Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose and the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met. Observed since 1982, Banned Books Week reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

Please see the web site of the American Library Association Banned Books Week for more information on banned and challenged books. The list of 2007 banned and challenged books and other Banned Book Week materials are available through the ALA Online Store.

Click on the links below to learn more about these frequently banned and challenged books at amazon.com.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence.

Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Reasons: Religious Viewpoint.

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Reasons: Racism.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language.

TTLY by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou

Reasons: Sexually Explicit.

It’s Perfectly Normal Robie Harris

Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group.

Off the list this year are two books by author Toni Morrison: The Bluest Eye and Beloved, both challenged for sexual content and offensive language.