Put out the flames

Support Banned Book Week, y’all! About time we stop those crazy nutcases from burning them books!

According to the ALA, here are the “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007” with the reasons why they were challenged.

1) “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2) The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3) “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language

4) “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism

6) “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7) “TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

8 ) “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9) “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10) “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Hmm…all but 2 is challenged because of sexual content. Gee..doesn’t this sound eerily like the ~~censorship board~~ MPAA and the rating committe? (If you haven’t seen “This Film Is Not Yet Rated”, rent it.)

And after all THESE YEARS, Huck Finn and The Color Purple are still being fought over. Unbelievable!

ETA: This reminds me of the list of books I should’ve read/did read/planning to read.

ETA2: From @dananner, the video by the ALA.