The following is a list of the 100 most frequently challenged books from 1990-2000, as recorded by the ALA. I bolded the books I have read – nearly all of them before the age of 16. I have also marked the books I plan to read. There are a few I have NO interest in. I suspect some of the sex and growing up books I haven’t read, and haven’t marked, I will read with/for one of my (as yet unconceived) children. I am sorry haven’t read more than I have, but I am going to change that.
Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz-
Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite-
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou-
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain-
Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckHarry Potter (Series) by J.K. RowlingForever by Judy BlumeBridge to Terabithia by Katherine PatersonAlice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor-
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman-
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier-
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger-
The Giver by Lois Lowry-
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris-
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine-, one or 2
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton PeckThe Color Purple by Alice Walker-
Sex by Madonna
Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel – first 3 The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine PatersonA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’EngleGo Ask Alice by Anonymous Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers-
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak-
The Stupids (Series) by Harry AllardThe Witches by Roald Dahl-
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry – most The Goats by Brock ColeKaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane-
Blubber by Judy BlumeKilling Mr. Griffin by Lois DuncanHalloween ABC by Eve Merriam-
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier-
Final Exit by Derek Humphry-
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood-
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George-
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison-
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee-
Beloved by Toni MorrisonThe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton-
The Pigman by Paul Zindel-
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard-
Deenie by Judy BlumeFlowers for Algernon by Daniel KeyesAnnie on my Mind by Nancy Garden-
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar-
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz-
A Light in the Attic by Shel SilversteinBrave New World by Aldous Huxley-
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King-
James and the Giant Peach by Roald DahlThe Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest-
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis-
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy BlumeCrazy Lady by Jane Conly-
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher-
Fade by Robert Cormier-
Guess What? by Mem Fox-
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende-
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut-
Lord of the Flies by William GoldingNative Son by Richard Wright-
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen-
Jack by A.M. Homes-
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya-
Where Did I Come From? by Peter MayleCarrie by Stephen King-
Tiger Eyes by Judy BlumeOn My Honor by Marion Dane BauerArizona Kid by Ron Koertge-
Family Secrets by Norma Klein-
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole-
The Dead Zone by Stephen King-
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain-
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison-
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez-
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene-
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman-
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett-
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher-
Sex Education by Jenny Davis-depends
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene-
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas RockwellView from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts-
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder-
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier-
