Banned Books Week, September 22 - 28, 2024: Freed Between the Lines
Banning or Challenging Books
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials [from a library], based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. - American Library Association
Top Banned or Challenged Books in 2023
Gender Queer: a Memoir Deluxe Edition by ISBN: 9781637150726Publication Date: 2022-07-05Number of challenges: 106
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
All Boys Aren't Blue by ISBN: 9780374312718Publication Date: 2020-04-28Number of challenges: 82
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
This Book Is Gay by ISBN: 9781492617822Publication Date: 2015-06-16Number of challenges: 71
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by ISBN: 9781451696196Publication Date: 2012-08-14Number of challenges: 68
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
Flamer by ISBN: 9781627796415Publication Date: 2020-09-01Number of challenges: 67
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
The Bluest Eye by ISBN: 9780452287068Publication Date: 2005-09-06Number of challenges: 62
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, claimed to be sexually explicit
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by ISBN: 1419701762Publication Date: 2012-03-01Number of challenges: 56
Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
Tricks by ISBN: 9781416950073Publication Date: 2009-08-25Number of challenges: 56
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content
Sold by ISBN: 9780786851713Publication Date: 2006-09-15Number of challenges: 53
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, rape
Top Banned or Challenged Books
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by ISBN: 0520045580Publication Date: 1983-06-22Challenged for coarse language and racial stereotypes.
The Kite Runner by ISBN: 9781573222457Publication Date: 2003-06-02Sexual content and offensive language.
The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Book One) by ISBN: 9780439023481Publication Date: 2008-10-01The Hunger Games has been banned or challenged "due to insensitivity, offensive language, violence, anti-family, anti-ethic, and occult/satanic" and the 2014 addition of "inserted religious views."
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (National Book Award Winner) by ISBN: 9780316013680Publication Date: 2007-09-12Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity.
Eyes of the Storm: a Graphic Novel (Bone #3) by ISBN: 0439706254Publication Date: 2006-02-01The Bone Series.
Challenged for: References to smoking, drinking and gambling.
The Hate U Give Movie Tie-In Edition by ISBN: 9780062871350Publication Date: 2018-09-04Challenged for: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda
The Catcher in the Rye by ISBN: 0316769487Publication Date: 1991-05-01Challenged for: crude language, occasional sexual themes and the whole notion of Holden Caulfield's quest.
And Tango Makes Three by ISBN: 9781481448840Publication Date: 2015-06-02Challenged for: Challenges have included complaints that the story is “unsuitable for young children” and has "homosexual overtones.”
Of Mice and Men by ISBN: 9780140177398Publication Date: 1993-09-01Challenged for: Challenges have included complaints about “profanity,” “morbid and depressing themes,” and the author’s alleged “anti-business attitude.” Others have called it “derogatory towards African Americans, women, and the developmentally disabled.”
Speak by ISBN: 9780312674397Publication Date: 2011-05-10Challenged – Republic, Missouri 2010 – Wesley Scroggins, associate professor of management at Missouri State University, cautioned parents of the Republic School District that Speak's rape scenes were akin to “soft pornography” and should not be used in the school's curriculum.
