2. Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week emphasizes
the freedom to choose or the
freedom to express one's opinion
even if that opinion might be
considered unorthodox or
unpopular and the importance of
ensuring the availability of
those unorthodox or unpopular
viewpoints to all who wish to
read them. !
American Library Association!
3. Banned Books Week
Celebrating the Freedom to
Read is observed during the
last week of September each
year. Observed since 1982,
the annual event reminds
Americans not to take this
precious democratic freedom
for granted.!
4. Banned Books Week
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received
a total of 546 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.!
5. Banned Books Week
The top three reasons, in order, for
challenging material are the material
is considered to !
– be “sexually explicit” !
– contain “offensive language,” and !
– be “unsuited to age group.” !
#The “10 Most Challenged Books of
2006” reflect a range of themes, and
include ... !
6. Banned Books Week
1.“And Tango Makes Three” by
Justin Richardson and Peter
Parnell, for homosexuality,
anti-family, and unsuited to
age group!
7. Banned Books Week
2.“Gossip Girls” series by
Cecily Von Ziegesar for
homosexuality, sexual
content, drugs, unsuited to
age group, and offensive
language !
9. Banned Books Week
4.“The Earth, My Butt, and
Other Big Round Things” by
Carolyn Mackler for sexual
content, anti-family,
offensive language, and
unsuited to age group !
10. Banned Books Week
5.“The Bluest Eye” by Toni
Morrison for sexual content,
offensive language, and
unsuited to age group!
11. Banned Books Week
6.“Scary Stories” series by
Alvin Schwartz for occult/
Satanism, unsuited to age
group, violence, and
insensitivity!
13. Banned Books Week
8.“The Perks of Being a
Wallflower” by Stephen
Chbosky for homosexuality,
sexually explicit, offensive
language, and unsuited to
age group!
14. Banned Books Week
9.“Beloved” by Toni Morrison
for offensive language,
sexual content, and unsuited
to age group; and “Beloved”
by Toni Morrison for
offensive language, sexual
content, and unsuited to age
group !
15. Banned Books Week
10.“The Chocolate War” by
Robert Cormier for sexual
content, offensive language,
and violence!
16. Banned Books Week
The most frequently
challenged authors in 2005
were Judy Blume, Robert
Cormier, Chris Crutcher,
Robie Harris, Phyllis
Reynolds Naylor, Toni
Morrison, J. D. Salinger, Lois
Lowry, Marilyn Reynolds, and
Sonya Sones.!
17. Banned Books Week
The most frequently
challenged authors in 2004
were Phyllis Reynolds
Naylor, Robert Cormier, Judy
Blume, Toni Morrison, Chris
Lynch, Barbara Park, Gary
Paulsen, Dav Pilkey, Maurice
Sendak, and Sonya Sones. !
18. Banned Books Week
The most frequently
challenged authors in 2003
were Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
J. K. Rowling, Robert
Cormier, Judy Blume,
Katherine Paterson, John
Steinbeck, Walter Dean
Myers, Robie Harris, Stephen
King, and Louise Rennison. !
19. Banned Books Week
The most frequently
challenged authors in 2002
were J.K. Rowling, Judy
Blume, Robert Cormier,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Stephen King, Lois Duncan,
S.E. Hinton, Alvin Schwartz,
Maya Angelou, Roald Dahl,
and Toni Morrison. !
20. Banned Books Week
Top Ten Challenged Authors 1990 to 2004!
• 1. Alvin Schwartz!
• 2. Judy Blume!
• 3. Robert Cormier!
• 4. J.K. Rowling!
• 5. Michael Willhoite!
• 6. Katherine Paterson!
• 7. Stephen King!
• 8. Maya Angelou!
• 9. R.L. Stine!
• 10. John Steinbeck!
