Here are is the ALA list of the 100 most frequently challenged books from 1990–1999. Which have you read?
- Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
- Daddy’s Roommate, by Michael Willhoite
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
- The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
- Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
- Forever, by Judy Blume
- Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
- Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman
- The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
- The Giver, by Lois Lowry
- My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
- It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
- Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
- A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
- The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
- Sex, by Madonna
- Earth’s Children (series), by Jean M. Auel
- The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
- In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
- The Witches, by Roald Dahl
- A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
- The New Joy of Gay Sex, by Charles Silverstein
- Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
- The Goats, by Brock Cole
- The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
- Anastasia Krupnik (series), by Lois Lowry
- Final Exit, by Derek Humphry
- Blubber, by Judy Blume
- Halloween ABC, by Eve Merriam
- Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
- Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
- The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
- What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters, by Lynda Madaras
- Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
- The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
- The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
- The Pigman, by Paul Zindel
- To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
- We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
- Deenie, by Judy Blume
- Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
- Annie on My Mind, by Nancy Garden
- Beloved, by Toni Morrison
- The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
- Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat, by Alvin Schwartz
- Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
- Cujo, by Stephen King
- James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
- A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
- Ordinary People, by Judith Guest
- American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis
- Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
- Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
- Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
- Asking About Sex and Growing Up, by Joanna Cole
- What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons, by Lynda Madaras
- The Anarchist Cookbook, by William Powell
- Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
- Boys and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy
- Crazy Lady, by Jane Conly
- Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
- Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan
- Fade, by Robert Cormier
- Guess What?, by Mem Fox
- Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
- Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
- Native Son, by Richard Wright
- Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies, by Nancy Friday
- Curses, Hexes and Spells, by Daniel Cohen
- On My Honor, by Marion Dane Bauer
- The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende
- Jack, by A.M. Homes
- Arizona Kid, by Ron Koertge
- Family Secrets, by Norma Klein
- Mommy Laid an Egg, by Babette Cole
- Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya
- Where Did I Come From?, by Peter Mayle
- The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney
- Carrie, by Stephen King
- The Dead Zone, by Stephen King
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
- Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
- Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
- Private Parts, by Howard Stern
- Where’s Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
- Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
- Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
- Little Black Sambo, by Helen Bannerman
- Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett
- Running Loose, by Chris Crutcher
- Sex Education, by Jenny Davis
- Jumper, by Steven Gould
- Christine, by Stephen King
- The Drowning of Stephen Jones, by Bette Greene
- That Was Then, This is Now, by S.E. Hinton
- Girls and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy
- The Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain
- Jump Ship to Freedom, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Source: www.ala.org
(Do you have a list from your country for us?)
What canary are you?
Scoring:
1-10 – Sneaky Canary
11-25 – Subversive Canary
26-50 – Rebel Canary
51-70 – Outlaw Canary
71-89 – Pirate Canary
90-100 – Chuck Norris Canary
Which have you read? Are you surprised by any of these? Do some of these books deserve to be on the list?
Didn’t score so high on this list? Try the 2000-2009 Most Challenged Book list. Maybe you’re a modern rebel!
The Book Canaries 
I am a Subversive Canary! The best kind! Here’s what I have read:
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
2. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
3. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
4. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
5. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
6. The Witches, by Roald Dahl
7. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
8. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
9. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
10. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
11. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
12. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
13. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
14. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
15. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
16. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
17. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney
18. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
19. Where’s Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
20. Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett
Subversive Canary too!
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
2. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
3. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
4. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
5. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
6. Earth’s Children (series), by Jean M. Auel
7. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
8. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
9. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
10. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
11. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
12. Cujo, by Stephen King
13. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
14. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
15. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
16. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
17. The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende
18. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney
19. Carrie, by Stephen King
20. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
21. Where’s Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
22. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
23. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
I really feel like series should count individually. Harry Potter alone would have bumped you well into Rebel territory!
And Where’s Waldo should count for an extra five points, for sheer incredulity.
Rebel Canary!!
I’m surprised to hear that “Of Mice and Men” is a “banned book” because my 14 year old brother, whom attends an all boys Catholic school, just had to read and review that book for his English class! It surprises me that that school, which is extremely strict (I mean, come on! It’s an ALL BOYS CATHOLIC school), would allow the kids to read a banned book?!
That’s great from my perspective!
That’s one of the more interesting aspects of a book being challenged or banned. A book may be banned from being taught in one school district, but still be in the lessons plans in another. Banning is a local thing–as far as I know, there are no nationally banned books in the US. That would be unconsitutional and infringe on the first amendment rights to free speech.
With a few exceptions, the US stays away from that can of worms.
I’m very glad to hear your brother’s reading Of Mice and Men. That’s a right powerful book, short as it is.
Rebel Canary in at 29!
Some of those are dumbfounding!
Go rebel, go!
Wait till we post the 2000-2009 list. It’s a lot of fun going down the list and trying to figure out why they’d be banned.
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
15. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
40. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
48. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
54. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
83. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
I’m rather disapointed I haven’t read more of those. I’ll have to add some to my to be read list.
-Eliabeth
I’m surprised my own list is at 26, but barely since I didn’t actually finish one of the books. So 25. I’m almost a rebel. And here I thought I’d be a rabble rowser. I can’t wait to see how I measure up with 2000-2009 listing.
1. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
4. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
5. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
6. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
7. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
8. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
9. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
10. Earth’s Children (series), by Jean M. Auel
11. The Witches, by Roald Dahl
12. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
13. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
14. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
15. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood –did not finish
16. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
17. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
18. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
19. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
20. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein
21. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
22. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
23. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
24. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
25. Where’s Waldo?, by Martin Hanford
26. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
Haha I’m only a sneaky canary
1. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
2. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
3. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
4. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
5. The Witches, by Roald Dahl
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
7. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
8. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
But give me time! I’ll make sure to add a few! ^^
I am ashamed to say I haven’t read very much! I be a Subversive?
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
2. Earth’s Children (series), by Jean M. Auel – Read the first one, does that count as the series?
3. The Witches, by Roald Dahl
4. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
5. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
6. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
7. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
8. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
9. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice) – Does parts of the first book count? ;D
10. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
11. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies, by Nancy Friday
12. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
Now I’m curious about Judy Blume, and I regret not reading more Stephen King.