Here you will find eBook versions of books that have been challenged or banned, with brief descriptions of why people have wanted to ban them.
Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer's best friend, escapes down the Mississippi on a raft with the runaway slave, Jim. One of the iconic American novels, it caused a stir when published because of the vernacular used by Twain to characterize Jim and the people of the Mississippi.
Why banned: Racism, insensitivity and offensive language
The orphan Tom Sawyer, raised by his aunt, is never out of trouble for long. A mischievous, charming boy (not to mention genius at escaping from trouble), Tom's adventures involve many unwitting bystanders. From one moment to the next, the boy could change into a pirate, or ship's captain - when he's not trying to win Becky Thatcher for a sweetheart, of course. Tom is also a friend of Twain's other beloved boy-hero, Huckleberry Finn.
Why banned: Racism, insensitivity and offensive language
"We're all mad here." The 'Alice' books are two of the most translated, most quoted, and best-known books in the world. Alice's encounters with the White Rabbit, the Cheshire-Cat, the King and Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, Tweedledum and Tweedledee and many other extraordinary characters have made them masterpieces of carefree nonsense, yet they also appeal to adults on a quite different level.
Why banned: drug use and talking animals
The Call of the Wild is Jack London's most popular book and is considered by many to be his best. Telling the story of Buck, a domesticated dog whose wild instincts begin to kick-in while serving as a sled dog in the treacherous Yukon. The novel's tone is often dark, and despite being considered juvenile literature by some, it portrays much violence and cruelty.
Why banned: Violence, animal cruelty.
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel written by Mary Shelley about a creature produced by an unorthodox scientific experiment. The first edition was published anonymously in London in 1818. Shelley's name appears on the second edition, published in France in 1823.
Why banned: obscenity and death of a child
The itinerant sailor Ishmael begins a voyage on the whaling ship Pequod whose captain, Ahab, wishes to exact revenge upon the whale Moby-Dick, who destroyed his last ship and took his leg. As they search for the savage white whale, Ishmael questions all aspects of life.
Why banned: profanity, violence, and "going against community values"
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is semi-autobiographical, following James Joyce's fictional alter-ego through his artistic awakening. The young artist Steven Dedelus begins to rebel against the Irish Catholic dogma of his childhood and discover the great philosophers and artists. He follows his artistic calling to the continent.
Why banned: obscenity
In the puritanical Boston of the 17th Century, a woman gives birth after committing adultery. That woman, Hester Prynne, choses to create a new life for herself in the face of adversity rather than succumb to what is expected of her. She will not name the father. Her decision opens up the tension between religious life and the true grace of God, and between personal guilt, religious sin and legal guilt.
Why banned: offensive and immoral
The Secret Garden tells the story of a young orphan who was born into luxury, but loneliness. When she finds herself in another part of the world, she navigates through life with friends and nature. She eventually learns to see life in a better and happier light.
Why banned: racism
Widely regarded as D.H. Lawrence's masterpiece, Sons and Lovers is a sprawling, multi-generational look at family relationships, class dynamics, and the intimate ties with others that pull young adults toward independence. This largely autobiographical novel made Lawrence's reputation as a writer -- it's a must read for fans of classic literary fiction.
Why banned: obscene and pornographic. Fun fact: In 1961 an Oklahoma City group called Mothers United for Decency hired a trailer, dubbed it "smutmobile," and displayed books deemed objectionable, including Lawrence's novel.
Twelfth Night tells the tale of the beautiful young Viola who is separated from her twin brother, Sebastian, when their ship is lost at sea. Believing Sebastian to be dead Viola poses as a man and enters service with the Duke Orisino. When Olivia, the woman that Orisino loves, falls for his messenger "boy" Viola and she in turn falls for the Duke the stage is set for a classic Shakespearean love triangle.
Why banned: crossdressing and "encouraging homosexuality"
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz chronicles the adventure of Dorothea in the land of Oz. A cyclone picks her up from her Kansas home, where she lives with her aunt and uncle, and deposits her in the fantastical land. She begins a journey along the yellow brick road to seek help from the Wizard of Oz. On her way she meets her fair share of witches (good and bad) and a scarecrow without a brain, a tinman without a heart and a cowardly lion. They travel together to the Emerald City to seek audience with the wizard.
Why banned: portraying unwholesome and un-Christian concepts; containing "good witches"