This list is provided courtesy of the American Library Association. Visit their Top Ten Most Challenged Books Lists page to view lists from 2001-forward.
"The 2024 data reported to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. Parents only accounted for 16% of demands to censor books, while 5% of challenges were brought by individual library users. The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books.
The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice.
—The American Library Association, Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024
Note: items owned by the Columbus State Library have a link to their catalog record.
1. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Number of challenges: 39
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Number of challenges: 38
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Number of challenges: 35
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual assault, depiction of drug use, profanity
3. (TIE) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Number of challenges: 35
Challenged for: depiction of sexual assault, depiction of incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
5. (TIE) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Number of challenges: 33
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit
6. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green
Number of challenges: 30
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit
6. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Number of challenges: 30
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
8. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Number of challenges: 28
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of drug use
8. (TIE) Sold by Patricia McCormick
Number of challenges: 28
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of sexual assault
10. Flamer by Mike Curato
Number of challenges: 27
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
This One Summer, by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki
Challenged for inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, drug use, profanity, sexual content, and mature themes.
All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto, by George M. Johnson
Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit.
Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe
Challenged for LGBTQ+ content.
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Banned for depictions of sexual abuse, graphic content, discussions of gender and racial issues.
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
Challenged for profanity, violence, and discussions of race-based police brutality.
1984, by George Orwell
Challenged for social/political themes and sexual content.
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Challenged for depictions of sexual abuse and LGBTQ+ content.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, by Alison Bechdel
Challenged for LGBTQ+ content.
Not all book challenges are reported to the ALA. These websites can help provide a fuller picture of books being banned and challenged in the United States.
