Posted February 11, 2005.
Chocolate War Captures Top Spot on Most-Challenged List
Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War topped the list of the “Ten Most Challenged Books of 2004,” a ranking issued annually by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. The book drew criticism from parents for its sexual content, offensive language, religious viewpoint, and violence.
Released February 11, the list also included, in order of number of challenges reported:
- Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, for racism, offensive language, and violence;
- Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture by Michael A. Bellesiles, for inaccuracy and political viewpoint;
- The Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, for offensive language and modeling bad behavior;
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, for homosexuality, sexual content, and offensive language;
- What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones, for sexual content and offensive language;
- In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, for nudity and offensive language;
- King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, for homosexuality;
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, for racism, homosexuality, sexual content, offensive language, and age-inappropriateness; and
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, for racism, offensive language, and violence.
Three of the 10 books on the list were cited for homosexual themes—the highest number in a decade. Sexual content and offensive language remain the most frequent reasons for seeking removal of books from schools and public libraries.
This year marks the first time in five years in which the Harry Potter series does not top or appear on the list. Last year, OIF received reports of 547 challenges, which are defined as formal, written complaints filed with a library or school requesting the removal of materials because of content.
Posted February 11, 2005; revised February 24, 2005.