Banned Book Week

September 29-October 6, 2007

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2007

Retained on the Northwest Suburban HS District 214 reading list in Arlington Heights (IL) along with eight other challenged titles. A newly elected school board member raised the controversy based on excerpts from the books she'd found on the Internet. Chbosky's novel, which contains references to masturbation, homosexuality, and bestiality, got the bulk of the criticism.

2006

Retained in the Arrowhead HS curriculum in Merton (WI) as optional reading. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction sent a letter to principals and district superintendents asking them to make sure that the book was no longer available to minors or any other students.

2005

Challenged in Montgomery County (TX) Memorial Library System along with 15 other young adult books with gay positive themes by the Library Patrons of Texas. Retained as optional reading in the Arrowhead High School curriculum (Merton WI).

2004

Removed as a reading assignment in an elective sociology course at the Massapequa (NY) High School because of its "offensive content".

2003

Challenged in Fairfax (VA) school libraries by a group called Parents Against Bad Books in Schools for "profanity and descriptions of drug abuse, sexually explicit conduct and torture".

Held at Cabell County Public Library.

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Site modified August 18, 2007