Banned Books Week is the American book community’s annual celebration of our freedom to read. Around the nation librarians, booksellers, publishers, teachers, students and readers focus attention on the ongoing threats of censorship. This year, Banned Books Week events will be held from September 22 through 28 around the nation at bookshops, libraries, schools and universities. You can get involved at the Banned Books website.

The 10 most challenged titles of 2012 in the U.S.were:

Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey

Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group

Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group

Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.

Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit

And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.

Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.

Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit

Looking for Alaska, by John Green.

Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group

Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz

Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence

The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls

Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit

Beloved, by Toni Morrison

Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

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• Q&A: Banned Books and the Coralville Public Library (cplbannedbooks.wordpress.com)