Three on my favorites list:
As a kid: A Wrinkle in Time, whose made-up words and worlds sparked my interest in writing.
Later: The Catcher in the Rye, which poignantly illustrated a teenager's sense of alienation and search for meaning.
Still later: Of Mice and Men, for Steinbeck's genius in creating characters and a sense of place.

I can't believe books of an obviously educational nature have been challenged, e.g. "What's Happening to my Body?" I mean, I understand that might not please parents if it were a big display in their kids' elementary school library, but it's not like "Violence, Sex and More Sex: Now with Promiscuity-Encouraging Free Birth Control!" by any means.

I, too, loved the Goosebumps series as a kid. I must have had 45 of them, and I'd read one in an afternoon. My brother never got into them as much, but he did read the Narnia series. My talking-animals equivalent was the Redwall books by Brian Jacques.

I totally agree, Nance! I was a tomboy, too! (Well, more of an outsider, since I didn't grow up in the States). Those three books were some of my favorite reads, and I felt the characters were my friends, the world they lived in my own. And now I know why I've always had a soft spot for the misunderstood. ... Great job on this blog! So proud of you!

I have to say that some of my favorite books are on this list! To Kill a Mockingbird is my all-time favorite. I had to read it in middle school and high school, so I'm well versed in all it's symbolism and hidden meanings. I've always found the message in that book so profound. I will force this book upon my future children, that is for sure.

Also, I'm a huge fan of the Harry Potter series. I have family members who are anti-Harry Potter, and I'm certain that their reasonings for wanting the series banned are based on an article written by The Onion. I'm sure that 90% of the people who are against this series think the same as my crazy family members.

And Nancy, Goosebumps were my life when I was a kid. R.L. Stine filled my bookshelf. I even belonged to his book of the month club. It was thrilling knowing that every month there would be a new Goosebump or Fear Street book waiting in my mailbox!

PS - I love the blog!!!

Goosebumps is still huge today! As a teacher, my fourth-graders love the series (and the television show). Several of the books on the list are in my classroom library and I have never had anyone challenge them. It seems that the books that have been challenged are some of my favorites (and my students' favorites).

My favorites from the list:

Summer of my German Soldier - We lived near a former WWII POW camp in Westover MD , maybe that's why this book fasinated me so much. I could easily picture this happening in in Somerset Co. It looks honestly at prejudice, war, patriotism, and a dysfunctional family.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Classic for a reason.

The Earth 's Children Series - I love the incredible details in these books, remnicient of James Michner who is my all-time favorite author. The Clan of the Cave Bear was the most shocking thing I had ever read at the time. These were books I did shelter my advanced reader from.

There are many on the list I have not read & now plan to.

The kids in a class I tutor/read to were analyzing Shel Silverstein poems recently. It was so fun to ask them: "Why do you think that's funny?"