These books were challenged or banned in 2005- 2006.
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I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou.
Removed as required reading for ninth grade English in Annapolis MD because of mature themes.
Angelou’s coming of age as a precocious black girl in 1930’s American south and 1940’s California.
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THE HANDMAID’S TALE by Margaret Atwood
Re-instated by the Judson TX school board, after the superintendent banned the novel from the advanced English curriculum for being sexually explicit and offensive to Christians.
A woman’s life in Gilead, the totalitarian, theocratic state of the future.
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FOREVER by July Blume
Challenged in Fayetteville, AR by a parent for being too sexually explicit.
First sex in high school and what it means for the girl involved.
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WHALE TALK by Chris Crutcher
Removed from six schools in Alabama & South Carolina and challenged in a Michigan high school for use of profanity.
About small town prejudice; the high school protagonist is “black, and Japanese and white.”
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TIME TO KILL by John Grisham
Challenged, but retained in Fargo, ND high school after complaints about graphic rape and murder scenes.
Young lawyer defends black Vietnam War hero who killed white druggies who raped his child.
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THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon
Challenged at Galveston TX County Reads Day because it could “pollute” young minds.
Fifteen-year-old with Asperger’s Syndrome solves the murder of his neighbor’s dog.
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GIRL, INTERRUPTED by Susanna Kaysen
Removed, pending review, from Orono ME high school after parent complaint about strong language and vivid descriptions.
Eighteen-year-old is hospitalized and writes about her life on the “psych ward.”
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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
Challenged at Brentwood, TN middle school for profanity, adult sexual themes and use of racial slurs that promote white supremacy.
Depression-era Southern tale about a black man accused of rape.
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THE GIVER by Lois Lowry
Challenged but retained at Seaman, KS elementary school library.
Utopian tale of a future where everyone is assigned a role in life.
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THE EARTH, MY BUTT, AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS by Carolyn Mackler
Banned by Carroll County, MD superintendent but after protests from students, librarians, national organizations and the publisher, it was returned to high school libraries, but not those in middle schools.
Teen age romance, angst and tribulations told by a girl with inattentive parents.
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THE BLUEST EYE by Toni Morrison
Banned from Littleton CO curriculum and library shelves after complaints about explicit sex and incest/rape.
Lorain, Ohio Depression years where a young girl is impregnated by her father.
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LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov
Challenged in Ocala FL where the county attorney is reviewing it to determine if it is unsuitable for minors.
Intellectual and erotic, a love story with humor and scandal.
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BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN by Annie Proulx
St Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX returned a three million dollar donation rather than submit to the donor’s request to remove the short story from a list of optional reading for 12 graders.
Forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys.
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THIS BOY’S LIFE by Tobias Wolff
Removed from Overland Park, KS high school curriculum after parents and other community members objected to foul language and references to alcohol and sexual activity.
Autobiographical novel of adolescent life with an itinerant mother.
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dcelia@westportlibrary.org