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:
1. Gender Queer: A Memoir 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
Source: Top 13 Challenged books (2023). In Banned and Challenged Books. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10
Banned or Challenged Books Held by LMC
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
