`Twilight' series on list of challenged books

NEW YORK – Stephenie Meyer, the hottest author for young people since J.K. Rowling, has a new link to the creator of "Harry Potter": a place high on the list of books most complained about by parents and educators.

Meyer's multimillion-selling "Twilight" series was ranked No. 5 on the annual report of "challenged books" released Wednesday by the American Library Association.
Meyer's stories of vampires and teen romance have been criticized for
sexual content; a library association official also thinks that the
"Twilight" series reflects general unease about supernatural stories.

"Vampire novels have been a target for years and the `Twilight' books are so immensely popular that a lot of the concerns people have had about
vampires are focused on her books," says Barbara Jones, director of the association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Christian groups for years have protested the themes of wizardry in Rowling's books, which don't appear on the current top 10.

Topping the 2009 chart was Lauren Myracle's "IM" series, novels told through instant messages that have been criticized for nudity, language and drug references. Last year's No. 1
book, "And Tango Makes Three," by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, is now No. 2, cited again for its story about two male penguins adopting a baby. Third was Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," for which the many reasons include drugs, suicide, homosexuality and being antifamily.

Also cited were such perennials as J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" (sexual content, language), Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" (language, racism), Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" (sexual content, language) and Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate War" (nudity, language, sexual content).

The ALA recorded 460 challenges in 2009, a drop from 513 the year before, and 81 books actually being removed. The ALA defines a challenge as a
"formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting
that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness."

check it out here:

http://www.ala.org

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Comment by Aimzers on April 14, 2010 at 6:16pm: Im gunna be honest here. When Stephenie Meyer was writing her books I dont think she was thinking that teenagers were the main age group that would read it.

Comment by mya-grace cullen on April 14, 2010 at 6:19pm: all i can say is that this is totally ridiculous. have these people heard of the 1st ammendment? i mean come on, teens are going to find a way to read these kinds of books whether they are on the shelves in libraries or not. so get a freakin grip. remove head from sphincter then tell people what they can and can't read.

Comment by Sam on April 14, 2010 at 6:21pm: dumb parents . they just want edward for themselves so they dont have to let their kids know xD & + their isnt even anything sexual in it other then Eclipse ! ! breaking dawn was just like , forever , and he pulled us deeper in the water, & then (skip 2 lines) i feel the heat of the sun on my back . ..WDF ?!! they can sell ECLIPSE at my school f*****g booksale but not Breaking Dawn ? !! I HATE YU PEOPLE ! ! !

Comment by Aimzers on April 14, 2010 at 6:30pm: i know, they act like she does into detail about how they have sex. For god sakes, she has them get intimate on their wedding night!! Thats wayyyy better than most things you see on TV now a days! And kids have full access to tv!

Comment by mya-grace cullen on April 14, 2010 at 6:37pm: that's what im screamin. in the book, they wait til their wedding night to have sex.... ok, isn't that what parents want to instill into their kids??? give me a break! there are much worse books and shows out there that are a hundred times worse. just turn on MTV.... JFC lets see, jersey shore is a perfect example of what you shouldn't be watching or instilling in your kids. people are such hypocrites. let the kids read their books people!

Comment by Bell~Dilancie Coven~ on April 14, 2010 at 6:53pm: WTF!! do they actually think that we teens have no idea what sex is?? They freakin teach this crap as school! So why cant we read it? Stephanie don't let them get you down! Just because some parents dont want want there kids to know what TRUE LOVE is like doesnt meen they got to go get there panties in a wad!! Her books are so popular because girls can relate to them! So what if theres some kissy here, and some smoochy there, or maybe even a little biting pillows and ruining of head boards?? i surely dont. These books teach us to wait until you are passionatly in love and married. Its not like they just met and had barly knew eachother. THEY WERE BOTH OVER 18!!! gawd! Well twilighters happy blogging!!! =D

Comment by Teresa on April 14, 2010 at 6:57pm: The people who made up this list of "challenging" books are extremely uneducated, narrow and closed minded. Stephenie Meyer and her fans should look at the list and be proud that the Twilight series is listed among such great authors and novels like The Catcher in the Rye, The Color Purple, and To Kill a Mockingbird. ps. Please read a book first BEFORE you decide to have an opinion about it. And lets promote literacy not attempt to prevent it. Thanks.

Comment by Meagan (maewolf) on April 14, 2010 at 6:59pm: omg..there isnt even any sex until they get married, and even then its not explained or anything XD

Comment by Meagan (maewolf) on April 14, 2010 at 6:59pm: these parents would die if they ever found out about anita blake vampire hunter books...lol

Comment by Deanna Willis on April 14, 2010 at 7:00pm: sexual content??? Bella and edward get married BEFORE sex! I think the books are a good way to relate to your teen!!