Monroe Library: September 2010

This year marks the 29th anniversary of Banned Books Week!

According to the American Library Associations (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), the ALA OIF "receives hundreds of reports on book challenges, which are formal written requests to remove a book from a library or classroom because of an objection to the book's content. There were 460 recorded attempts to remove materials from libraries in 2009 and more than 11,000 attempts recorded since the OIF began compiling information on book challenges in 1990. ".

In celebration of Banned Books Week, here is the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom list of the "Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009"

1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: Drugs, Nudity, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

2. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Reasons: Homosexuality

3.The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chabrosky

Reasons: Anti-Family, Drugs, Homosexuality, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Suicide, Unsuited to Age Group.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Reasons: Offensive Language, Racism, Unsuited to Age Group

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer

Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

6. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Reasons: Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Reasons: Drugs, Homosexuality, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Suicide, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence

8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler