A Banned Book is a term that is used frequently, but it doesn't mean what you think it means. The First Amendment prevents books from getting legally banned, but every year many books are challenged and taken to court because people would like to see them removed from libraries or schools.
Below I list the top challenged books in recent years and on what grounds they were challenged. There is definitely overlap here over years. Some of these descriptions contain triggering material and spoilers, so read at your own discretion.
A memoir by Maia Kobabe about the journey of self-discovery as a non-binary person using e/em/eirs pronouns. Kobabe addresses the struggle of being a teenager along side figuring out who you are with gender and sexuality. This was the most challenged book of the year, with some describing the discussion of gender fluidity as "pornographic".
Written by Johnathan Evison, this is a book about a hardworking Chicano lawn worker fighting against classism and racism while coming to terms with his sexual identity. The book was challenged for it's LGBTQ content and for being "sexually explicit," in reference to a scene between two men.
A memoir-manifesto written by George M. Johnson, this book is about all of the best and worst moments of their life as a black and queer person. The book was challenged due to it's LGBTQ content, profanity, and "sexually explicit" material.
This historical fiction book written by Ashley Hope Pérez is about the teenage love story between Naomi, a Mexican American girl, and Walsh, a black boy, divided by classism and racism until tragedy strikes. This book was widely challenged for it's depiction of abuse and for being "sexually explicit".
Written by Angie Thomas, this book follows Starr on her journey to activism after witnessing a fatal incident of police brutality against her friend. Most people have heard of this book, have read it, or have watched the movie, but it is still challenged for profanity, violence, and an "anti-police" agenda.
A Young Adult novel written by Sherman Angie, this is a book about a teen named Junior's experiences growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation as a traitor, but being unable to fit in to the white school he attends. This book has been challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term.
Written by Jesse Andrews, this book follows the journey of Greg and his best friend Earl as they make a movie about the deteriorating health of their classmate Rachel, who has leukemia. Parents challenged the book for being "pornographic" and degrading to women.
First novel from Toni Morrison, this book is the story of Pecola, an abused Black girl who suffers through oppression and cruelty, wishing to have blue eyes so that she can escape her misery. It has been consistently challenged an excluded from academic curriculum for "sexually explicit material" and "offensive language".
Written by Juno Dawson, this book is an "instruction manual" for growing up as part of the LGBTQ community, covering a variety of topics as a resource for queer youth. This book has been challenged for being "sexually explicit" as a type of sexual education.
Written and Photographed by Susan Kuklin, this book tells the stories and struggles of six transgender teenagers. This book was challenged for LGBTQ content and for being "sexually explicit."
Written by Alex Gino, this book is the story of a trans-gender fourth grader's fight to be seen as who she really in her struggles against bullying, stereotyping, and discrimination. This book was challenged for it's LGBTQ+ content, for conflicting with a religious viewpoint (which is a claim that values one religion over others), and for not reflecting "the values of our community".
Written by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, this book talks about racism as viewed through five historical figure's viewpoints and how it affected each of them in a way that history books don't talk about. This book has been banned and challenged for public statements the authors have made, claims of "selective storytelling", and for not encompassing racism against all people.
Written by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, this book is about a black teenager who was targeted by police brutality and a white teenager who witnessed the event. This book was challenged for profanity, drug use, alcoholism, for promoting "anti-police values", for "divisive topics", and for being "too sensitive of a topic matter".
Written by Laurie Halse Anderson, this book tells the story of a teenage girl raped at a party, her trauma coping mechanisms, and how she reclaims her voice. This book was banned, challenged, and restricted because it was "biased against male students", it "carried a political viewpoint", and it included rape and profanity.
A Young Adult novel written by Sherman Angie, this is a book about a teen named Junior's experiences growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation as a traitor, but being unable to fit in to the white school he attends. This book has been challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term.
Written by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard and illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin, this children's book follows two families, one Black and one White, as they address police violence against the Black community after a Black man is shot by the police. This book is challenged as having an "anti-police message" and for "divisive language".
Written by Harper Lee and set in the Great Depression, this book tells the story of Scout Finch over a period of three years, in which there is the unfair trial of Tom Robinson, an innocent black man accused of raping a white woman. Though critically acclaimed and a Pulitzer prize winner, this book is challenged for it's use of racial slurs, it's perception of the black experience, and the use of a "white savior" character.
Written by John Steinbeck, this book tells the story of two drifters named George and Lennie and how their dreams of a simple life hit obstacles. This book is frequently challenged racial slurs and racist stereotypes that have a negative effect on students.
First novel from Toni Morrison, this book is the story of Pecola, an abused Black girl who suffers through oppression and cruelty, wishing to have blue eyes so that she can escape her misery. It has been consistently challenged an excluded from academic curriculum for "sexually explicit material" and "offensive language".
Written by Angie Thomas, this book follows Starr on her journey to activism after witnessing a fatal incident of police brutality against her friend. Most people have heard of this book, have read it, or have watched the movie, but it is still challenged for profanity, violence, and an "anti-police" agenda.
Written by Alex Gino, this book is the story of a trans-gender fourth grader's fight to be seen as who she really in her struggles against bullying, stereotyping, and discrimination. This book was challenged for it's LGBTQ+ content, for conflicting with a religious viewpoint (which is a claim that values one religion over others), and for not reflecting "the values of our community".
Written and Photographed by Susan Kuklin, this book tells the stories and struggles of six transgender teenagers. This book was challenged for LGBTQ content and for being "sexually explicit."
Written by Jill Twist and illustrated by EG Keller, this books is about Mike Pence's family rabbit, Marlon Bundo going on an adventure and finding love. This book is challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, carrying a political viewpoint, and for not including a content warning.
Written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth, this is a comic book meant to help parents teach their kids about bodies, gender, and sexuality. This book was banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for discussing gender identity and sex education, and for the title and illustrations being "inappropriate".
Written by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Daniel Lewis, this book is about a Prince traveling to search for a bride, but finding his partner somewhere else. This book was challenged for featuring a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content, and for conflicting with a religious view point.
Written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas, this is a tale based on the life of Jazz Jennings and it follows a little girl in her journey of self discovery. This book has been challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for having a transgender character, and for containing a topic that is “sensitive, controversial, and politically charged”.
Written by Margaret Atwood, this book follows Offred through a dystopia where she must serve as a nameless handmaid in an oppressive republic. This book is challenged for "vulgarity" and "sexual overtones".
Written by Raina Telgemeier, this book follows Callie as she struggles to hold together her school musical while dealing with middle school drama, boy problems, and set design skills that leave a lot to be desired. This book has been challenged LGBTQIA+ content and for going against "family values".
Written by J.K. Rowling, this series follows a boy wizard and his friends as he traverses a complicating path to protect himself and the people he cares about from an evil wizard's resurgence. This book series has been challenged for referring to magic and witchcraft, containing curses and spells, and for characters that use "nefarious means" to reach their goals.
Written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole, this book follows the true story of two penguins, Silo and Roy, who became a couple and sought to create family of their own. This book was challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
To continue the conversation: If books are banned for carrying a certain message that a certain group of people disagree with, then the conversation that led to the banning of the book can't be contained by future generations. Banning a book because of language it uses or themes it carries that are uncomfortable can have a good intention, but banning the book makes it harder to talk about why the topic and language is uncomfortable.
To expose people to different view points: A lot of people grow up in a particular environment where one specific view point is everywhere around them. Without access to books that go against their personal beliefs, many people will never have access to books that open their minds to other viewpoints. It's difficult to be open minded when you only are ever taught one thing and any other thoughts or ideas having been banned for going against community, family, or religious values, all of which are subjective.
To educate, be it on history or on prevalent issues: I understand why To Kill A Mockingbird would be banned for uncomfortable language, it makes me uncomfortable too, but without books like that reminding us of what the past was in such a tragic story, we can't as easily exemplify why these words are uncomfortable. People become comfortable with forgetting the past and saying it never happened when it isn't unpleasant to relive.
To understand why things are uncomfortable: This goes with what's above, but some people refuse to understand why a slur makes someone uncomfortable until they see it in a painful context. Literature gives an insight into other people's minds and other people's experiences, something a lot of people wouldn't get it they didn't read.
To give people the choice: Finally, banning a book removes the choice that a reader has. If a book makes you uncomfortable, you can either not read it, or stop reading it. If it's for school and you are uncomfortable, talk to your teacher or use online resources so that you can understand the context without having to read the slurs or offensive language. You have the choice not to read it, but taking away someone else's choice isn't right nor fair. A book like I Am Jazz or Prince and Knight might not be right for your family, but that doesn't mean it won't be right for someone else's family.
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