Usually books are banned or "challenged" because people want to protect others from information that may be offensive or difficult to accept. The top three reasons for challenging books are because it could have offensive language, it could be too sexually explicit, or just simply not suited for the age group. - Emily McCain

Lord of the Flies by William Golding. This novel by William Golding has been challenged and in many cases banned because of its use of profanity, sexuality, racial slurs, and excessive violence.

Book that are often targeted for banning deal with certain criminal matters, political, religious, sexual and social issues. Children's books that deal with death or teenage angst are often banned because of parental worries about teenage suicide or copycat crimes. - Ryan Schneider

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger has been banned and challenged due to its profanity, reference to suicide, vulgarity, disrespect, and anti-Christian sentiments. - Jessica Presnall

"The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier. This Book was on top of the list of banned books in 2004 due to it's sexual content, language, and violence. This book is one of the most banned books in school's across America. I read this book when I was in 9th grade and it definitely had all the content listed above but it's fiction. If we as people can't separate real from fickton then we as a society are the one's with problem's not these books. - Andrew Holmes

Why isn't it a violation of the First Amendment to ban books? "Banned" books, for the most part, are not actually banned but "challenged" and still available. Availability is restricted as to how and where it is used, or it may be deemed not age apppropriate for the targeted population due to content. Usually public libraries or school curricula are affected but there are some books that have actually been banned in the USA and abroad. See a detailed list at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_books
- Arnell Watson

The First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;..." This is a matter of what local school boards or local libraries decide what is appropriate or inappropraite for their viewers/readers. Does the fact that government having largely usurped parent's responsibility to educate their own children negate their own ability to sovereignly govern their children and what they are exposed to?In sum, unless Congress or some other form of government is involved, "banning" is perfectly within the confines of how communities decide to live. Let us consider logic: Is making available pornography at school computers allowable? What then is pornography? Do parents have autonomy over their children or have they become property of the state? -- David G. Rawlings

George W. Bush has met five times with an Alabaman legislator named Gerald Allen who wants to remove all books featuring gay characters from public libraries and schools and “dump them in … a hole,” according to the December 9, 2004 Guardian (U.K.) -stacey krakus

What is the difference in a challenging and a banning? A challenging
is the attempt by a person or group to remove material from an
institution; A ban is the actual removal of materials by an
institution.
-joshua johnson

Also, what is the most banned book of last year? "And Tango Makes
Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality.
-joshua johnson

Q: What is another banned book from last year and why was it banned in some areas?
A: "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for its sexual content, offensive language, and violence.
*~Heather Dumas~*

Q: Has any form of a bible ever been banned in some places?
A: The sacred scriptures of three of the world's major religions have also been censored on religious grounds from time to time for one reason or another. They include The Talmud, The Bible, and The Koran.
*~Heather Dumas~*

Q: Why do different states have different rules on banned books?
A: Each state is responsible for its own individual banned book list. "Banned" is a poor term for these books, as there are no books officially banned within the United States. Certain books are "challenged" within each states school curriculum's and public libraries for having material considered offensive or detrimental to a student's education.
--Clifton Moore

Q: Which book(s) is/are banned the most across the United States?
A: Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, remains one of the most challenged books of all time. One of the most challenged series of books of the 21st century, and within the last several years, is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The former for "promoting euthanasia" and "promoting racism, profanity, and foul language." The Harry Potter series has been banned for promoting "witchcraft" and "terror" amongst young children.
--Clifton Moore

Q: What happens to a book when it is banned?
A: In the past, it was common to burn copies of the book and possession of a banned book could have been considered an act of treason or heresy. Today, a banned book can be removed from the shelves of libraries, bookstores, or classrooms because of its controversial content. In some rare cases, the book can even be refused
publication. -Sam Bennett

Q: Why are books challenged?
A: Books are usually challenged to protect others, mainly children, from difficult ideas and information. -Michael Zimmerman