Introduction
Who has the right to tell us what we can and cannot read?
Between 1990 and 2004, the American Library Association reported 8,332 challenges to keep books out of school and community libraries.
Often challenges are motivated by a desire to protect children from “inappropriate” content or “offensive” language. The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:
- the material was considered to be "inappropriate"
- the material contained "offensive language"
- the materials was "unsuited to any age group"
But what may be considered inappropriate or offensive to one person might not really matter to another; each person can use their own discretion in determining what they feel comfortable reading. And so the topic of banned books can be a highly controversial topic, as everyone believes that they know best as it relates to appropriate adolescent literature. How do you feel about the issue of banned books?