And they burn good too...

And now the list that never fails to pop my blood pressure every year - the American Library Association's list of most challenged books of the year. In 2005, they received 405 challenges, meaning written requests or demands that these books be removed. It doesn't say so in press release or story I read, but I think it's at least down this year. This was the top 10:

1. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris
2. Forever by Judy Blume
3. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
6. Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Reynolds
7. What My Mother DoesnÂ’t Know by Sonya Sones
8. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
9. Crazy Lady! by Jane Leslie Conly
10. It's So Amazing! by Robie H. Harris

Harris is there twice because both of his books are basically sex education books. Cather in the Rye for language (and because it's an old favourite). Forever has sexuality. The Chocolate War, as best I can figure from it's Amazon listing, questions authority. Whale Talk for no reason I can figure out (maybe violence or language). What My Mother Doesn't Know is there for sexuality. Crazy Lady apparently has language. And Captain Underpants disrespects parental authority.

Trying to boycott books for dangerous ideas is something that never fails to annoy. Apparently I'm on a anti-boycott rant this weekend. But the ALA's list is an annual source of rage for me. If you don't like the book and don't want your children to read it, fine. But, you know, other parents might have a different view and have no problem with their kid reading the books. So why not just leave them in the library.

This is a CBC story on the list.

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