Each year, the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Fbbooks%2Fabout" target="_blank" target="_blank">American Library Association</a> releases a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bannedbooksweek.org%2Fabout" target="_blank" target="_blank">top 10 list of challenged books </a>based on reports to its Office of Intellectual Freedom. The most recent list, of 2014's banned books,<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Fbbooks%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> will be out in late September</a>. Dav Pilkey's "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pilkey.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Captain Underpants" series</a>, a frequent target, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F09%2F24%2Fliving%2Fbanned-books-week%2F">topped the list in 2013</a> because of "offensive language" and "violence." Click through the gallery for the rest of the list.
Each year, the American Library Association releases a top 10 list of challenged books based on reports to its Office of Intellectual Freedom. The most recent list, of 2014's banned books, will be out in late September. Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" series, a frequent target, topped the list in 2013 because of "offensive language" and "violence." Click through the gallery for the rest of the list.
Urbano Delvalle/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
"Offensive language" and "sexually explicit" content were some of the reasons cited in challenges to Toni Morrison's "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmic.com%2Farticles%2F60609%2Fbluest-eye-banned-why-parents-want-toni-morrison-s-book-out-of-schools" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Bluest Eye</a>." The Pulitzer Prize-winning author's "Beloved" is another frequent target of censorship attempts.
"Offensive language" and "sexually explicit" content were some of the reasons cited in challenges to Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye." The Pulitzer Prize-winning author's "Beloved" is another frequent target of censorship attempts.
Vintage publishing
Sherman Alexie's young adult novel, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," tells the story of a Native American teen who attends an all-white high school. In 2013, it cracked the top 10 for the fourth year in a row. Complaints included "sensitive material in the book including excerpts on masturbation amongst other <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F01%2F15%2Fliving%2Fya-flowers-in-the-attic-sex-education%2F">explicit sexual references</a>, encouraging pornography, racism, religious irreverence and strong language," <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ila.org%2FBannedBooks%2FBBW_2012-2013_Shortlist.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">according to an ALA report</a>.
Sherman Alexie's young adult novel, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," tells the story of a Native American teen who attends an all-white high school. In 2013, it cracked the top 10 for the fourth year in a row. Complaints included "sensitive material in the book including excerpts on masturbation amongst other explicit sexual references, encouraging pornography, racism, religious irreverence and strong language," according to an ALA report.
courtesy hachette book group
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F08%2F14%2Fshowbiz%2Fcelebrity-news-gossip%2Fjames-50-shades-top-earner-ew%2Findex.html">E.L. James</a>' mega-best-seller "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F09%2F02%2Fliving%2Ffifty-shades-parenting%2F">Fifty Shades of Grey</a>" made its debut on the list in 2012 based on complaints citing offensive language and sexually explicit material.
E.L. James' mega-best-seller "Fifty Shades of Grey" made its debut on the list in 2012 based on complaints citing offensive language and sexually explicit material.
WILL OLIVER/AFP/Getty Images/File
Suzanne Collins' "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F09%2F15%2Fshowbiz%2Fmovies%2Fmockingjay-part-i-official-trailer%2Findex.html">The Hunger Games</a>" returned to the top 10 list for the second time in 2013 after making its debut in 2011. Its "religious viewpoint" was one reason cited in requests to remove the books from schools and libraries, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Fbbooks%2Ffrequentlychallengedbooks%2Ftop10%23toptenlists" target="_blank" target="_blank">the ALA said</a>.
Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" returned to the top 10 list for the second time in 2013 after making its debut in 2011. Its "religious viewpoint" was one reason cited in requests to remove the books from schools and libraries, the ALA said.
Scholastic Press
"<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tanyastone.com%2Fbadboy.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl</a>" by Tanya Lee Stone made its debut on the top 10 list in 2013. The story of three girls who date the same bad boy contains references to drugs, alcohol, smoking and nudity -- some of the reasons cited in challenges.
"A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl" by Tanya Lee Stone made its debut on the top 10 list in 2013. The story of three girls who date the same bad boy contains references to drugs, alcohol, smoking and nudity -- some of the reasons cited in challenges.
Wendy Lamb Books
John Green's "Looking for Alaska" returned to the top 10 list for the second time in 2013. The <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F06%2F06%2Fliving%2Fya-adult-readers-embarassed%2Findex.html">coming-of-age tale</a> about a teen who falls in love at boarding school won the ALA's 2006 <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Fyalsa%2Fprintz" target="_blank" target="_blank">Michael L. Printz Award</a> for the best book written for teens.
John Green's "Looking for Alaska" returned to the top 10 list for the second time in 2013. The coming-of-age tale about a teen who falls in love at boarding school won the ALA's 2006 Michael L. Printz Award for the best book written for teens.
Penguin Group
Stephen Chbosky's "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2012%2F09%2F21%2Fshowbiz%2Fmovies%2Fperks-of-being-a-wallflower-book%2Findex.html">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</a>" debuted on the ALA's list of top 10 most frequently challenged books in 2004. References to drugs, alcohol, smoking, homosexuality and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F04%2F12%2Fliving%2Fgallery%2Fyoung-adult-books-sex-abuse%2Findex.html">sexually explicit material</a> were among reasons cited in challenges to the book, according to the ALA.
Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" debuted on the ALA's list of top 10 most frequently challenged books in 2004. References to drugs, alcohol, smoking, homosexuality and sexually explicit material were among reasons cited in challenges to the book, according to the ALA.
MTV Books
"Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya first landed on the top 10 list of most frequently challenged books in 2008. It <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F09%2F24%2Fliving%2Fbanned-books-week%2F">returned to the list in 2013</a> over complaints of references to the occult/Satanism, offensive language and sexually explicit material.
"Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya first landed on the top 10 list of most frequently challenged books in 2008. It returned to the list in 2013 over complaints of references to the occult/Satanism, offensive language and sexually explicit material.
Warner Books
Political viewpoints, racism and violence were the top reasons cited in challenges to Jeff Smith's "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boneville.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Bone</a>" comics. The award-winning series made its debut on the ALA's list of top 10 most frequently challenged books in 2013.
Political viewpoints, racism and violence were the top reasons cited in challenges to Jeff Smith's "Bone" comics. The award-winning series made its debut on the ALA's list of top 10 most frequently challenged books in 2013.
Cartoon Books