Reporting (and I use that term very loosely) on the most challenged books is like reporting the contents of my lunch bag – ain’t much changing. The American Library Association recently released their annual challenged books list, and there are a lot of familiar faces. Let’s take a look at the top five:
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group - His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, violence - TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group - Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, violence - Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, violence
And Tango Makes Three has been a challenged mainstay since it was first published in 2005. With the national debate over gay rights not likely to go away anytime soon, expect to see this one near the top for a while. His Dark Materials shot up last year’s list largely due to the release of the film version of The Golden Compass, which caused a stir in some religious circles. The Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz has been getting people’s ire up for years. The TTYL series has climbed to the #3 slot, from #7 last year. I’m guessing this is due to new books being added to the series (there’s so much more to dislike!). The lone top five surprise is Bless Me, Ultima, which did not appear on any of the most frequently challenged lists dating back to 1991.
Want to see the rest of the top 10? Click here to visit the ALA website.
School Library Journal also published an article about 2008’s most frequently challenged books.
(Top Image: ‘Against Banned Books (Please Spread This Pic+&+The+Text)‘
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77512700@N00/44227093)
100 Scope Notes 
7 comments
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April 24, 2009 at 9:21 am
Sadako
Man, I used to love those Scary Story books. Well, I still do–super scary illustrations, but super fun.
April 24, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Scope Notes
Those will be circulating forever. They’re such a go-to for the kids who like to be spooked.
April 24, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Terry Doherty
Would “unsuited to age group” fit the people who don’t have BFFs or IM?
April 24, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Scope Notes
Ha – I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.
April 24, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Jenny
Banners, they love to ban! For no good reason of course. What a nuisance.
April 25, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Kelly
Le sigh.
I am proud to be able to say that my 1-year-old daughter is the proud owner of And Tango Makes Three. Anytime I hear about a picture book being banned, that makes me more likely to purchase it for her collection!
October 11, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Helen
wow i agree i used to love the scary story books and ive read a lot of the books that have been banned or challenged and i don’t understand why they keep challenging them. they are good books and some of them teach us about our selves or they just scar us for the fun of it. but books like the stupid porn books i can still find in a designated spot at my local barnes and nobles, ehich i feel is such crap especially since some of the books challenged are for explicit sexual content. i know kids aren’t reading them in school but they can still get a hold of them if mummy or dady buy them or if they get bored at a book store. so why are those books not being censored and banned? dont we get enough of that crap on tv? i’m 18 and a young college student in my home town and i read mark twain when i was in 8th grade and i learned alot about our country and history, thats more than what i can say about some of the stuff thats ending up on the book store selves today. i mean if im wrong or not understanding this entire things please dont be afraid to let me know because i feel its something improtant to learn about and maybe you know, i have it wrong.