Reading may not seem like an act of rebellion, but in many cases it could be — especially if the book has been banned from a library or curriculum.

Some challenged books are obvious suspects, others not. Books are most often challenged for sexually explicit material, offensive language, violence, homosexuality, religious promotion and material unsuited for the age group.

Banned Books Week, sponsored by the American Library Association, continues into this week to celebrate the freedom to read viewpoints considered unorthodox or unpopular. Here are a few books on the American Library Association’s list for the most frequently challenged books of 1990-2000.

“Where’s Waldo”

Martin Handford (1987)

What is so threatening about a book featuring a miniature, nearsighted man? Apparently, the beach scene has a partially exposed breast and implies public nudity. So that’s why you’ve been staring at it for so long.

“A Light in the Attic”

Shel Silverstein (1981)

Not only does “A Light in the Attic” contain snappy children’s poems like “Adventures of the Frisbee,” and “Gumeye Ball,” it also has the potential to turn docile fourth graders into raving anarchists who climb the walls and devour their homework in protest. Well, maybe that is what some librarians thought when they banned the book for encouraging messiness and disobedience.

“Sex”

Madonna (1992)

“Sex” is a coffee-table size book, but you probably wouldn’t put it there — unless you were celebrating Banned Books Week, of course. The book contains nude photographs of Madonna and other celebrities, with themes including sadomasochism and lesbianism. Objections to Madonna’s erotica is no surprise, since sexually explicit material is the most often challenged, with 1,067 challenges to sexually explicit material from 1990-2000.

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”

Maya Angelou (1969)

In this autobiographical work, Maya Angelou recounts her trials growing up as an African-American female. It is ranked third on the list of most banned books, 1990-2000. It has been banned from high schools for a number of reasons, most often because of its rape depiction.

“The Giver”

Lois Lowry (1993)

“The Giver” is a science fiction novel which portrays an eerie dystopia, devoid of pleasures such as love, color and music for the reward of sustaining a pain-free world. Although it won a Newberry Medal, it has been seized from middle school curriculums for topics such as suicide, euthanasia and infanticide.

“The Anarchist Cookbook”

William Powell (1969)

William Powell wrote “The Anarchist Cookbook” to express anger against the Vietnam War. It includes instructions for things like manufacturing drugs and explosives. The book may not cook up too much, however, since much of it has proven inaccurate. Nevertheless, it has been challenged since taking it seriously may produce illegal activity.

Sources: marshall.edu/LIBRARY/bannedbooks/default.asp, wikipedia.org and ala.org/bbooks

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