# How many of the ALA's most frequently challenged books have you read? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489 "2005-10-23T03:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/41 "2005-10-23T14:03:38Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/42 "2005-10-23T14:12:51Z")
Nineteen, about a third of which were assigned to me in high school English. I’ll second the question about why James and the Giant Peach was challenged and add my own about why A Wrinkle In Time was challenged. Both of these books were recommended to me by my 3rd grade teacher who even lent me her own copies. Some people really need to get over themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/43 "2005-10-23T14:19:12Z")
4, and only one of them for a class assignment. Some of the choices are odd indeed. But I remember, as a hijack, that my brother’s middle-school teacher would make them memorize several poems to read aloud to the class and had one rule: no Shel Silverstein. Due more to the fact that half the class would choose him, but it seemed weird and repressive to him. ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/44 "2005-10-23T14:25:31Z")
1. Can someone explain to me why in the name of all that’s holy _Shel Silverstein_ is on the list? ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/45 "2005-10-23T14:31:00Z")
I’m ashamed of what I have NOT read. MY LIST: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Sex by Madonna To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Private Parts by Howard Stern Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell 8 and half of them are lowbrow! The presence of Fried Worms cracks me up. I need to get to reading! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/46 "2005-10-23T14:41:05Z")
I’ve read 39 of them. Now who in the world could be offended by _The Anarchist Cookbook_ by William Powell How did it end up in the middle of the list?😃 Are the ones at the beginning more damaging than those at the end or the other way around? I guess I should clean up my act. (that leaves 61 left to read…) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/47 "2005-10-23T14:46:21Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > But I remember, as a hijack, that my brother’s middle-school teacher would make them memorize several poems to read aloud to the class and had one rule: no Shel Silverstein. Due more to the fact that half the class would choose him, but it seemed weird and repressive to him. I once read a selection of Shel Silverstein poems to a roomful of second-graders. They _loved_ “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out.” I’ve read only nine books from the list, including _Where’s Waldo_. (I’ve never read _Of Mice and Men_, but I did see it as a stage play.) ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/48 "2005-10-23T16:52:08Z")
1. Was required to read rather few of them in school (in fact, I think only Huck Finn was) but I did find most of them in the school library–the elementary school library. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/49 "2005-10-23T17:02:02Z")
1. :: does a bump and grind :: I’m a _BAAAD_ girl! FWIW, I only read three of the Auel books, but counted them as “read.” Others that I’ve seen parts of, but haven’t really read cover to cover, like The Anarchist Cookbook, I didn’t count. It doesn’t surprise me that most of these have been challenged at one point or another. People do find all sorts of odd things objectionable. It does surprise me that some of them are on the most challenged list however. Maybe they get more attention because they are popular? Come to think of it, where the heck is the V.C. Andrews? _Flowers in the Attic_? _My Sweet Audrina_? _Heaven_??? That was some sick shit, yo. ---
**Author:** ![Glassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Glassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glassy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/50 "2005-10-23T17:25:10Z")
1. People object to books for funny reasons. Recently some heartless monster challenged **Sylvester and the Magic Pebble**. If you’ll recall, like many picture books for small children, it is peopled by talking animals. The challengers objected to the fact that the police officers in the book were pigs. Teaches disrespect towards law enforcement officials! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![thursday\_next](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@thursday\_next](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thursday_next)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/51 "2005-10-23T17:32:24Z")
Preach it **Green Bean**! _Heaven_, et al was some wac shit! (That I probably shouldn’t have read as young as I was … Hey! I needed something to read and it was just laying around … Boy, did my 3rd grade teach have a fit when she saw me with it at school (\*Heaven \* that is.)) I’ve read 41 definitely and 10 more possibly. Hooray! I’m nerd-tacular! 😃 Several of the books were read for school, but I would have ended up reading them anyway. Just seeing the title to _The Handmaiden’s Tale_ gave me a brief nervous twinge. Creepy. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/52 "2005-10-23T17:32:49Z")
> [@Orual](#): > > 1. Can someone explain to me why in the name of all that’s holy _Shel Silverstein_ is on the list? According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shel_Silverstein), he occasionally used profanity in his poems. I don’t recall this myself, though. Some other possibilities: > [@](#): > > He also wrote Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book, a satirical mock children’s book, and created Different Dances, a coffee-table book of wordless, adult-themed cartoons. Maybe this is what they’re challenging. Or maybe it’s this: > [@](#): > > He also co-wrote several songs with David Allen Coe, including the controversial “Nigger Fucker.” :eek: I’m learning a lot about Shel Silverstein today. There’s a bunch more on the page I’ve linked to above. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/53 "2005-10-23T17:48:21Z")
23 that I’m sure of, and I think I probably read a few of the Blumes, too. Plus several others which I intend to read but haven’t gotten around to, and I don’t think I’ve read any of the sex-ed books mentioned, but I’ve read equivalent ones. **Snakescatlady** , there are two different versions of _Flowers for Algernon_, a novella and a novel. The novel (the longer form, and most likely to be published in a stand-alone book) contains a fairly explicit sex scene. ---
**Author:** ![PinkNailFile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@PinkNailFile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkNailFile)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/54 "2005-10-23T18:05:47Z")
Seventeen… ooh I’m a rebel. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/55 "2005-10-23T18:16:39Z")
> [@Glassy](#): > > 1. > > People object to books for funny reasons. Recently some heartless monster challenged **Sylvester and the Magic Pebble**. If you’ll recall, like many picture books for small children, it is peopled by talking animals. The challengers objected to the fact that the police officers in the book were pigs. Teaches disrespect towards law enforcement officials! 😛 Oh I remember we read that in my child development class, and when the teacher showed us the page, we could barely stop laughing. I mean, c’mon, the cop is a PIG! I also heard it was challenged because even though all the other animals are wearing clothes, Sylvester himself was naked. I myself have read sixteen of those on the list-22 if each _Harry Potter_ book counts separately. Hell, I remember that not only did I read _Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret_ at age 9, but I gave it as a present to a classmate in a Secret Santa in my Girl Scout troop. And we went to CATHOLIC school! HA! What the hell was wrong with _The Face On the Milk Carton_, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/56 "2005-10-23T19:36:09Z")
I’m at 13. Nothing on the list surprises me. People are nutty; that’s all there is to it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/57 "2005-10-23T19:38:05Z")
I’ve read 20. Surprisingly, I haven’t read the one obviously South African-related one, “Kaffir Boy” _Judy Blume_ has **FIVE** seperate entries, I think she’s the front runner. **MrsDibble** , who’s read them, wants to know “Why?” She’s asked this in most surprised tones of disbelief. From what I understand, they’re pretty positive books for teens. Can anyone explain so I can ease my wife’s pain? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/58 "2005-10-23T22:31:20Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > It’s not that the _libraries_ challenge the books, people do. Parents annoyed about books in the school libraries is most common, but people challenge books at public libraries too. Sometimes it has been because it was a small library and all the books were shelved together, so parents objected to their kids seeing _The joy of gay sex_ next to _Ella enchanted_ or something. Sometimes people just object to having certain books in the public library at all. I’m aware of that. My point is that books don’t end up in libraries without someone espousing their inclusion. Now, I don’t think the content of the books is bad (I wouldn’t have read close to half of them if I did) but some of the books on the list are inevitably going to upset parents. I can’t fathom why the people putting the books in the school libraries didn’t seem to realize this when they put the books on the shelf. It should have been something that would have been painfully obvious. I suppose it’s possible that the books that are pretty much automatically going to upset parents were only challenged in town/city libraries, but given only 29% of the challenges sprung from there… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/59 "2005-10-23T22:44:08Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > but some of the books on the list are inevitably going to upset parents. I can’t fathom why the people putting the books in the school libraries didn’t seem to realize this when they put the books on the shelf. It should have been something that would have been painfully obvious. Are you saying some books should be kept off the shelves, or that Librarians should be prepared to have some knuckle dragging (dang, there I go! 🙂 ) parents object? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489/60 "2005-10-23T23:31:38Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’m aware of that. My point is that books don’t end up in libraries without someone espousing their inclusion. Now, I don’t think the content of the books is bad (I wouldn’t have read close to half of them if I did) but some of the books on the list are inevitably going to upset parents. I can’t fathom why the people putting the books in the school libraries didn’t seem to realize this when they put the books on the shelf. It should have been something that would have been painfully obvious. I suppose it’s possible that the books that are pretty much automatically going to upset parents were only challenged in town/city libraries, but given only 29% of the challenges sprung from there… If you’re asking whether school librarians really select books like Madonna’s _Sex_ or _The joy of gay sex_ for their collections, the answer is no, they don’t. They _do_ stock sex education books aimed at providing accurate information to teens (and then they restock, and restock them, because they always get stolen–we just hope they get passed around to kids who need them). Children’s books like _Heather has two mommies_ are in school collections, but not adult items. Other books are put in school libraries with full knowledge that some people disapprove of them–_Huck Finn_, for example. BTW, does anyone else agree with me that _The drowning of Stephen Jones_ is an odious little book? Not saying I’d ban it, but then again I wouldn’t mind weeding it when it got too old–there are better books now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-alas-most-frequently-challenged-books-have-you-read/327489.md?page=4)