Frequent Targets of Censorship

Censorship is when books, movies, music, and more are officially examined and then suppressed for unacceptable parts. Although censorship is for the public's safety, and more specifically children's safety, the thought of books being banned to some is infuriating.

Books can be censored for many different reasons, but the most common reasons are because the book may be considered sexually explicit, it may contain offensive language, or it may be unsuited for some age groups. There are a few books that are targeted more frequently than others,which results in a lot of controversy.

Top Nine frequently challenged books in 2014

• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
• And Tango Makes Three Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
• Saga by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Top Nine Frequently Challenged books (cont.)

• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a book about a Native American teen and his life as he goes through his first year of high school. (enotes)

Reasons its frequently challenged: anti-family, drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, violence, bullying, unfit for age groups, cultural insensitivity, and more. (ALA)

Persepolis is a memoir about a girl living in Iran during the Islamic revolution. (enotes)

Reasons it's frequently challenged: offensive language, gambling, political views, socially and racially offensive, and graphic depictions. (ALA)

And Tango Makes Three is a true story about two male penguins at Central Park Zoo who raise a penguin chick together. (NYPL)

Reasons it is frequently challenged: political viewpoint, homosexuality, anti-family, religious viewpoint, unsuited for certain age groups, and promotes homosexuality. (ALA)

The Bluest Eye is about a young black girl who is constantly told how "ugly" she is, making her only desire to be white with blue eyes. (enotes)

Reasons it is frequently targeted: unsuited for age groups, sexually explicit, and contains controversial issues. (ALA)

Saga is a comic book about a husband and wife of two long-warring extraterrestrial races fleeing across the galaxy with their young daughter.

Reasons it is frequently challenged: Offensive language, nudity, sexually explicit, anti-family, and unsuited for age groups. (ALA)

The Kite Runner is about young Amir's life as he is faced with many hardships and guilt. (enotes)

Reasons it is frequently challenged: Violence, unsuited for age groups, offensive language (ALA)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story about a boy named Charlie and his first year of high school. He writes a letter every day and in his letters he writes about his questions, successes, and more. (enotes)

Reasons it is frequently challenged: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, homosexuality, unsuited for age group. (ALA)

A Stolen Life is a memoir about an eleven year old girl who was kidnapped walking to the bus one day. She tells about the following 18 years which she was held captive. (enotes)

Reasons why it is frequently challenged: offensive language, unsuited for age groups, sexually explicit, drug/alcohol/smoking. (ALA)

Drama is a graphic novel written about a middle school girl and her love for theater. The young girl loves working backstage and the story is about her struggles of trying to make the perfect set.

Reasons why it is frequently challenged:
sexually explicit (ALA)

Other frequently challenged books (ALA)

• Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
• The Hunger Games by Susan Collins
• Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
• Looking For Alaska by John Green
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Twilight by Stephanie Meyers
• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

From '00-'09, 5099 challenges were made (ALA)

• 1,577 challenges due to "sexually explicit" material
• 1,291 challenges due to "offensive language"
• 361 challenges due to "homosexuality"
• 989 challenges due to materials deemed "unsuited to age group"
• 619 challenged due to "violence"

Untitled Slide

• 619 challenged due to "violence"274 challenges due to "Satanic" themes
• 119 were challenged due to being "Anti-family"
• 291 were challenged due to their "Religious viewpoint"
• 274 challenges due to "Satanic" themes

Although censorship has a pure purpose to protect the people in our communities, books should not be banned from our communities. Censorship was best described by Judith Krug, a library activist, who said, "You should have access to ideas and information regardless of your age. If anyone is going to limit or guide a young person, it should be the parent or guardian—and only the parent or guardian" (NYPL)

Works Cited

• Machlin, Sherri. "Banned Books Week: And Tango Makes Three." The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.
• Reviews." GoRaina. GoRaina, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

Works Cited

• "Study Guides, Lesson Plans, Homework Help, Answers & More - ENotes.com." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.
• "Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books Lists of the 21st Century." ALA. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.