Top 10 Books Challenged or Banned
Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021
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The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1597 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
- Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images - Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit - This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content. - Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
Source: Top 10 Challenged books (2022). In Banned and Challenged Books. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10
Banned or Challenged Books Held by LMC
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The Hate U Give by Call Number: 813.54 T4545ISBN: 9780062498533Publication Date: 2017-02-28Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references -
The Kite Runner by Call Number: 813.6 H829kISBN: 1594480001Publication Date: 2004-04-27This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.” -
To Kill a Mockingbird (graphic Novel) by Call Number: 741.5973 L4782ISBN: 9780062798183Publication Date: 2018-10-30This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word. -
Looking for Alaska by Call Number: GREEISBN: 9780142402511Publication Date: 2006-12-28Reasons: challenged for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation” -
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Call Number: 813.6 H127cISBN: 9781400032716Publication Date: 2004-05-18Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“profanity and atheism”) -
King James Version Holy BibleCall Number: 220.5204 B58ISBN: 9781432118099Publication Date: 2016-12-01Reasons: religious viewpoint -
Persepolis by Call Number: 955.05 S2537ISBN: 9780375422300Publication Date: 2003-04-29Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions” -
The Hunger Games by Call Number: 813.6 C7132hISBN: 9780439023481Publication Date: 2008-10-01Reasons: religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group -
The Glass Castle by Call Number: B WALLISBN: 9780743247535Publication Date: 2005-03-01Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit -
Beloved by Call Number: 813.54 M882BISBN: 0394535979Publication Date: 1987-08-12Reasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence -
Brave New World by Call Number: 823.912 H9863ISBN: 9780060535261Publication Date: 2004-06-01Reasons: insensitivity, nudity, racism, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit -
Twilight by Call Number: 813.6 M6134tISBN: 9780316160179Publication Date: 2005-10-05Reasons: religious viewpoint, violence -
The Catcher in the Rye by Call Number: 813.54 S1658cISBN: 9780316769174Publication Date: 2001-01-30Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group -
The Color Purple by Call Number: 813.54 W177CISBN: 0151191530Publication Date: 1982-06-01Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group -
The Golden Compass by Call Number: PULLISBN: 9780440418320Publication Date: 2001-05-22Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, violence -
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Call Number: 813.4 T969AHGISBN: 9781503214958Publication Date: 2014-11-28Reason: racism -
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Call Number: 818.5409 A584yiISBN: 9780345514400Publication Date: 2009-04-21Reason: sexually explicit -
Arming America by Call Number: 683.400973 B442ISBN: 0375402101Publication Date: 2000-09-05Reasons: inaccurate, political viewpoint -
Of Mice and Men by Call Number: STEIISBN: 9780140177398Publication Date: 1993-09-01Reasons: offensive language, racism, violence -
Bridge to Terabithia by Call Number: PATEISBN: 0060734019Publication Date: 2008-07-01Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language -
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Call Number: J 813 T24RISBN: 0803774737Publication Date: 1976-01-01Reason: offensive language -
Julie of the Wolves by Call Number: J 813 G34JISBN: 0060219440Publication Date: 1972-11-30Reasons: unsuited to age group, violence -
Summer of My German Soldier by Call Number: J 813 G7991SISBN: 0803728697Publication Date: 1973Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit -
The Handmaid's Tale (Graphic Novel) by Call Number: 741.5973 A8875ISBN: 9780385539241Publication Date: 2019-03-26
