Freedom to Read Week

The most challenged book in the United States between 2000-2009 due to its depictions of witchcraft, the occult and children running amok.

This novel by a Canadian woman is one of the most frequently challenged books in the United States for its depictions of sexuality, vulgarity, and obscenity, in a dystopian future American Theocratic state. The graphic novel and TV adaptations are also challenged frequently.

Pakistan banned this book from all 40 000 schools in 2013 because it "showed insufficient respect for Islam."

This 1987 novel explores the legacy of slavery in the United States, and is frequently challenged for its depictions of violence and sexuality.

This 1987 book was banned in the UK under suspicion of "violating the official secrets act" and embarassing the sititng government. It immediately became a best seller in Canada, the US and Australia.

In 1983 the Alabama Textbook Comittee rejected this Holocaust memoir because it was a "real downer", and because it includes the teenager's thoughts on sexuality.

This classic children's picture book was banned in 1977 because of the nude toddler in the artwork. The book was restored to some library bookshelves after shorts were hand drawn onto the character.

Huckleberry Finn is challenged annually, for everything from racist language to providing youth with a terrible role model.

Another constantly challenged book, Darwin's theory of evolution was immediately banned by his alma mater, and many other schools. Tennessee banned the teaching of evolutionary theory between 1925 and 1967, and similar laws continue to exist.

Sir Walter Raleigh's Book "the History of the World" (this library owns several copies) was banned by James 1 of England for being 'too saucy' in its critique of princes.

Ovid's classic work on love was banned in Rome in 8 CE, in Italy in 1497 and in the US in 1928