Lush / Natahsa Friend / 184 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

According to ALA, Lush was challenged because "it deals with drugs, contains offensive language, is sexually explicit, and is unsuited to the age group for which it was intended."  I must wholeheartedly disagree!  Sam develops early and is teased mercilessly by the boys and girls in her 8th grade class.  Her father is an alcoholic and makes this admission half way through the book.  She leaves notes between pages 32 and 33 in a book on whaling in the library and receives note in return.  AJK gives advice and ultimately helps tremendously with Sam's problems.  Perhaps the party scene could be considered sexually explicit, but perhaps it could be viewed as a teachable moment or a precautionary tale.  Although I wouldn't put this book in an elementary school library (It is catalogued YA.), but I would recommend it.