IF News

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom recently published the 2006 list of most challenged books. Although the award-winning children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” captured the top spot, the majority of books on the list are written for young adults. Additional books that made the list, as well as reasons for the challenges include:

• The Gossip Girls series by Cecily Von Ziegesar cited for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
• Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
  The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison for sexual content, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
• Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
• Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality, sexual 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;
• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.

Are you dealing with censorship challenge? Check out YALSA’s Intellectual Freedom soon- to- be- revised website for a practical guide outlining immediate steps to take if you are faced with a book challenge.