September means Banned Book Week is upon us!
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 1,269 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2022. Of the 2,571 unique titles that were targeted, here are the most challenged along with the reasons cited for censorship attempts.
- Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Flamer by Mike Curato
Reasons:Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Looking for Alaska by John Green
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Banned and challenged for depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Reasons: Banned and challenged for depictions of abuse and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Banned and challenged for drug use and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit - This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, and because it was claimed to be sexually explicit
For more information on this list, visit https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10/archive
