Top Ten most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009

1. “TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R” (series), by Lauren Myracle.
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs.

Lauren Myracle's ttyl series, written in text-message dialect, holds the distinction of being the most frequently challenged book of 2009. The first book in the series, ttyl was, for example, removed from middle school libraries throughout Round Rock, Texas, in November of 2008 because a student's parents objected to sexual content and profanity in the book. Although two review committees voted to retain the book, Superintendent Jesus Chavez had the book removed from middle school libraries in the district before the school board could review the matter. In Round Rock Texas, not only do you have censorship, you have authoritarian rule within the school board.

2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality

A children's book based on the true story of two male penguins who adopted a chick in New York's Central Park Zoo, sits among the most frequently challenged books of 2008 and 2009. In Loudon County, Virginia, the book was challenged by a parent who saw it as an attack on families headed by heterosexuals. Two committees composed of librarians, teachers, principals, parents, and administrators recommended against any restrictions on the book. Despite those recommendations, the superintendent decided to restrict student access to Tango, making it available only to teachers and parents. After ABFFE and NCAC sent a letter to the superintendent urging him to reverse the decision, he returned the book to circulation due to "procedural errors" in the review process.

3. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide

One of 55 books that parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas are petitioning to have removed from school libraries. The parents, who formed Parents Protecting the Minds of Children, object to the profane language and depictions of sexuality in many of the books and have accused the librarians and other opponents of their efforts of promoting a "homosexual agenda". PPMC objects to this book because of its depictions of gay sex.

4. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

An eighth grader from Stanford Middle School in California spearheaded a campaign to remove Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from his classroom. He was uncomfortable with the use of racial slurs. In protest, he wore a shirt to school emblazoned with some of the racial epithets from the book. He was asked to cover his shirt. The book was taken under review of the school district and was kept in the classroom.

5. “Twilight” (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

After noticing the large number of students requesting the books from the middle school library, Julia Gerfin, a school administrator in California, reviewed the four-book Twilight series and determined last month that they were too mature for middle school students. The decision, however, was temporarily reversed four days later.

6. “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

A parent of a Noble High School student in North Berwick, Maine objected to the lewd content of The Catcher in the Rye and asked that it be removed from her son’s classroom. The parent who brought the challenge expressed a desire for more cooperation between the school and parents in the book selection process. The book was retained by a 7 – 1 vote from the school board.

7. “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence

Pulled from classrooms in Clawson, Michigan as too racy for middle school students. as too racy for middle school students. The novel is the story of a young girl who sues her parents because they want her to donate a kidney to her sister.

8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things” by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

An inspirational tale about overcoming body insecurities, peer pressure and family dysfunction — was one of the most highly honored books in the genre when it appeared in late 2003. However, some parents want the book banned for being too sexually explicit. A school administrator from Carroll County Maryland overturned a committee vote and banned the book in 2005.

9. “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited for Age Group

Challenged in Burke County schools in Morgantown, N.C. (2008) by parents concerned
about the homosexuality, rape, and incest portrayed in the book.

10. “The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited for Age Group

The novel's protagonist, Jerry Renault, refuses to sell chocolates during his all-male boarding school's fundraiser. The resulting chain of events reveals a world of gang intimidation and the abuse of power. The parents of an eighth grader in Lancaster Massachusetts thought the language, sexual content, and violence made the book unsuitable for the age group. It was also challenged in the Wake County, N.C. schools in 2006, deemed "vulgar and sexually explicit language" by parents who received help during the ban from Called2Action, a Christian group that says its mission is to "promote and defend our shared family and social values."