Banned Books Week highlights the importance of exercising and defending the freedom to read and the freedom to access information. Literature written for a younger audience is especially vulnerable to challenges in such venues as the classroom and school and public libraries. The most common reasons given for challenging or banning materials include objections to "sexually explicit" material; use of "offensive language"; promoting "the occult or satanism"; objections to "violent" material; homosexual/"anti-family" themes; racist language; or the promotion of a "religious viewpoint."
The most frequently challenged authors of children's and young adult literature include J.K. Rowling, Robert Cormier, Lois Duncan, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Caroline Cooney, Alvin Schwartz, Lois Lowry, Harry Allard, Paul Zindel, Mildred Taylor, and Judy Blume.
Call number area to browse: Z658.U5
Keywords to search: banned books, censorship, challenged books, prohibited books
Subjects to search (CONSULS uses Library of Congress Subject Headings):
Censorship--History
Censorship--United States--History--20th century
Prohibited books--Bibliography
Prohibited books--United States
For more information, visit the following resources:
American Library Association: Banned Books Week
Banned Books at WCSU Libraries
Updated 5/07
