Andrew AlbaneseThe American Library Association is calling attention to book banning again this week. The titles pulled off library shelves last year ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.

“Topping the list for 2015 was Looking for Alaska by John Green, which was cited for offensive language, and for being a little too sexually explicit for the YA age group,” reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.

“Second was Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James. I guess I don’t need to say why that book is on the list, though I should add that one of the most common complaints was that Shades is poorly written,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “But if we are going to start pulling books off library shelves for that reason, then we are all in trouble.”

Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.

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