Censorship, Banned and Challenged Children's Books

What's the state of censorship, banned, and challenged children's books in the twenty-first century? There have been some changes in the last few years. For example, for several years the Harry Potter series was vigorously challenged. By the 2005 Banned Books Week report, the American Library Association (ALA) announced, "This year marks the first in five in which the Harry Potter series does not top or appear on the ALA's annual list." However, a number of the same books that were challenged in the 1990s continue to be challenged in the 2000s.

The 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2007

According to the American Library Association (ALA), the following books are the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2007. After the title and author of each book are the reasons cited for the challenges:

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell - Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier -
 Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence 

3. Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
 - Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language
4. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
 - Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain - 
Reasons: Racism
6. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker - Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
7. TTYL, by Lauren Myracle - 
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
 - Reasons: Sexually Explicit
9. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
 - Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
10. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
 - Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group (ALA Report)

According to Judith F. Krug, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, “Free access to information is a core American value that should be protected. Not every book is right for each reader, but an individual’s interpretation of a book should not take away my right to select reading materials for my family or myself." (2008 Banned Books Week Release)

The Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000-2007

The top ten books on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000-2007 list are:

1. Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling
2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
6. Scary Stories, by Alvin Schwartz
7. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
8. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
9. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
10. Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey

Some Other Online Resources

In addition to the excellent resources on the detailed ALA Banned Books Week site, check out the following:
Censorship: Wielding the Red Pen - Through the Eyes of a Child
Jim Trelease on Censorship and Children’s Books
The Censorship of Canadian Children’s Literature

How Do You Feel About Censorship?

How do you feel about censorship of children's books? Should they be censored? If so, who should do it? Join our discussion.