Banned Books Week - USA

The American Library Association marks Banned Books Week beginning September 24.

The most frequently challenged books of 2004 in the U.S. according to the Association:

• "The Chocolate War" for sexual content, offensive language, religious viewpoint, being unsuited to age group and violence
• "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers, for racism, offensive language and violence
• "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture" by Michael A. Bellesiles, for inaccuracy and political viewpoint
• Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, for offensive language and modeling bad behavior
• "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, for homosexuality, sexual content and offensive language
• "What My Mother Doesn't Know" by Sonya Sones, for sexual content and offensive language
• "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, for nudity and offensive language
• "King & King" by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, for homosexuality
• "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, for racism, homosexuality, sexual content, offensive language and unsuited to age group
• "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, for racism, offensive language and violence

And should anyone think Canada is immune from attempts to target or censor writers, essayists, reporters and their articles or books, Canada has its own annual Freedom to Read Week to remind us that protecting the values of freedom of expression is a constant effort. The next Freedom to Read Week in Canada is scheduled for February 26 to March 4, 2006.