Challenges to books have no political boundaries. While some books, by their very nature or subject matter, invite particular challenges, any book at any time may be called into question.
The Diary of Anne Frank was challenged in Virginia in 1982 by parents who objected to “sexually offensive passages.” Another challenge in Alabama called for rejection of the book because it is a “real downer.”
The popular Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder has been repeatedly challenged over the years for its negative portrayal of Native Americans. In 1996 a school in CA called for its removal from the library because it “promotes racial epithets and is fueling the fire of racism.”
Well-known children’s author Maurice Sendak’s picture book In the night Kitchen was one of the top ten challenged books in 2004. An Illinois school library removed it from the shelves because it had “nudity for no purpose.” A 1992 Minnesota challenge claimed the book “could lay the foundation for future use of pornography,”
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has had many challenges since its original publication. Challengers have sought removal because “the book does psychological damage to the positive integration process,” “uses the word ‘nigger,’” and because the book “conflicted with the values of the community.”
Each year the American Library Association receives hundreds of reports on books that were challenged or asked to be removed from library shelves. This represents only about a quarter of the actual challenges and removals that occur! OPEN a banned book today and celebrate the freedom to read!
- Books Challenged or Banned in 2004.
- Books Challenged or Banned in 2003.
- 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2002.
- 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-2000.
