From
ALA:
Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books for 2009
Out of 460 challenges as reported to the
Office for Intellectual Freedom
1.
“TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs
My Thoughts: I loved this series and found it to be very true as to how the teens today speak via texting, IM...I would recommend 9th grade+. Guess why I read this series??? A teacher where I worked tried to take a student's personal copy of this book because she didn't like it....well, if someone tells me that I CAN'T read something, then of course I'm going to get my hands on that book and READ IT!!!!
2.
“And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality
3.
“The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide
My Thoughts: Another book that I so loved and I don't remember any anti-family thoughts...but hey, guess what world, lot's of kids feel that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4.
“To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee
Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
My Thoughts: One of my favorite books ever. My son, Marcus is reading this one right now!
5.
Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
My Thoughts: Sexually explicit??? LOL..what a joke!! Cheesy sexual thoughts especially in book 4!!!
6.
“Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
My Thoughts: I read this as an adult and just didn't get it....offensive language usually does not bother me.
7.
“My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence
My thoughts: Some of the reasons for being challenged are because it is unsuited to age group...well, it is targeted to adults but with the movie lots of teens are now reading Picoult....that's a bad thing??? This book was NOT sexually explicit, and that's why America was created...FREEDOM OF RELIGION!
8.
“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
My Thoughts: I haven't read this one YET, but it is on my list!
9.
“The Color Purple,” Alice Walker
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
My Thoughts: This book had a huge impact on me as a young adult....I may read this one again. Excellent book.
10.
“The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
My thoughts: Geesh...when I get to work today I better take this one off the shelf...wouldn't want anyone to read about nudity!!!! or sex or bad words....naughty naughty!!
So tell me, have you read any of these books??? What are your thoughts on censorship? Have you ever complained about the contents of a book that your child read in school?