Books

Avert your eyes! A gallery of banned and challenged books

Sherman Alexie won a National Book Award for his young adult novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian." The book was challenged at schools in New Jersey and Washington state.

Sherman Alexie won a National Book Award for his young adult novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” The book was challenged at schools in New Jersey and Washington state.  (Kevin P. Casey / For The Times)

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This is Banned Books Week, an annual awareness campaign during which librarians and others celebrate free speech by highlighting those books challenged most during the year. Every year, the list gets longer. Here’s a look at some of the books that have been banned and challenged across the U.S.

Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner'

Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling novel about coming of age in Afghanistan, “The Kite Runner,” was challenged for its graphic depiction of rape.  (Photoshot / Getty Images)

'To Kill a Mockingbird'

Harper Lee, shown in the “To Kill a Mockingbird” courthouse, this summer is releasing a novel titled “Go Set a Watchman,” which is essentially a sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  (Harper Collins / Getty Images)

Judy Blume

Of the 100 books that were challenged most in the 1990s, Judy Blume wrote five: “Forever” (No. 7), “Blubber” (No. 30), “Deenie” (No. 42), “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” (No. 60) and “Tiger Eyes” (No. 89).  (Suzanne Plunkett / AP)

'The Satanic Verses'

In 1989, Salman Rushdie’s book “The Satanic Verses” was banned in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Qatar, Indonesia, South Africa and India over its controversial take on Islam.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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