Books are banned, challenged and complained about for various reasons. Some language, themes or storylines in books can prompt calls for the book to be censored or taken off the shelf.
Each year the American Library Assiciation (ALA) recognises Banned Books Week, raising awareness of censorship and celebrating the freedom to read whatever one chooses. At the end of September a list of the most frequently challenged books for the previous year is released for discussion (and so you can read them and make your own judgement).
Here’s the list for 2012:
1. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
4. Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
5. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
7. Looking for Alaska by John Green
8. Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz
9. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
10. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Want to know more? Read up on why these books were banned, find out more about Banned Books Week in general, or see our previous posts on the topic.
How do you feel about the books on the list? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
Off the Shelf 
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