This week is the American Library Association’s annual Banned Books Week, which has been observed since 1982 and "reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted." Among the 10 most frequently challenged books of 2007 is Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, for its "religious viewpoint."

Pullman recently wrote (via Read Roger) with glee that "The inevitable result of trying to ban something – book, film, play, pop song, whatever – is that far more people want to get hold of it than would ever have done if it were left alone. Why don’t the censors realise this?"

Personally, I loved The Golden Compass so much that I’ve read it twice. And you should, too. Forget about the movie version; just go and get yourself the actual book.

What other books were most frequently challenged last year? Well, a lot of them have to do with sex, although the number one most challenged book is about penguins. Same-sex penguins. Who wanted a baby penguin so badly they tried to hatch a rock that looked like an egg. When zookeepers discovered this, they gave the penguin couple (two males) a real penguin egg, and they hatched and raised it successfully.

Did I mention this is based on the true story of two real penguins in the Central Park Zoo? Well, it was challenged for the following bizarre reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group.

Yes, some people are so homophobic that the true story of two penguins becoming foster parents freaks them out. The world is a scary, sad place.

Other books often challenged include Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ("racism"), Alice Walker’s The Color Purple ("Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language") and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ("Sexually Explicit").

Well, my book will include homosexuality as well as a really mean stepmother (anti-family?) and a relationship that might be deemed "unsuited to age group." Maybe my book will be banned! One can only hope.