Banned Books: Frequently Banned/Challenged Materials

Resources on banned/challenged books and intellectual freedom.

Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2021

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.

Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022

"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

Banned Books in our Collection

The cover of All Boys Aren't Blue

All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto, by George M. Johnson
Banned for LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, and profanity.

Cover of This One Summer.

This One Summer, by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki
Banned for inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, drug use, profanity, sexual content, and mature themes.

The cover of Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe

Banned for LGBTQ+ content.

Cover of The Bluest Eye.

The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Banned for depictions of sexual abuse, graphic content, discussions of gender and racial issues.

Cover of Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez

Out of Darkness, by Ashley Hope Perez

Banned for depictions of abuse and sexual content.

 

Cover of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

Banned for profanity, violence, and discussions of police brutality towards Black people.

The cover of 1984 by George Orwell

1984, by George Orwell

Banned for social/political themes and sexual content.

Cover of The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

Banned for depictions of sexual abuse and LGBTQ+ content.

Cover of Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, by Alison Bechdel

Banned for LGBTQ+ content

Banned Books: Title Lists

Check out these lists of frequently-banned classics and most-challenged titles.  Some of them may surprise you!

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