The American Library Association recently released their list of the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2007. For the second straight year, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell's award-winning children's book about two male penguins who care for an orphaned egg--And Tango Makes Three--topped the list.
When schools or libraries receive formal, written complaints requesting that a certain book be removed because of content or appropriateness, the book is considered a "challenged book." According to the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF), they received 420 reports from libraries and schools of efforts to have books removed last year.
However, they also note that the majority of challenges go unreported.
How do you feel about it as a parent? Is it different than how you feel about it as a regular ol' American citizen? When should people/children have access to information and the freedom to choose for themselves and when should it be denied or controlled? It appears that these questions present themselves over and over again each year when it comes to children's literature.
Taken from the
ALA website, here is the list of the "10 Most Challenged Books of 2007." You'll see that they reflect a range of themes and are challenged for a variety of reasons:
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.
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, 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
