Banned Book Week 2010: 10 Selections From This Year's List

(Sept 27) -- To commemorate what it calls "Banned Books Week," the American Library Association is encouraging citizens to read a work of literature that has either been banned or restricted in some fashion.

Over the years, authors ranging from Mark Twain to William Faulkner to J.K. Rowling have all had their works singled out as being unworthy or inappropriate for general consumption, and the ALA keeps a running tally.

Surge Desk has some of the highlights from the 2009-2010 list.

1. Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary
Author: Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff
Where complaint was made: Menifee, Calif., Union School District
Reason for complaint: Parent found the term "oral sex" defined within
Result: The dictionary was pulled from fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms

2. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Author: Anne Frank
Where complaint was made: Culpepper County, Va.
Reason for complaint: Sexual content
Result: The new addition of the book was pulled from the county's public schools

3. Running With Scissors
Author: Augusten Burroughs
Where complaint was made: Hillsborough County, Fla.
Reason for complaint: Sexual content, adult themes
Result: Four high schools decided to keep using the book, but added a "mature reader" label to the cover

4. The Joy of Sex
Author: Alex Comfort
Where complaint was made: Topeka and Shawnee County, Kan.
Reason for complaint: Sexual content
Result: Access to book restricted at public libraries, later returned to shelves

5. Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Author: Barbara Ehrenreich
Where complaint was made: Easton, Penn.
Reason for complaint: Parent at school district claimed book promotes a socialist agenda
Result: After reviewing the matter, the school board decided to keep the book in the curriculum

6. To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Where complaint was made: Brampton, Ontario
Reason for complaint: Use of the "n-word"
Result: Book pulled from Catholic school curriculum

7. Twilight (entire series)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Where complaint was made: Australia
Reason for complaint: Sexual content, perceived witchcraft
Result: Book pulled from school libraries

8. Song of Solomon
Author: Toni Morrison
Where complaint was made: Shelby, Mich.
Reason for complaint: Profanity, sexual references, violence
Result: Parents at local high school must be informed as to the book's content

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9. A Prayer for Owen Meany
Author: John Irving
Where complaint was made: Pelhan, Mass.
Reason for complaint: Language and sexual content
Result: Book pulled from a school district summer reading list

10. I Like Guys (short story)
Author: David Sedaris
Where complaint was made: Litchfield, N.H.
Reason for complaint: Parents at Campbell High School said the story had a "political agenda"
Result: English curriculum adviser resigned, and the story is no longer taught

Read an interview with Barbara Jones, the director of the ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom.

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