Banned books...

This week sees the American Libraries Association celebrating Banned Books Week. Designed to celebrate the freedom of speech of which Americans are so proud, the event highlights the harms of censorship by detailing the most challenged books of the year. The ALA reports that there were 460 attempts in 2009 to have a book withdrawn from a library or classroom, accompanied by angry emails from parents such as 'What gives you the right to take away my child's innocence?'.

The 10 top most challenged books of 2009 include some old classics as well as new releases. They are:

• •ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series) by Lauren Myracle: Drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

• And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson: Homosexuality

• The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: Anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group

• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group

• Twilight (series)by Stephenie Meyer: Religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

• Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult: Drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group, violence

• The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier: Nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group