The latest survey of banned books indicates that the “Twilight” series ranks as the fifth most requested books to be banned by public libraries.
The latest report on “challenged books” by the American Library Associations indicates that Meyer is in good company along with the Harry Potter novels and several other classics for the most “challenged books.”
And it’s not because of the terrible writing style.
According to the report, 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 J. K. Rowling’s books, which don’t appear on the current top 10.
The most challenged books is a series called “I.M.” which is told through the use of instant messages between a group of teenagers. The books have been criticized for nudity, language and drug references.
The ALA recorded 460 challenges in 2009, a drop from 513 the year before, and 81 books actually being removed.
The ALA’s Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009 reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:
1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs
2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality
3. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide
4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee
Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
6. “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence
8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
9. “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
10. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
Seven titles were dropped from the list, including: His Dark Materials Trilogy (Series) by Philip Pullman (Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint, Violence); Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz (Occult/Satanism, Religious Viewpoint, Violence); “Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya (Occult/Satanism, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Violence); Gossip Girl (Series) by Cecily von Ziegesar (Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group); “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding” by Sarah S. Brannen (Homosexuality, Unsuited to Age Group); “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini (Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group); and “Flashcards of My Life” by Charise Mericle Harper (Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group).
Necrosomniac says
The twilight books shouldn’t be banned. Prohibition doesn’t work.
That being said, I think that anyone caught reading a twilight book should be banned.
Lisa says
omg how is twilight sexual there isnt even sex until the last book and by then they r married so paents should be happy that this is one of the few vampire stories that isnt gory and with alot of sex and censorship should be banned its call the first admendment people which is freedom of speach, press and no ne should be told what they can and can’t read
Ben Ragunton says
I find it laughable that these right-wing groups wish for these books to be banned due to their content, almost as if the removal of these books will also do away with these elements in our society.
While the vampires in the Twilight books may not exist, teenage sexuality certainly does and will always exist. Having these books banned from libraries will not change that. Instead parents should do a better a job of raising their children in their own homes, not by trying to deal with the externals such as books in libraries.
GazerBeam says
I personally think that Twilight is misogynist (sp?), teen-angsty, poorly-written dreck, and will as long as I live never understand why people like it. That said, I will defend to my last breath their ability to read it.
ejdalise says
I am fully behind these kinds of lists . . . In my much younger days they saved me the trouble of coming up with my own must-read list.
K9 says
Get a life people, don’t they realize they are helping them sell? Here we go again- Anyone have some witches that need burning?
Lejon from Chandler says
Wait… They want it banned Banned for Sexual content? I thought the whole point was that they didn’t have any… OH, Gotcha…
Arkle says
Proving once and for all that the “Moral Guardians” are totally freaking clueless. I wonder how many of them realize the Bible (especially the Old Testament) meets quite a bit of their own banning criteria. Maybe I should start a group to try and ban the Bible from public libraries as a stunt to call attention to how ridiculous book banning is.
Oh, but then again we might actually succeed thus ironically undermining our own point. Damn. Need to rethink this.
Rosa says
This, my friends, is exactly like when they killed Jesus on the cross. Some people can’t really fathom the true meaning of Twilight. Twilight is truly a beautiful story, of unconditional love, purity, goodness, of how goodness rises above evil, how family can get through anything, and how love can conquer anything. It has WONDERFUL morals that most of the material on TV and in most things that are exposed don’t even give the mere hint of. The way Edward loves Bella…is like…nothing else in the world. it’s that self-sacrificial, pure, honest love. That’s not really found a lot these days, and that’s what the human soul craves for. Why do you think SO many people are attracted to Twilight? It represents hope and is shows people that they DO matter. And in the sense of looking at Bella, that shows young girls who read it who are insecure about themselves, that they matter too because of how much Edward loves Bella despite what he is. And he doesn’t have to be that. What about when people smoke? Or drink? Or become a drug-addict? They don’t HAVE to be that. They can say that’s what they are and make it that way, but it’s THEIR choice. Just like it’s Edward’s and the Cullen’s choice. And they choose to conquer the boundries of the fate that none of them watned. And that is a FANTASTIC example for the youth generation considering how crazy this world has become. Twilight has NO foul language (and it can be proven), and does not make a huge and disgusting deal out of sex AT ALL. it’s very very subtle in Breaking Dawn. It just tells how it should be between a married couple, BUT IT NEVER GOES INTO EXPLICIT DETAIL AT ALL. And that can be proven also.So…they can say whatever they want about twilight; they can say it’s an evil story, they can say it’s offensive, but it will never change The Twilight Saga’s true meaning. TWILIGHT IS A GOD-GIVEN STORY. God is all good, and he wants his children to be too. It’s helped sooo many people, including me. it’s brought half the world together. that’s UNBELIEVABLE. Stephenie Meyer was given that dream for a very good purpose.
Olivia says
i don’t think they banned any Twilight Series because its not like any other Vampire stories that they show blood and gore its differently not a Devil movie what they should banned is Horror Movies like Exorcism and all the other Horror movies that they are coming out not banned Twilight b.c its not just Vampires they are Werewolf’s too and its a Romance novel between a Human and a Vampire trying to find a way to be together forever. and Exorcism is like having this person that has a Devil in her killing people and its not for other people 2 see or the movie SAW that is the 2nd worst 2 watch b.c they have these people dying for there own Fate by playing a game that’s get you killed and that’s the Devil movies. I so totally agree with Rosa on the Twilight movies and Books. b.c there are some people that believe they can have there dream 2 find someone that is like an Edward Cullen guy he is loyal, protective, charm, would do anything just 2 be with his soul-mate and i would anything 2 be with a guy like Edward Cullen b.c i know he won’t hurt me.
Tim the Avatarless says
Am I the only one hoping for a “Blade vs Twilight” crossover? But he has to take them out before it ends.