The
following books were the most frequently
challenged in 2005:
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received a
total of 405 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a
formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that
materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. According to
Judith F. Krug, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, the number of
challenges reflects only incidents reported, and for each reported, four or
five remain unreported.
The
“10 Most Challenged Books of 2005” reflect a range of themes. The books
are:
Off the list this year,
but on for several years past, are the Alice series of books by Phyllis
Reynolds Naylor, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck and “The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain.
&
“It's
Perfectly Normal” for homosexuality, nudity, sex education, religious
viewpoint, abortion and being unsuited to age group;
& “Forever”
by Judy Blume for sexual content and offensive language;
& “The
Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger for sexual content, offensive language and
being unsuited to age group;
& “The
Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier for sexual content and offensive language;
& “Whale
Talk” by Chris Crutcher for racism and offensive language;
& “Detour
for Emmy” by Marilyn Reynolds for sexual content;
& “What
My Mother Doesn't Know” by Sonya Sones for sexual content and being unsuited to
age group;
& Captain
Underpants series by Dav Pilkey for anti-family content, being unsuited to age
group and violence;
& “Crazy
Lady!” by Jane Leslie Conly for offensive language; and
& “It's
So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families” by Robie H.
Harris for sex education and sexual content.