By Robert Cormier

A group of boys trash a house and nearly kill a girl, and that's just in the first few paragraphs. Book was banned for alcohol, violence, and sexual content.

Banned

#41 on 100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999

#30 on Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009

1994 - California - Pulled from school libraries in Stockton after parents complained it glorified alcoholism and violence, contains a violent rape scene, and profanity

1998 - Ontario, Canada - Complaint from a parent in Simcoe County for violence

2000

Florida - Removed from Carver Middle School library in Leesburg after parents complained about content and language

Texas - Restricted in Arlington middle and high schools for parental permission for violence

2001 - Pennsylvania - Challenged in Tamaqua Area School District for not being age appropriate.

2003 - Kansas - Removed from a Baldwin ninth grade class by the superintendent because "it was clear to him it wasn't fit for his own daughter or granddaughter" after complaints of profanity and sexual content.

2005 - New Jersey - Challenged and retained at Cherry Hill Public Library's young adult section by a parent claiming the book was unfit for the age group with "deplorable" content.