My favorite book this year is Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis. It is a terrific Canadian political satire.

The novel takes place in Ottawa . The plot involves a crusty, old, engineering professor named Angus McLintock. A deal is struck between Daniel Addison and Angus (Daniel’s landlord). Angus agrees to let his name stand in an election that no one thinks he can win and Daniel agrees to teach Angus` English class to first year engineering students.

Check out http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/terry-fallis/best-laid-plans.htm for more details.

The book is extremely funny with a very riveting plot. I worried that my enjoyment of the book might be partly due to the fact that I lived in Ottawa for almost 20 years and worked for the House of Commons for 7 years. However based on the many awards that the book has won, I am not alone in recommending Best Laid Plans.

September 22th marks the beginning of Banned Book in the United States. The ALA (American Library Association) posts both challenged and Banned books.
Challenged books are books that groups or parents are trying to restrict or remove  material. A Challenged book isn't just because their (parents, or groups) are expressing an opinion: They are trying to get the book removed from library shelves, curriculum and trying to restrict access to anyone wanting to read said book.

Example of Challenged books for the year 2012
 

1. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey.
   Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
   Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
3. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.
   Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
4. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.
   Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
5. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.
   Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
6. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
   Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
7. Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
   Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
8. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
   Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
9. The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
   Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
10. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

source ALA (American Library Ass.)
Check out there website
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek