V.C. Andrews
Flowers in the Attic (1979) by V.C. Andrews was the first book in the Dollanganger series, with books 2-5 being written in the 1980s. Many of Andrews books were (and still are) controversial because they deal with topics such as incest and child abuse. Flowers in the Attic was no exception. The book was so controversial, that the plotline for the movie based on the book was altered quite a bit. One of the differences, in the Wikipedia entry:
There is no sexual tension or incest between Chris and Cathy in the movie, whereas it was a major theme in the latter part of the book.
Flowers in the Attic also made the banned lists in libraries across the nation.
FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, by V.C. Andrews.
Considered “dangerous” because it contains “offensive passages concerning
incest and sexual intercourse.”
Challenged by Richmond (Rhode Island) High School, 1983. source
One thing the adult reaction to this book caused (as if often the case with banned books) was an increased interest among readers as to what shocking things might be contained within its covers. I recall some of the people I knew being pretty excited about getting the final book in the series in 1986. An interesting factoid is that V.C. Andrews was so popular, her estate hired a writer (Andrew Neiderman) to continue writing novels under her name.
That is correct. Even though there are books still being released under the name V.C. Andrews (Girl in the Shadows published in 2006), the author herself has been dead since 1986. So, if you want to read authentic V.C. Andrews, look for books published prior to her death.
