In honor of Banned Book Week (September 24 through October 1), I have posted the list of the top 100 banned or challenged books in 2000-2009 from the American Library Association.
The titles I’ve read I’ve struck through.
The titles I own are in italics.
The titles I want to read are in bold.
Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling- Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell- Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
- Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
- His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
- ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Myracle, Lauren
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
- Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
- It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
- Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain- The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
- Forever, by Judy Blume
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker- Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
- Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
- King and King, by Linda de Haan
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee- Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
- The Giver, by Lois Lowry
- In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
- Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan
- Beloved, by Toni Morrison
- My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier
Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson- The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
- We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
- What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
- Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
- Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
- The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
- Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley- It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
- Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
- Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
- Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
- Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
- The Fighting Ground, by Avi
Blubber, by Judy Blume- Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
- Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
- Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
- The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
- Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
- The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
- Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
- The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
- You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
- The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
- Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
- When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
- Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
- Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
- Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
- Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
- The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
- The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
- Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
- The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
A Time to Kill, by John Grisham- Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
- Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
- Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park- Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
- What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
- The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
- Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
- A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
- Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
- The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
- The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
- A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
- Black Boy, by Richard Wright
- Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
- Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
- So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
- Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
- Cut, by Patricia McCormick
- Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood- Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle- Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
- The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
- Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
- Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
- Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
- Grendel, by John Gardner
The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende- I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume- America: A Novel, by E.R. Frank
I haven’t actually read many of them. There’s probably two reasons for that. First, I just don’t read much YA, which several of these are. Second, I don’t tend to read books that deal with tough topics, issues that would make people uncomfortable enough to challenge a book.
And now I want to know…
- Are there any you’ve loved?
- Any that shock your sensibilities?
- Any that you particularly disliked, although you wouldn’t ‘ban’ them?
- Any which made you cry?
- Any that you want to read for Banned Book Week or beyond?
I don’t know that there are any on this list that I truly loved, but that may be because I read them a while ago and just don’t remember them clearly. I didn’t like Brave New World. I finished it, but it just wasn’t worth my time. I’m sure there are books on the list that made me cry. I cry pretty easily.
Which book(s) should I definitely read?
CAtcher in the Rye, Grendel, Julie of the Wolves and Farenheit 451 are some of my favorites. I never cared much for The Giver, and I didn’t make it through Owen Meany. There’s quite a few on this list I’ve never heard of, especially that series by Lauren Myracle.
Yeah, there were several I had never heard of either.
I’ve read about twelve of these but there are a few more I’d like to read. To Kill a Mockingbird is a great book. A lot of these make no sense to me to be on a banned books list but somehow something in them bugs someone. Lol.
Yeah, at least some I can see why someone finds them objective, whether or not I agree. But Junie B. Jones?
Haven’t read most of these and probably won’t mostly because I’m not interested in a lot of them. I just recently read Catcher in the Rye. I wasn’t overly impressed, but it was an okay read. Don’t see much reason to ban it. There was some use of the word “fuck” but in the context it was used it seemed rather appropriate since it was not spoken but seen and I think it became part of the books message. In other words the word was not used gratuitously like we here in a lot of music, movies, and everyday speech (which is something I find very annoying and unnecessary).
Lee
Tossing It Out
I haven’t read Catcher in the Rye but I’m not sure if I will. It seems to be one of those ones that really makes an impression when you’re a teenager or young adult.
There’s only a few on there that I’ve read which you don’t have marked though there are plenty on this list I’ve been meaning to read.
I would say The Kite Runner is a very worthy read though I understand why it’s challenged. The subject matter is a bit difficult but it’s still a book I find myself recommending a lot. The teaser I always give is when a book starts out with the phrase, “There is a way to be good again,” how can you not be intrigued by it?
Oh and I highly recommend Fahrenheit 451 too – that one is a great read for bibliophiles!
You’re the second to say Fahrenheit 451 is a good read. Maybe I should give it a chance. I’m worried that The Kite Runner might be too emotional for me.
I love list, thanks for including them in your post.
I loved The Lovely Bones and A Day No Pigs Would Die.