what books were banned in 2021

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The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information. Every year, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S.

The Top 10 lists are only a snapshot of book challenges. Surveys indicate that 82-97% of book challenges – documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries – remain unreported and receive no media.

Click on the button to open the dropdown menu of Top 10 Most Challenged Books by year.

BANNED BOOKS BY YEAR

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

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The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1597 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:

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

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020

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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:

• 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”
• 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
• 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”
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2019

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Of the 566 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:

• 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”
• 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
• A Day in the Life of Marlon 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
• 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” 
• Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis 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
• 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”
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity and for “vulgarity and sexual overtones”
• Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier Reasons: challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and for concerns that it goes against “family values/morals”
• 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
• And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson illustrated by Henry Cole Reason: challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content

Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2018

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2018

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2018. Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the Top 11 Most Challenged Books are:

• 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
• A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints
• 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
• 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
• Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide
• This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations
• Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture
• 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 viewpoint
• This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content
• Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

Top 10 for 2017

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2017

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2017. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:

• Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher Originally published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it discusses suicide.
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit.
• Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered “confusing.”
• The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.”
• George written by Alex Gino Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child.
• Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex education and is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.”
• To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word.
• The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas Despite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curriculums because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and because of drug use, profanity, and offensive language.
• And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship.
• I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.

Top 10 for 2016

Out of 323 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2016

• This One Summer  written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes
• Drama  written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint
• George  written by Alex Gino Reasons: challenged because it includes a transgender child, and the “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels”
• I Am Jazz  written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas Reasons: challenged because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints
• Two Boys Kissing  written by David Levithan Reasons: challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content
• Looking for Alaska  written by John Green Reasons: challenged for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation”
• Big Hard Sex Criminals  written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky Reason: challenged because it was considered sexually explicit
• Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread  written by Chuck Palahniuk Reasons: challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being “disgusting and all around offensive”
• Little Bill  (series) written by Bill Cosby and and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood Reason: challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author
• Eleanor & Park  written by Rainbow Rowell Reason: challenged for offensive language

Top 10 for 2015

Out of 275 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2015

• Looking for Alaska , by John Green Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group
• Fifty Shades of Grey , by E. L. James Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other (“poorly written,” “concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it”)
• I Am Jazz , by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Reasons: inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group
• Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out , by Susan Kuklin Reasons: anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints”)
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time , by Mark Haddon Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“profanity and atheism”)
• The Holy Bible Reasons: religious viewpoint
• Fun Home , by Alison Bechdel Reasons: violence and other (“graphic images”)
• Habibi , by Craig Thompson Reasons: nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group
• Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan , by Jeanette Winter Reasons: religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence
• Two Boys Kissing , by David Levithan Reasons: homosexuality and other (“condones public displays of affection”)

Top 10 for 2014

Out of 311 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

View the  Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2014

• 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”
• Persepolis , by Marjane Satrapi Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions”
• And Tango Makes Three , Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “promotes the homosexual agenda”
• The Bluest Eye , by Toni Morrison Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “contains controversial issues”
• It’s Perfectly Normal , by Robie Harris Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges it is child pornography”
• Saga , by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples Reasons: anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group
• The Kite Runner , by Khaled Hosseini Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence
• 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”
• A Stolen Life , Jaycee Dugard Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
• Drama , by Raina Telgemeier Reason: sexually explicit

Top 10 for 2013

Out of 307 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey Reasons: offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence
• The Bluest Eye , by Toni Morrison Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian , by Sherman Alexie Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Fifty Shades of Grey , by E.L. James Reasons: nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Hunger Games , by Suzanne Collins Reasons: religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
• A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl , by Tanya Lee Stone Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
• Looking for Alaska , by John Green Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower , by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Bless Me Ultima , by Rudolfo Anaya Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
• Bone (series), by Jeff Smith Reason: political viewpoint, racism, violence

Top 10 for 2012

Out of 464 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey Reasons: offensive language, unsuited for age group
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian , by Sherman Alexie Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
• Thirteen Reasons Why , by Jay Asher Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
• Fifty Shades of Grey , by E. L. James Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
• And Tango Makes Three , by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons: homosexuality, unsuited for age group
• The Kite Runner , by Khaled Hosseini Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
• Looking for Alaska , by John Green Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
• Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz Reasons: unsuited for age group, violence
• The Glass Castle , by Jeanette Walls Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
• Beloved , by Toni Morrison Reasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

Top 10 for 2011

Out of 326 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r  (series), by Lauren Myracle   Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Color of Earth  (series), by Kim Dong Hwa Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Hunger Games  trilogy, by Suzanne Collins Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, insensitivity, offensive language, occult/satanic, violence
• My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy , by Dori Hillestad Butler Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian , by Sherman Alexie Reasons: offensive language, racism, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Alice  (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint
• Brave New World , by Aldous Huxley Reasons: insensitivity, nudity, racism, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
• What My Mother Doesn't Know , by Sonya Sones Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
• Gossip Girl  (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit
• To Kill a Mockingbird , by Harper Lee Reasons: offensive language, racism

Top 10 for 2010

Out of 348 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• And Tango Makes Three , by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons: homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian , by Sherman Alexie Reasons: offensive language, racism, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
• Brave New World , by Aldous Huxley Reasons: insensitivity, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit
• Crank , by Ellen Hopkins Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit
• The Hunger Games , by Suzanne Collins Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
• Lush , by Natasha Friend Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• What My Mother Doesn't Know , by Sonya Sones Reasons: sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Nickel and Dimed , by Barbara Ehrenreich Reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint
• Revolutionary Voices , edited by Amy Sonnie Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit
• Twilight , by Stephenie Meyer Reasons: religious viewpoint, violence

Top 10 for 2009

Out of 460 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r  (series), by Lauren Myracle Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• And Tango Makes Three,  by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons: homosexuality
• The Perks of Being A Wallflower , by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group
• To Kill A Mockingbird , by Harper Lee Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group
• Twilight  (series) by Stephenie Meyer Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Catcher in the Rye , by J.D. Salinger Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• My Sister's Keeper,  by Jodi Picoult Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
• The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,  by Carolyn Mackler Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Color Purple,  by Alice Walker Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Chocolate War , by Robert Cormier Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

Top 10 for 2008

Out of 513 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• And Tango Makes Three , by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group
• His Dark Materials  trilogy, by Philip Pullman Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, violence
• ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r  (series), by Lauren Myracle Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Scary Stories  (series), by Alvin Schwartz Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, violence
• Bless Me, Ultima , by Rudolfo Anaya Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, violence
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower , by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group
• Gossip Girl  (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Uncle Bobby's Wedding , by Sarah S. Brannen Reasons: homosexuality, unsuited to age group
• The Kite Runner , by Khaled Hosseini Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Flashcards of My Life , by Charise Mericle Harper Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

Top 10 for 2007

Out of 420 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• And Tango Makes Three , by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Reasons:  anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, sexism, unsuited to age group
• The Chocolate War , by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, violence
• Olive's Ocean , by Kevin Henkes Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
• The Golden Compass , by Philip Pullman Reason: religious viewpoint 
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , by Mark Twain Reason: racism
• The Color Purple , by Alice Walker Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit
• ttyl , by Lauren Myracle Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , by Maya Angelou Reason: sexually explicit
• It's Perfectly Normal , by Robie Harris Reasons: sex education, sexually explicit
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower , by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

Top 10 for 2006

Out of 546 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• And Tango Makes Three , by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, unsuited to age group
• Gossip Girls  (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group
• Alice  (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: offensive language and sexually explicit
• The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things , by Carolyn Mackler Reasons: anti-family, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Bluest Eye , by Toni Morrison Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Scary Stories  (series), by Alvin Schwartz Reasons:  insensitivity, occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence
• Athletic Shorts , by Chris Crutcher Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower , by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Beloved , by Toni Morrison Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

Top 10 for 2005

Out of 405 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health , by Robie H. Harris Reasons: abortion, homosexuality, nudity, religious viewpoint, sex education, unsuited to age group
• Forever , by Judy Blume Reasons: offensive language, sexual content
• The Catcher in the Rye , by J. D. Salinger Reasons: sexual content, offensive language, unsuited to age group
• The Chocolate War , by Robert Cormier Reasons: sexual content, offensive language
• Whale Talk , by Chris Crutcher Reasons: racism, offensive language
• Detour for Emmy , by Marilyn Reynolds Reason: sexual content
• What My Mother Doesn't Know , by Sonya Sones Reasons: sexual content, being unsuited to age group
• Captain Underpants  (series), by Dav Pilkey Reasons: anti-family content, unsuited to age group, violence
• Crazy Lady! , by Jane Leslie Conly Reason: offensive language
• It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families , by Robie H. Harris Reasons: sex education, sexual content

Top 10 for 2004

Out of 547 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• The Chocolate War , by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
• Fallen Angels , by Walter Dean Myers Reasons: offensive language, racism, violence
• Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture , by Michael A. Bellesiles Reasons: inaccurate, political viewpoint
• Captain Underpants  (series), by Dav Pilkey Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower , by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit 
• What My Mother Doesn't Know , by Sonya Sones Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, sexually explicit
• In the Night Kitchen , by Maurice Sendak Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit
• King & King , by Linda deHaan Reason: homosexuality
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , by Maya Angelou Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Of Mice and Men , by John Steinbeck Reasons: offensive language, racism, violence

Top 10 for 2003

Out of 458 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• Alice  (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: sexual content, offensive language, unsuited to age group
• Harry Potter  (series), by J.K. Rowling   Reasons: occult/Satanism
• Of Mice and Men , by John Steinbeck   Reason: offensive language
• Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture , by Michael Bellesiles Reason: inaccuracy
• Fallen Angels , by Walter Dean Myers   Reason: drugs, offensive language, racism, sexual content, violence
• Go Ask Alice , by Anonymous   Reason: drugs
• It's Perfectly Normal , by Robie Harris   Reasons: homosexuality, nudity, sexual content, sex education
• We All Fall Down , by Robert Cormier   Reasons: offensive language, sexual content
• King & King , by Linda de Haan   Reason: homosexuality
• Bridge to Terabithia , by Katherine Paterson Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language

Top 10 for 2002

Out of 515 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• Harry Potter , by J.K. Rowling Reasons: occult/Satanism, violence
• Alice  (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• The Chocolate War , by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , by Maya Angelou Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
• Taming the Star Runner , by S.E. Hinton Reason: offensive language
• Captain Underpants , by Dav Pilkey Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , by Mark Twain Reason: offensive language
• Bridge to Terabithia , by Katherine Paterson Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language, violence
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry , by Mildred D. Taylor Reason: offensive language
• Julie of the Wolves , by Jean Craighead George Reasons: unsuited to age group, violence

Top 10 for 2001

Out of 448 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

• Harry Potter , by J.K. Rowling Reasons: anti-family, occult/Satanism, religious viewpoint, violence
• Of Mice and Men , by John Steinbeck Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group, violence
• The Chocolate War , by Robert Cormier Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , by Maya Angelou Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
• Summer of My German Soldier , by Bette Greene Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit
• The Catcher in the Rye , by J.D. Salinger Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group
• Alice  (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
• Go Ask Alice , by Anonymous Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit
• Fallen Angels , by Walter Dean Myers Reason: offensive language
• Blood and Chocolate , by Annette Curtis Klause Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

Background Information from 2000 to 2009

View the 2000-2009 book challenge infographic

From 2000 to 2009, 5,099* challenges were reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom.

• 1,577 challenges due to "sexually explicit" material
• 1,291 challenges due to "offensive language"
• 989 challenges due to materials deemed "unsuited to age group"
• 619 challenged due to "violence"'
• 361 challenges due to "homosexuality"

Further, 274 materials were challenged due to "occult" or "Satanic" themes, an additional 291 were challenged due to their "religious viewpoint," and 119 because they were "anti-family."

Please note that the number of challenges and the number of reasons for those challenges do not match because works are often challenged on more than one ground.

1,639 of these challenges were in school libraries; 1,811 were in classrooms; 1,217 took place in public libraries. There were 114 challenges to materials used in college classes, and 30 to academic libraries. There are isolated cases of challenges to library materials made available in or by prisons, special libraries, community groups, and students.

The vast majority of challenges were initiated by parents (2,535), with patrons and administrators to follow (516 and 489 respectively).

* We receive challenge reports after the Top Ten lists have been published. This number reflects all the challenges we received since July 31, 2013 for the 2000-2009 time period.

Before 1990

OIF has only been collecting data about banned books since 1990, so we do not have any lists of frequently challenged books or authors before that date.

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Book Banning Efforts Surged in 2021. These Titles Were the Most Targeted.

Most of the targeted books are about Black and L.G.B.T.Q. people, according to the American Library Association. The country’s polarized politics has fueled the rise.

By Elizabeth A. Harris and Alexandra Alter

Attempts to ban books in the United States surged in 2021 to the highest level since the American Library Association began tracking book challenges 20 years ago, the organization said Monday.

Most of the targeted books were by or about Black and L.G.B.T.Q. people, the association said.

Book challenges are a perennial issue at school board meetings and libraries. But more recently, efforts fueled by the country’s intensely polarized political environment have been amplified by social media, where lists of books some consider to be inappropriate for children circulate quickly and widely.

Challenges to certain titles have been embraced by some conservative politicians, cast as an issue of parental choice and parental rights. Those who oppose these efforts, however, say that prohibiting the books violates the rights of parents and children who want those titles to be available.

“What we’re seeing right now is an unprecedented campaign to remove books from school libraries but also public libraries that deal with the lives and experience of people from marginalized communities,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the American Library Association’s office for intellectual freedom. “We’re seeing organized groups go to school boards and library boards and demand actual censorship of these books in order to conform to their moral or political views.”

The library association said it counted 729 challenges last year to library, school and university materials, as well as research databases and e-book platforms. Each challenge can contain multiple titles, and the association tracked 1,597 individual books that were either challenged or removed.

The count is based on voluntary reporting by educators and librarians and on media reports, the association said, and is not comprehensive.

Librarians and free speech advocates have also noticed an increase in heavy-handed tactics, including high-profile political pressure against certain books and legal threats against librarians responsible for choosing reading material — and even against the books themselves.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, a Republican, ran a campaign ad featuring a mother who did not want Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” to be a part of her son’s high school curriculum. Another Republican, Henry McMaster, the governor of South Carolina, asked for an investigation into what he called “ obscene and pornographic ” materials in the state’s public schools, specifically mentioning the book “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe, which the library association said was the most frequently challenged book in the country last year.

A county prosecutor’s office in Wyoming considered criminal charges against library employees for stocking books such as “This Book is Gay” and “Sex Is a Funny Word.” A school board member in Flagler County, Fla., filed a complaint with the sheriff’s department against a book called “All Boys Aren’t Blue.”

Law enforcement officials determined there was no basis for a criminal investigation in either instance. But librarians say that just the specter of having to defend against charges, or to withstand such a public spectacle, is likely to have a chilling effect, discouraging library employees from ordering certain books in the first place.

Here are the ten most frequently challenged books of 2021, according to the library association.

1. ‘Gender Queer,’ by Maia Kobabe

In this 2019 illustrated memoir, Kobabe, who is nonbinary, explored questions surrounding sexuality and gender identity and the process of coming out as gender nonconforming. Most objections to the book, which has been pulled from school and public libraries across the country, point to brief references to masturbation and an illustration based on an erotic image of an older man and a boy depicted on a Greek urn. But Kobabe and others note that many of the challenges stem from the memoir’s frank discussion of gender fluidity.

2. ‘ Lawn Boy ,’ by Jonathan Evison

Evison’s 2018 novel follows a young Mexican American man who works as a landscaper and is coming to terms with his sexual identity. While it was written for adults, the novel found an audience with teens and won an Alex Award, a prize given by the Young Adult Library Services Association to books written for adults that hold appeal to young adults. Critics seized on a scene that describes a sexual encounter between two boys.

Evison has said he has received death threats as a result of the campaigns to ban his book.

3. ‘ All Boys Aren’t Blue ,’ by George M. Johnson

Johnson’s memoir earned glowing reviews for its unflinching and at times exuberant look at the challenges and joys of growing up Black and queer. The book, which includes scenes that depict oral and anal sex and sexual assault, has been challenged in school libraries across the country.

4. ‘ Out of Darkness ,’ by Ashley Hope Pérez

Set in 1930s Texas, “Out of Darkness” centers on a romance between a Mexican American teenage girl and a Black teenage boy. The novel has been widely challenged, including by a parent at the Lake Travis Independent School District in Austin who complained about a passage where teenage boys make explicit sexual and racist comments about a Mexican American girl. Perez has argued that her novel deals with racism and sexual abuse because those are issues that young people confront in their own lives.

5. ‘ The Hate U Give ,’ by Angie Thomas

Thomas’s young adult debut novel centers on a Black teenage girl whose friend is shot by a police officer during a traffic stop. A best seller, it helped stir conversations about police violence, but has been challenged across the country for what critics say is profanity, violence and an “anti-police” agenda.

“There’s the assumption that it’s an anti-police book, when the fact is it’s anti-police brutality,” Thomas said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

6. ‘ The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ,’ by Sherman Alexie

Based on the author’s own experience, this young adult book follows a boy on the Spokane Indian Reservation who attends an all-white school where the only other Native American is the school mascot. It won a National Book Award in 2007 in the Young People’s Literature category.

The library association said it has been targeted for banning because of sexual references, profanity and the use of a derogatory term.

7. ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,’ by Jesse Andrews

A novel about an awkward boy named Greg who hopes to make it through high school by keeping a low profile; his friend, Earl; and a girl who has cancer, whom Greg’s mom pushes him to befriend. A New York Times best seller, it was made into a movie written by Andrews and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.

The book has been challenged because it was considered degrading to women and sexually explicit.

8. ‘ The Bluest Eye ,’ by Toni Morrison

Published in 1970, Morrison’s debut novel is considered a canonical work of American fiction. Narrated by a Black girl in Ohio, the book follows a tragic heroine who believes that she is ugly, and prays for blue eyes.

The book has been challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

9. ‘This Book is Gay,’ by Juno Dawson

A nonfiction exploration of growing up as L.G.B.T.Q., this title addresses a variety of issues including sex, politics and stereotypes. The book has been challenged because of its L.G.B.T.Q. material and themes, and for “providing sexual education,” the library association said.

10. ‘Beyond Magenta,’ by Susan Kuklin

This book profiles the lives of six transgender or gender-neutral teenagers, largely in their own words. The book was challenged for its L.G.B.T.Q. content and because it was considered sexually explicit, the association said.

Elizabeth A. Harris writes about books and publishing for The Times.  More about Elizabeth A. Harris

Alexandra Alter writes about publishing and the literary world. Before joining The Times in 2014, she covered books and culture for The Wall Street Journal. Prior to that, she reported on religion, and the occasional hurricane, for The Miami Herald. More about Alexandra Alter