, I never heard there was vote on it….nor did any of the other parents I spoke to.

    Instead I am told tha a “few” upset parents came in and raised LOUD hell. To pacify said parents , the events were re-worded, and the day’s of seeing how many words “Frakenstein” could create were now gone.

    No one should ever be forced into participating in something they feel firmly against…but in that same frame, nor should anyone be forced to give up things due to anothers conflicts.

    What needs to happen and needed to happen then, whether be a Holiday or a book..is for everyone to SPEAK UP, and for the majority to rule, regardless of which way that may be.

    If I truly felt that the MAJORITY had ruled, I would have no issue.

    It’s only when I hear a few LOUD, ingnorant people want to FORCE their views/opinions on the majority….that well.

    You get the point I’m sure. And I have followed through, had news crews at my house…to at least FORCE my voice into being heard. It didn’t change anything…except that I could go to sleep knowing I had tried, and was at least heard.

    Boy what a tenacious subject.

    Ok, am attempting to superglue my mouth shut now, Oops, make that fingers together.

    🙂

    ~ v ~