The 10 Most "Challenged" Books of 2007
a book list by Peter, the avid reader who runs Flashlight Worthy
shelved under
Young Adult & Teen
Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the top ten books most frequently challenged as too offensive to appear in a public library. Below is the list for 2007.
For the curious, the ALA received a total of 420 challenges in '07; 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. The ALA doesn't claim comprehensiveness in recording challenges — research suggests that for each challenge reported there are as many as four or five which go unreported.
Personally, the inclusion of "...Huck Finn", "Caged Bird..." and "The Color Purple" gives me an uneasy sense that there's an undercurrent of racism in this list. That two Toni Morrison books are frequently included only reinforces that.
And Tango Makes Three
by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell
Included for the following reasons: "Anti-ethnic, sexism, homosexuality, anti-family, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group."
The Chocolate War
by Robert Cormier
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit, offensive language, and violence."
Olive's Ocean
by Kevin Henkes
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit and offensive language."
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
Included for the following reasons: "Homosexuality, sexually explicit, and offensive language."
ttyl
by Lauren Myracle
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group."
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
Included for the following reason: "Sexually explicit."
It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health
by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley
Included for the following reason: "Sexually explicit."
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
Included for the following reasons: "Homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group."
Flashlight Worthy
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime.
more...
About Peter
I've always been interested in topics of every kind, so what the heck, I built this website to recommend books of every kind. If you have ideas as to how Flashlight Worthy could be better, let me know.
Stay in Touch
Newest book lists
President Obama's Favorite Books of 2017
Books for an Adventurous Childhood
Visiting Venice Through (Mostly) Fiction
Childhood Remembered: Books Of Indelible Childhood Memories
Novels on Art, Artists and Art World Shenanigans
Picture Books with Fun (and Sometimes Friendly) Monsters
Robert Rodi’s Favorite Books About Italy
Fractured Novels that Mirror the Uncertainty of Everyday Life
The 10 Most "Challenged" Books of 2007
a book list by Peter, the avid reader who runs Flashlight Worthy
shelved under
Young Adult & Teen
Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the top ten books most frequently challenged as too offensive to appear in a public library. Below is the list for 2007.
For the curious, the ALA received a total of 420 challenges in '07; 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. The ALA doesn't claim comprehensiveness in recording challenges — research suggests that for each challenge reported there are as many as four or five which go unreported.
Personally, the inclusion of "...Huck Finn", "Caged Bird..." and "The Color Purple" gives me an uneasy sense that there's an undercurrent of racism in this list. That two Toni Morrison books are frequently included only reinforces that.
And Tango Makes Three
by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell
Included for the following reasons: "Anti-ethnic, sexism, homosexuality, anti-family, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group."
The Chocolate War
by Robert Cormier
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit, offensive language, and violence."
Olive's Ocean
by Kevin Henkes
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit and offensive language."
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
Included for the following reasons: "Homosexuality, sexually explicit, and offensive language."
ttyl
by Lauren Myracle
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group."
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
Included for the following reason: "Sexually explicit."
It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health
by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley
Included for the following reason: "Sexually explicit."
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
Included for the following reasons: "Homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group."
Flashlight Worthy
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime.
more...
About Peter
I've always been interested in topics of every kind, so what the heck, I built this website to recommend books of every kind. If you have ideas as to how Flashlight Worthy could be better, let me know.
Stay in Touch
Newest book lists
President Obama's Favorite Books of 2017
Books for an Adventurous Childhood
Visiting Venice Through (Mostly) Fiction
Childhood Remembered: Books Of Indelible Childhood Memories
Novels on Art, Artists and Art World Shenanigans
Picture Books with Fun (and Sometimes Friendly) Monsters
Robert Rodi’s Favorite Books About Italy
Fractured Novels that Mirror the Uncertainty of Everyday Life
The 10 Most "Challenged" Books of 2007
a book list by Peter, the avid reader who runs Flashlight Worthy
Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the top ten books most frequently challenged as too offensive to appear in a public library. Below is the list for 2007.
For the curious, the ALA received a total of 420 challenges in '07; 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. The ALA doesn't claim comprehensiveness in recording challenges — research suggests that for each challenge reported there are as many as four or five which go unreported.
Personally, the inclusion of "...Huck Finn", "Caged Bird..." and "The Color Purple" gives me an uneasy sense that there's an undercurrent of racism in this list. That two Toni Morrison books are frequently included only reinforces that.
And Tango Makes Three
by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell
Included for the following reasons: "Anti-ethnic, sexism, homosexuality, anti-family, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group."
The Chocolate War
by Robert Cormier
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit, offensive language, and violence."
Olive's Ocean
by Kevin Henkes
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit and offensive language."
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
Included for the following reasons: "Homosexuality, sexually explicit, and offensive language."
ttyl
by Lauren Myracle
Included for the following reasons: "Sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group."
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
Included for the following reason: "Sexually explicit."
It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health
by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley
Included for the following reason: "Sexually explicit."
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
Included for the following reasons: "Homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group."
Flashlight Worthy
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime. more...
About Peter
I've always been interested in topics of every kind, so what the heck, I built this website to recommend books of every kind. If you have ideas as to how Flashlight Worthy could be better, let me know.
Stay in Touch
Newest book lists
President Obama's Favorite Books of 2017
Books for an Adventurous Childhood
Visiting Venice Through (Mostly) Fiction
Childhood Remembered: Books Of Indelible Childhood Memories
Novels on Art, Artists and Art World Shenanigans
Picture Books with Fun (and Sometimes Friendly) Monsters
Robert Rodi’s Favorite Books About Italy
Fractured Novels that Mirror the Uncertainty of Everyday Life