Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2013

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom collects reports on book challenges from librarians, teachers, concerned individuals, and press reports. On April 15, OIF released the top ten most frequently challenged books list of 2013 as part of the State of America's Libraries Report.  

The number one most frequently challenged book of 2013 was Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series, which ranked #1 for the second year in a row. The series also placed in the Top Ten in 2002, 2004, and 2005. 

Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2013 
(out of 307 challenges as reported by ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom)

1)      Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence

2)      The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence

3)      The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (2008 Campus Read selection)
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group 

4)      Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James
Reasons: Nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

5)      The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (2012 Campus Read selection)
Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group 

6)      A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit

7)      Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

8)      The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

9)      Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: Occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit

10)  Bone (series), by Jeff Smith
Reasons: Political viewpoint, racism, violence

Sherman Alexie Book Removed from Curriculum

The 2008 Campus Read selection has been challenged and banned ... again.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian (2007) by Sherman Alexie was removed from the curriculum of the Meridian (Idaho) School District on April 1.  After two hours of emotional public testimony, trustees voted 2-1 to keep a hold on the book in place.

   (Read the full story and watch video of some of the emotional testimony here).

The Absolutely True Diary ... won the 2007 National Book Award and the 2009 Odyssey Award for best audio book. It has been included on the 2010, 2011, and 2012 lists of "Top Ten Challenged Books" compiled by ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom. Among the reasons given are: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, religious viewpoint, sex education, and violence.