Book Addicts Anonymous

Well folks, it's that time of year when we remember that not all learned people have a firm grasp of reality and seek to remove certain titles from the shelves of our libraries and bookshops. Here are a few that were the most challenged of 2007:

1. “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint,
2. "The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
3. “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language
4. “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
5. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain Reasons: Racism
6. "The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
7. "TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
8. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou Reasons: Sexually Explicit
9. “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie HarrisReasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
10. "The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

I have to say that I'm astonished that numbers 5, 6, and 8 are on this list.