Banned Books Week (September 26 - October 2) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to seek and share ideas by reading. Attempts to censor books in schools and libraries have occurred throughout history and continue today.
(Photo source: covs97 https://flic.kr/p/8Etg3D)
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. Of the 273 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
1 | George by Alex Gino
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. | Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
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
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
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
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
Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
7. | To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
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
Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
9 | The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
10 | The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message
Pikes Peak State College Libraries
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