My psyche explained

Whatever

A few blogs have pointed out the American Library Association's list of the "most challenged books" of 1990-2000, as in the books that parents, bible-thumpers, and crazies wanted removed from library shelves last decade.

Some of these books are relatively obvious, or at least I had heard of these books being sources of complaint before: Huck Finn, Harry Potter, Catcher in the Rye, Madonna's Sex, Heather Has Two Mommies.

But a number of other books really surprised me, maybe because I just do not remember why they might be controversial. James and the Giant Peach? How to Eat Fried Worms? FIVE different entries from Judy Blume?

I don't read as many books as I should, but from first grade through about seventh grade I was an avid reader. Looking at this list now, I wonder what kind of warped child my parents, and particularly my mother, were trying to raise? I think most books I read were recommended, bought, or brought home for me by my mother, and I can go through this list and count at least 12 that I read by the time I was 13 (and there are probably more that I just don't remember reading).

On a related note, any library that wouldn't carry To Kill a Mockingbird is not a library I would want to visit.

Edited to add: Just kidding Mom (not that I think she's reading). Though I'm still mad you made me read A Day No Pigs Would Die.