What is a Banned Book?
Top 10 Most Banned and Challenged Books of 2021
Gender Queer: a Memoir by ISBN: 9781549304002Publication Date: 2019
Banned, challenged, and restricted for LBGTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images.
Lawn Boy by ISBN: 9781616209230Publication Date: 2019
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
All Boys Aren't Blue by ISBN: 9780374312718Publication Date: 2020
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
Out of Darkness by ISBN: 9781467761796Publication Date: 2015
Banned, challenged and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote and anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Call Number: PS3551.L35774A27 2009ISBN: 9780316013697Publication Date: 2009
Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by ISBN: 9781419719608Publication Date: 2012
Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women
Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit
This Book Is Gay by ISBN: 9781728254326Publication Date: 2021
Banned, challenged, relocated and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
Welcome
Welcome to UHV's guide to Banned Books! Have you ever wondered why and how books get challenged and banned? This guide will help you understand the whole process. The tabs above will guide you to learn more about book censorship and our right to read what we want. This is not a comprehensive list of all Banned Books, but instead highlights specific titles, If you are looking for a specific title not listed, please search for it in our Catalog.
Web Resources for Banned & Challenged Books
Web Resources for Challenged and Banned Books
- American Library Association: Banned & Challenged BooksALA actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession, and a basic right in our democratic society. A publicly supported library provides free, equitable, and confidential access to information for all people of its community.
- Banned Books WeekBanned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
- Intellectual Freedom: Issues and ResourcesALA actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession, and a basic right in our democratic society. A publicly supported library provides free, equitable, and confidential access to information for all people of its community.
- Kids Right to Read ProjectThe Kids’ Right to Read Project (KRRP) is a signature part of NCAC’s Youth Free Expression Program. KRRP offers support, education, and direct advocacy to people facing book challenges or bans in schools and libraries and engages local activists in promoting the freedom to read. It was co-founded with the American Booksellers for Free Expression and is supported in part by the American Booksellers for Free Expression and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
- NCTE: Rationales for Teaching Challenged BooksRich resource section included table of contents of NCTE’s Rationales for Commonly Challenged Books CD-ROM, an alphabetical list of other rationales on file, the SLATE Starter Sheet on “How to Write a Rationale,” and sample rationales for Bridge to Terabithia and The Color Purple.
- NCTE: Student's Right to ReadThe Students’ Right to Read provides resources that can be used to help discuss and ensure students’ free access to all texts. The genesis of the Students’ Right to Read was an original Council statement, “Request for Reconsideration of a Work,” prepared by the Committee on the Right to Read of the National Council of Teachers of English and revised by Ken Donelson. The current Students’ Right to Read statement represents an updated second edition that builds on the work of Council members dedicated to ensuring students the freedom to choose to read any text and opposing “efforts of individuals or groups to limit the freedom of choice of others.” Supported through references from text challenges and links to resources, this statement discusses the history and dangers of text censorship which highlight the breadth and significance of the Students’ Right to Read. The statement then culminates in processes that can be followed with different stakeholders when students’ reading rights are infringed.
ALA Banned Books Lists
Want to see what books have been banned?
Check out these American Library Association lists to see the top 100 books by decade that have been banned and challenged over time!
