US Book Challenges Mapped by Location

Check out the 2007 - 2009 challenges to books, mapped by location. These have been recorded on the Banned Books Week website.

This map is drawn from cases documented by ALA and the Kids' Right to Read Project, a collaboration of the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. Details are available in ALA's "Books Banned and Challenged 2007-2008," and "Books Banned and Challenged 2008-2009," and the "Kids' Right to Read Project Report."

Judith Krug with author Judy Blume. Photo: Freedom to Read Foundation






An article by Sarah Long, Columnist for the Daily Herald out of Chicago is a fitting memorial to Judith Krug, the longtime director of the American Library Association's Freedom to Read Foundation. Krug passed away on April 11, 2009. Long explains that Krug fought censorship on behalf of libraries for more than 40 years. She moved librarianship from a quiet commitment to freedom to read to an overt, organized, policy-based movement based on that commitment.

Robert P. Doyle, executive director of the Illinois Library Association, expressed it this way:

It wasn't that Judith just generated media attention, which she did. Rather she set about the arduous task of coalition building. She reached out to publishers, booksellers, authors, school administrators, teachers, journalists and lawyers both individually and through their associations. She built coalitions based on a common belief in free expression and commitment to intellectual freedom. At ALA, she worked tirelessly with members to fight censorship efforts. Krug evolved a sort of 'case law' of precedents and policies and set up structures of support for libraries and individuals who were involved in censorship incidents.

In 1982, Krug created Banned Books Week which will be celebrated the last week in September in the US. It is sponsored by a coalition of organizations including the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers, National Association of College Stores and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Banned Book Challenge Report

To date, 40 people have signed up for The Banned Book Challenge and have pledged to read 337 banned or challenged books. From now until June, pick a goal for the number of banned, challenged, or censored books you would like to read. Register by clicking on the logo or the link to The Banned Book Challenge. See the sidebar for lists and for links to other sites.

Sharon B., Canada, 10
Bethany C., US, 4
colleen, USA, 10
Tammy R., USA, 20
Lois L., Canada, 15
Geiar, USA, 6
Nessiana, Canada, 5
Faith, USA, 6
aduncan365, Canada, 15
redrobbie, Canada, 15
joanna, Belgium, 6
xXtr3ehu9g3rXx, USA, 10
sgillis, USA, 10
A Little Bit Moore, USA, 10
Veronica C., Canada, 5
Lynsey, New Zealand, 6
Susan, Canada, 5
flyaway123, USA, 10
ad_absurdum, Canada, 7
sandra nieuwenhuijsen, Canada, 5
Tammy, USA, 5
marit freya, USA, 50
Callista, Canada, 4
amethystd, USA, 1
janice, singapore, 4
KaraT, USA, 6
Rich, USA, 4
Lena, USA, 5
Debi, USA, 4
samantha.1020@yahoo.com, USA. 8
Becky, USA, 3
Sharon, USA, 3
3m, USA, 8
Nibbs1_99, USA, 15
The Biblio Brat, USA, 5
Janis Savoie, USA, 3
Jaime Grijalba, Chile, 15
Paul Litterick, New Zealand, 1
Elaine A., Canada, 8
Juli, USA, 5

Last year, we featured posters throughout the years from the Freedom to Read organization in Canada. This year, we feature posters from our friends in the United States.


The Fire Still Burns courtesy ABFFE (American Booksellers For Freedom of Expression).

JudeoChristian Worldview and Book Challenges

This is Banned Book Week in the U.S.

Novel Journey presents an interview with Rebecca Zeidel, Program Director for American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. The web log is part of Christian Women Online.

Zeidel responds to the following questions:
What is Banned Book Week?
What is the goal of Banned Book Week?
What percentage of books are challenged or banned because of moral content? Political content? Racial content? Violence? Other (please explain)?
Who suffers the most if a book is challenged?
How can novelists support Banned Book Week?
Which states or regions are more likely to jump on the banning band wagon?

Zeidel identifies the Howell, MI banning of 5 titles in a response to this question: What is the most appalling situation you've seen or heard of regarding a challenged book?

In February, five books were challenged in Howell, MI for sexual themes and profanity: Black Boy by Richard Wright, Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, and The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell. The books were challenged in Howell High School in by members of the Livingston Organization for Values in Education (LOVE) with assistance from the Michigan chapter of the American Family Association.

According to its web site,

The American Family Association represents and stands for traditional family values, focusing primarily on the influence of television and other media – including pornography – on our society.

Of great interest, since a number of challenges come from the religious sector is Zeidel's answer to this question: "How can novelists who write from a JudeoChristian worldview support free speech?"