About the book: The novel, considered a classic, is the sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It tells the story of Huck’s journey down the Mississippi River on a raft with Jim, a runaway slave.
Excerpt: “Miss Watson’s big nigger, named Jim, was setting in the kitchen door; we could see him pretty clear, because there was a light behind him. He got up and stretched his neck out about a minute, listening. Then he says, ‘Who dah?'”
The controversy: The book was pulled from classes in Taylor, Mich., schools in 2006 because of complaints about its liberal use of common racial slurs. It was also challenged as required reading at Cactus High in Peoria, Ariz., because of allegations of improper racial treatment and the use of a racial slur in the classroom. It was also challenged in 2007 at Lakeville High School and St. Louis Park High School in Minnesota as required reading for sophomores.