In 1981, the book waschallenged by a high school in Owen, NC,because it was "demoralizing inasmuch as it implies that man is littlemorethan an animal."
Challenged at the Dallas, TX. Independent School District
highschool libraries (1974);
challenged at the Sully Buttes, S. Dak. HighSchool
(1981);
challenged at the Owen, N.C. High School (1981) because
the book is "demoralizing in as much as it implies that man is
little more than ananimal";
challenged at the Marana, Ariz. High School (1983) as
an inappropriate reading assignment.
Challenged at the Olney, Tex. IndependentSchool District
(1984) because of "excessive violence and bad language."
Acommittee of the Toronto, Canada Board of Education ruled
on June 23,1988,that the novel is "racist and recommended
that it be removed from allschools. "Parents and members of
the black community complained about a reference to"niggers"
in the book and said it denigrates blacks.
Challenged in theWaterloo, Iowa schools (1992) because of
profanity, lurid passagesabout sex, and statements
defamatory to minorities, God, women and the disabled.
Challenged, but retained on the ninth-grade accelerated
English readinglist in Bloomfield, N.Y. (2000).
From Newsletter on IntellectualFreedom: an. 1975, p. 6; July,1981, p. 103; Jan. 1982, p. 17; Jan, 1984, p. 25-26; July 1984, p. 122;Sept.1988, p. 152; July 1992, p. 126; Mar. 2000, p. 64.