Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association, www.ala.org
Banned Books Week celebrates your freedom to read! Held in October this year, the week brings attention to the freedom of expression and the freedom to be free of censorship. Launched by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, and the National Association of College Stores in 1982, it has become an annual event. You can read more about the history of Banned Books Week at the American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom, Banned Books Week page.
Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association, www.ala.org
Below are the most challenged books of 2024:
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 2,452 unique book titles targeted and 821 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources. Of the books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
1. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3/4. (Tie) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of depiction of sexual assault, depiction of incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
3/4. (Tie) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity
5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit
6./7. (Tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit
6./7. (Tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
8./9. (Tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of drug use
8./9. (Tie) Sold by Patricia McCormick
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of sexual assault
10. Flamer by Mike Curato
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
Many of these books are repeat offenders! You can view past top 10 lists on the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom's Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists. For an overview of the problem and the trends in censorship, you can view the top 100 challenged books by decade:
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.
