Listen to this annual event that kicked off Banned Books Week. Excerpts of the top ten most challenged books from the past year were read from, with many authors participating. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, the McCormick Freedom Museum, and the Newberry Library proudly sponsored this event.

Chris Crutcher hosted authors of six of the ten most challenged books of 2008, as they read from their work and share their experiences as targets of censors.  The readings were followed by booksignings by all the authors.  City Lit Theatre Company and Chicago Public Library Readers’ Theatre performed work from frequently challenged authors who couldn’t participate.

Top ten most frequently challenged books of 2008 :

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
   Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and 
   unsuited to age group
2. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
   Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series) by Lauren Myracle
   Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
4. Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz
   Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
5. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
   Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually    explicit, and violence
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
   Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually 
   explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
7. Gossip Girl (series) by Cecily von Ziegesar
   Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
8. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen
   Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
9. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
   Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
10. Flashcards of My Life by Charise Mericle Harper
   Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

Recorded Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Washington Park.