2006 Most Challenged Books

The American Library Association is celebrating Banned Books Week this week. After stumbling across this list of titles I can only wonder why people get so up in arms about certain books. I don't know about banning these books from public libraries or trying to stop children from reading them because of their explicit language or homosexual themes but I can tell you that this particular list just makes me want to read them more. It only makes me question why are they offensive? Why should they be kept away from children?

One of the books below, "The Perks of Being Wallflower" was one of my favorites several years ago. It explores a socially challenged boy going through his teenage years. He deals with death, depression, music, emotional rollercoaster... I'm not sure what is so wrong with reading it other than the fact that a confused teenager could identify with the main character plight...

So, with out further adieu...

The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2006” reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:
“And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;
“Gossip Girls” series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
“Alice” series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;
“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things” by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“Scary Stories” series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
“Athletic Shorts” by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language;
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group; and
“The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.
Off the list this year, but on for several years past, are the “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain.