No, not B-Dubs. Banned Books Week, a frequent topic on this blog. It is a frequent topic because of my views on how crucial books and reading are to life. This year BBW runs from today through October 1.
Each year, the American Library Associated publishes a list of the year’s top 10 most frequently challenged books. Two things struck me about this year’s list. First, none of the books were on the 2014 list. Thus, several books that seemed perennially challenged don’t appear this year, such as And Tango Makes Three (on the list seven of the last eight years) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (seven of the last 10 years). 
Second, the Bible ranks sixth on the 2015 list, the first time it has appeared this century. That seems noteworthy given many book challenges seem to stem from religious beliefs.
Before getting to the complete list, a bit of background. Note that the ALA uses the word “challenged.” A challenge is a documented request to remove or restrict materials in libraries or the curriculum. A “ban” occurs when the materials are in fact removed. The ALA and others, myself included, view this as a threat to freedom of speech and choice by restrict access to information and ideas. The importance of something like Banned Books Week is shown by the fact that, in a majority of cases, the challenged books have remained available. Finally, it should be noted that the annual lists aren’t scientifically compiled. Instead, they are based on reports received by the ALA. With that in mind, here’s the 10 most challenged books of 2015, along with the reasons given for the challenge:
- Looking for Alaska by John Green. Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.
- Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James. Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other (“poorly written,” “concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it”).
- I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings. Reasons: Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group.
- Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin. Reasons: Anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints”).
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Reasons: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“profanity and atheism”).
- The Holy Bible. Reasons: Religious viewpoint.
- Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Reasons: Violence and other (“graphic images”).
- Habibi by Craig Thompson. Reasons: Nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.
- Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan by Jeanette Winter. Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence.
- Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. Reasons: Homosexuality and other (“condones public displays of affection”).
Despite the importance of this issue, 40 percent of states apparently don’t have events planned for BBW. They include South Dakota, even though the annual Festival of Books began Thursday and ends today. But you can always check out the Banned Books Week YouTube channel.
To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list.
Memoir of John Aidkin, M.D., John Aidkin
