100 Most Frequently Challenged Books

by Liberty and Power

Here is the American Library's Association's list of the 100"most frequently challenged books" from 1990 to 2000. According to the compilers of this list:

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. Hat tip to the ever linkworthy Ralph E. Luker at Cliopatria.

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Jason Kuznicki - 9/28/2005

My understanding is that these aren't necessarily assigned books. From what I gather, lots of people read Anthem in high school, though, and my introduction to Ayn Rand came when a high school advisor suggested that I read her.

And on Waldo, this page gives the reason why:

The American version Where's Waldo? was banned from some schools and libraries, and appears on the American Library Association's list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000. The reason usually given for challenging or banning the book is that one of its pictures features a topless woman.

Sounds like an urban legend to me--or is it for real?

David T. Beito - 9/27/2005

Where's Ayn? Perhaps nobody bothers to assign her.

Roderick T. Long - 9/27/2005

I realize this might be like asking "Why the barbers?" but ... why Where's Waldo??