The Boy Who Lost His Face / Louis Sachar / 198 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

David Ballinger wants Scott to still be his best friend.  Scott has recently joined a new group of friends and tells David that he has to be cool to join them.  Their coolness leads them to mistreat a lonely, old woman.  Rumor has it she is a witch and has her husband's face on her wall.  David does not participate in the mayhem and is a reluctant observer.  Instead of apologizing, her gives Mrs. Bayfield the finger.  She tells him that his "doppelganger will regurgitate on his soul."  He doesn't understand this, but he believes he has been cursed.  Bad things happen, including bad language, and much inappropriate finger pointing.  This book is about peer pressure and bullying and was "challenged for obscene gestures, profanity, bullying, and the fact that the story revolves around curses/witchcraft/occult."  I would recommend this book, but the finger gestures should probably be discussed