My Brother Sam Is Dead Book

This is apparently an often-banned YA book. Since it was written in 1975, it has appeared on many annual banned-book lists. The reasons are varied, and IMO mostly ridiculous. One reason given was 'foul language' - the word damn was used once or twice, and perhaps even bloody, a British cuss word. Another reason given was 'extreme violence' - the Revolutionary War was going on, and descriptions were given of what had been seen in battle, including a beheading during a fight between British soldiers and armed Patriot sympathizers. 'Unpatriotic behavior' was another reason used for banning the book, because one of the characters in the book expressed her scorn and dislike of both sides of the conflict - her civilian husband had died in a British prison for selling beef to the wrong side, and her son was about to be executed by the Patriots on a false charge of stealing a cow.

This Newbery-winning book is worth reading on its own merits, but perhaps even more because so many people have tried to make sure it isn't read.