One of my very favorite books is banned in some places.  As I look at the list, I see that lots of books that I consider "great" are on the list as being either banned or at least challenged. 

During the last week in September each year, the American Library Association (ALA) observes Banned Books Week.  This year, it falls from September 25-October 2.  You may have noticed a display at Main, or at your local library, that has some of these books on there.  You can check them out -- literally!  According to the ALA site, a challenged book is one in which people have tried to remove or restrict it, whereas a banned book is one that has been removed from a library, which may include a school library.  Removed.  As in, you cannot get it. 

Many people, including the ALA, feel that such restriction of books is a “threat to freedom of speech and choice.”  Banned Books Week attempts to promote awareness of these books and to celebrate our freedom of speech.  Listed below are some sites that tell more about the week, as well as one that provides a list of many of these challenged or banned books.  On the left side of the site for Frequently Challenged Books, you can get a list by year, author, statistics, decade or a list of the classics that have been banned and challenged. 

Read a banned book and celebrate Banned Books Week – or at least take a look at the lists – you may be surprised at what you find on there!  I am happy to promote and celebrate Banned Books Week since personally, I don't want people telling me what I cannot read.  I hope this post has made you a little more aware of what is happening to some very familiar books.