Posted March 10, 2006.
ALA Unveils Most-Challenged Books of 2005
Robie H. Harris, one of the most frequently challenged authors of the past decade, has two titles on the list of most frequently challenged books of 2005, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom announced March 7: It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, and It’s So Amazing! A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families.
In the past year, It’s Perfectly Normal was attacked for containing references to homosexuality, nudity, sex education, religious viewpoint, abortion, and being unsuited for young age groups, while It’s So Amazing received complaints about its discussion of sex education and sexual content.
OIF received 405 challenges last year—defined as formal, written complaints filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Public libraries, schools, and school libraries reported the majority of the challenges.
The top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2005 are:
- It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris
- Forever by Judy Blume
- The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
- The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
- Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
- Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Reynolds
- What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones
- Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
- Crazy Lady! by Jane Leslie Conly
- It’s So Amazing! by Robie H. Harris
Posted March 10, 2006.