Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) releases a list of the top 10 books libraries or schools have been asked to ban. According to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, 513 complaints were filed in 2008 from individuals or groups claiming certain books contained inappropriate content. ALA officials say that for every complaint it receives about a book, there are probably another four or five that were never reported. The top 10 most challenged books for last year were:
A picture book for young children about two male penguins who raise a daughter together. This is the third year in a row that
And Tango Makes Three has topped the list.
A young girl becomes involved in a struggle against a corrupt religion.
3.
TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
Three high school friends use IM to share their concerns about dating, drinking, etc.
Collections of truly scary stories with equally scary illustrations by Stephen Gammell
This classic of Chicano literature is a coming-of-age novel about a boy in New Mexico whose elderly aunt, a curandera (spiritual folk healer) helps him come to terms with conflicting beliefs and with death.
A shy 15-year-old boy faces suicide, drugs, sexuality, depression.
Rich New York City teenagers treat each other badly.
A picture book for young children about a girl whose favorite uncle marries his boyfriend. All of the characters are guinea pigs.
Much-praised novel about a rich man’s son and a servant’s son growing up in Afghanistan.
A young teen deals with conflicting friends, her parents and crushes.
-David Wallechinsky