Most Challenged 1998

Most Challenged Book of 1998 [US]
source: American Library Association

The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier The book, written for teens, is a fictionalized account of a boy’s trials and triumphs at boarding school. First published in 1974, the book has often been challenged for being "sexually explicit."
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. This short work by a Nobel prize-winning author most often is challenged for using "offensive language" and being "unsuited to age group."
Goosebumps Series and Fear Street Series, by R.L. Stine. These books have been challenged in schools and libraries across the country for being "too frightening for young people" and depicting "occult or satanic" themes.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou’s autobiographical novel has increasingly been the focus of challenges in school libraries. Objections center on the explicit description of a rape and other sexual abuse she suffered as a child.
The Giver, by Lois Lowry. This critically acclaimed novel has been challenged for being "violent," "sexually explicit," and using "offensive language," and for its treatment of infanticide and euthanasia.
Always Running : LA Vida Loca : Gang Days in L.A., by Luis Rodriguez. This book has been challenged for its depiction of gang life, for being "sexually explicit," "violent," "racist," and "unsuitable for teens."
Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly. This work often is challenged for "offensive language."
Blubber, by Judy Blume. Back on the list this year is Blubber, a children’s book that often is challenged for "offensive language" and being "inappropriate" for its intended age group of preteens.