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.
"ALA documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, the most challenged and reasons cited for censoring the books are listed below." —The American Library Association, Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022
Please note: the numbering of this list reflects that of the source material, which skips the number 6 due to two books' being tied for fifth place.
1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Number of challenges: 151
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Number of challenges: 86
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Number of challenges: 73
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, claimed to be sexually explicit
4. Flamer by Mike Curato
Number of challenges: 62
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (Tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green
Number of challenges: 55
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (Tie) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Number of challenges: 55
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Number of challenges: 54
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Number of challenges: 52
Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Number of challenges: 50
Challenged for: depictions of abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (Tie) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Number of challenges: 48
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (Tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Number of challenges: 48
Challenged for: drug use, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (Tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Number of challenges: 48
Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (Tie) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Number of challenges: 48
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit
All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto, by George M. Johnson
Banned for LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, and profanity.
This One Summer, by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki
Banned for inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, drug use, profanity, sexual content, and mature themes.
Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe
Banned 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
Banned for profanity, violence, and discussions of police brutality towards Black people.
1984, by George Orwell
Banned for social/political themes and sexual content.
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Banned for depictions of sexual abuse and LGBTQ+ content.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, by Alison Bechdel
Banned for LGBTQ+ content
Check out these lists of frequently-banned classics and most-challenged titles. Some of them may surprise you!