Banned Book Week

September 29-October 6 is Banned Book Week. This American Library Association event "celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them."

According to the ALA, these are the ten most challenged books in 2006:

• "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;

• "Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;

• "Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;

• "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

• "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

• "Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;

• "Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality 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.