Skip to Main Content

Banned Books Week

This guide details Banned Books Week and provides information about censorship and book challenges.
Banned Books Week

The right to read belongs to everyone.

Every year, there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from American bookstores, libraries, and schools. Each challenge means lost opportunities to explore ideas that build understanding. Words have power—access to diverse ideas makes all of us more powerful.

Impact
Thousands

of reading opportunities lost when books are restricted or banned.

Why Now
Escalating

attempts target works about race, gender, history, and LGBTQ+ lives.

Our Role
Defend

the freedom to read—censorship has no place in a learning community.

Why it matters: As Orwell’s 1984 reminds us, censorship narrows thought. This year’s theme calls us to protect open inquiry and the rights of all readers.

Freedom to Read Access to Ideas Community & Dialogue Academic Freedom
October 5–11, 2025
Celebrate by reading your favorite banned book and sharing why it matters.
Read a banned book

Challenged Book by Year

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2024 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a red header and footer with blue and white stars in the upper right hand corner.

TOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2024

The American Library Association documented 821 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities in 2024. The most common reasons for challenges were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and dealing with topics of race, racism, inclusivity, equity, and social justice. Of the 2,452 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2024, here are the top 10 most frequently targeted.

  1. All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
    Why this book matters
     
  2. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
    Why this book matters
     
  3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (tied with 4)
    Why this book matters
     
  4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (tied with 3)
    Why this book matters
     
  5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
    Why this book matters
     
  6. Looking for Alaska by John Green (tied with 7)
    Why this book matters
     
  7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (tied with 6)
    Why this book matters
     
  8. Crank by Ellen Hopkins (tied with 9)
    Why this book matters
     
  9. Sold by Patricia McCormick (tied with 8)
    Why this book matters
     
  10. Flamer by Mike Curato
    Why this book matters

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2023 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. A graphic of a book with the words Freed Between the Lines written between the pages sits in the upper right hand corner.

TOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2023

The American Library Association documented 1,247 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities in 2023. Of the 4,240 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2023, here are the top 10 most frequently challenged.

  1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
  2. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
  3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit
  4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity
  5. Flamer by Mike Curato
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
  6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
  7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (tied with 8)
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
  8. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (tied with 7)
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content
  9. Let's Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content
  10. Sold by Patricia McCormick
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, rape

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2022 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a black background with a pink, orange, yellow, white, and blue graphic with the words Let Freedom Read in the upper right hand corner.

TOP 13 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2022

The American Library Association tracked 1,269 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2022. Of the 2,571 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2022, here are the top 13 most challenged.

  1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
  2. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
  3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
  4. Flamer by Mike Curato
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
  5. Looking for Alaska by John Green (tied with 6)
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content
  6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (tied with 5)
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity
  7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
  8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
  9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit
  10. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (tied with 11, 12, and 13)
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit
  11. Crank by Ellen Hopkins (tied with 11, 12, and 13)
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs
  12. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (tied with 11, 12, and 13)
    Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity 
  13. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson (tied with 11, 12, and 13)
    Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2021 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a background of opened books with a graphic of an orange cage and the silhouette of a bird in the upper right hand corner.

TOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2021

The American Library Association tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1,597 individual books that were challenged or banned in 2021, here are the top 10 most challenged:

  1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
    Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images
  2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda
  6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of derogatory terms
  7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews 
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered to be sexually explicit and degrading to women
  8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit
  9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
    Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content
  10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2020 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has an orange and neon yellow background split diagonally down the center.

TOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2020

The American Library Association tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials or services based on content. Overall, 273 books were targeted. Here are the "Top 10 Most Challenged Books in 2020," along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:

  1. George by Alex Gino
    Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting "the values of our community"
  2. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because of author's public statements, and because of claims that the book contains "selective storytelling incidents" and does not encompass racism against all people
  3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be "too much of a sensitive matter right now"
  4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
    Reasons:  Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel's inclusion of rape and profanity
  5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author
  6. Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
    Reasons: Challenged for "divisive language" and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
  7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a "white savior" character, and its perception of the Black experience
  8. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
  9. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
  10. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2019 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has an orange background with a graphic of a person sitting on an the edge of an open book in the upper right hand corner.

TOP 10 CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2019

The American Library Association tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Overall, 566 books were targeted. Here are the "Top 10 Most Challenged Books in 2019," along with the reasons cited for censoring the books.

  1. George by Alex Gino
    Reasons: Challenged, banned, restricted, and hidden to avoid controversy; for LGBTQIA+ content and a transgender character; because schools and libraries should not "put books in a child's hand that require discussion"; for sexual references, and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint and "traditional family structure"
  2. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
    Reasons: Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for "its effect on any young people who would read it," and for concerns that it was sexually explicit and biased
  3. A Day in the Life of Marion Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
    Reasons: Challenged and vandalized for LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints, for concerns that it is "designed to pollute the morals of its readers," and for not including a content warning
  4. Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
    Reasons: Challenged, banned, and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content; for discussing gender identity and sex education; and for concerns that the title and illustrations were "inappropriate"
  5. Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack
    Reasons: Challenged and restricted for featuring a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content; for being "a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children" with the potential to cause confusion, curiosity, and gender dysphoria; and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint
  6. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
    Reasons: Challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content, for a transgender character, and for confronting a topic that is "sensitive, controversial, and politically charged"
  7. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and for "vulgarity and sexual overtones"
  8. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
    Reasons: Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and for concerns that it goes against "family values/morals"
  9. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
    Reasons: Banned and forbidden from discussion for referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use "nefarious means" to attain goals
  10. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole
    Reasons: Challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2019 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a dark blue background patterned with lightbulb silhouettes and a graphic of a light bulb reading a book in the upper right hand corner.

TOP 11 CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2018

The American Library Association tracked 347 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2018. Of the 483 books that were challenged or banned in 2018, here are the top 11 most challenged:

  1. George by Alex Gino
    Reasons: Banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning "dirty magazines," describing male anatomy, "creating confusion," and including a transgender character
  2. A Day in the Life of Marion Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints
  3. Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
    Reasons: Series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple
  4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was deemed "anti-cop," and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references
  5. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes
  6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
    Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide
  7. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations
  8. SkippyJon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
    Reasons: Challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture
  9. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoints
  10. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
    Reasons: Challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content
  11. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
    Reasons: Challenged, burned, and hidden for including LGBTQIA+ content

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2017 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a green striped background.

TOP 10 CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2017

The American Library Association tracked 354 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2017. Of the 416 books that were challenged or banned in 2017, here are the top 10 most challenged:

  1. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
    Reason: suicide
  2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: profanity, sexually explicit
  3. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
    Reason: LGBT content
  4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
    Reasons: sexual violence, religious themes, "may lead to terrorism"
  5. George by Alex Gino
    Reason: LGBT content
  6. Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
    Reason: sex education
  7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    Reasons: violence, racial slurs
  8. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    Reasons: drug use, profanity, "pervasively vulgar"
  9. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole
    Reason: LGBT content
  10. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
    Reason: gender identity

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2016 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a navy blue background.

TOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2016

Of the 323 challenges recorded by the American Library Association in 2016, the top 10 challenged books are:

  1. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
    Reasons: LGBT content, drug use, profanity, sexually explicit, mature themes
  2. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
    Reasons: LGBT content, sexually explicit, offensive political viewpoint
  3. George by Alex Gino
    Reasons: LGBT content, "sexuality"
  4. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
    Reasons: LGBT content, language, sex education, offensive viewpoints
  5. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
    Reasons: LGBT content, sexually explicit
  6. Looking for Alaska by John Green
    Reason: sexually explicit
  7. Big Hard Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction
    Reason: sexually explicit
  8. Make Something Up: Stories You Can't Unread by Chuck Palahniuk
    Reasons: profanity, sexually explicit, "disgusting and all around offensive"
  9. Little Bill (series) by Bill Cosby
    Reason: criminal sexual allegations against the author
  10. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
    Reason: offensive language

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2015 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a mint green background.

2015 BOOK CHALLENGES

Of 275 challenges recorded by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, the "2015 Top Ten Most Challenged Books" are:

  1. Looking for Alaska by John Green
    Reasons: Sexually Explicit; Offensive Language; Drugs/Alcohol/Smoking
  2. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
    Reason: Sexually Explicit
  3. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
    Reasons: Religious Viewpoint; Unsuited for Age Group
  4. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
    Reasons: Religious Viewpoint; Sex Education; Homosexuality; Offensive; Anti-Family
  5. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
    Reasons: Offensive Language; Unsuited for Age Group; "Atheism"
  6. Holy Bible
    Reasons: Religious Viewpoint; Violence; "Illegal"
  7. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
    Reasons: Homosexuality; Graphic Images; Nudity
  8. Habibi by Craig Thompson
    Reasons: Sexually Explicit; Nudity
  9. Nasreen's Secret School by Jeanette Winter
    Reasons: Religious Viewpoint; Violence; "References to Islam"
  10. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
    Reasons: Homosexuality; "Condones Public Displays of Affection"

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.

Poster listing the top 10 most challenged books of 2014 with book covers, titles, authors, and reasons for challenges. The poster has a light blue background.

2014 BOOK CHALLENGES

Out of 311 challenges recorded by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, the "Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2014" are:

  1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: Anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: "depictions of bullying."
  2. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi 
    Reasons: Gambling, offensive, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: "politically, racially, and socially offensive." "graphic depictions." 
  3. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole
    Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: "promotes the homosexual agenda."
  4. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: "contains controversial issues."
  5. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
    Reasons: Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: "alleges it [to be] child pornography."
  6. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
    Reasons: Anti-family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. 
  7. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
    Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence.
  8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
    Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: "date rape and masturbation."
  9. A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard
    Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. 
  10. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
    Reasons: Sexually explicit

Information provided by: The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
Visit The American Library Association's Banned & Challenged Books Webpage for more information.