"Catcher in the Rye", "Where the Wild Things Are", and "To Kill a Mockingbird" all have one thing in common. They were banned. Extraordinary as that may sound, the list is not limited to these three classics. Banned Books Week brings together readers of all types — authors, librarians, booksellers, publishers, teachers, and others — to celebrate the freedom to read, uncensored. According to the American Library Association, more than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982.
The institutions that have been most likely to challenge books since 1990 are schools, school libraries, and public libraries, and the most common person to initiate a book challenge is a parent, according to banned book statistics from the American Library Association. Most common reasons for challenging books include sexually explicit material, offensive language, unsuitability for an age group and violence, though many of the books that have been banned or challenged are considered American classics. According to the Office of Intellectual Freedom, more than 438 book challenges were reported in 2018. Challenges are considered an attempt to remove or restrict access to books, and bans reflect actual removal of books.
All the books on this list have been banned indefinitely, banned and brought back, or challenged but should be read. Whether they're classics, books that have helped shape American culture or even a modern read that's kept kids, tweens, and teens interested in reading, we encourage you to check out the choices on this banned books list.
Banned books in the U.S.
"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Although the dystopian novel came out in 1985, it recently surged in popularity due to the recent political climate in the United States and television show echoing the story's plot of oppressed women in a patriarchal society and the loss of female agency. Last year, a Kansas school district pulled and then restored the book, its graphic novel adaptation and the sequel from its reading list.
"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas' debut novel about a Black teenager who witnesses police violence against her friend became a bestseller for its theme of racial justice. However, it is challenged for its profaniity and being though to promote an anti-police message.
"I am Jazz" by Jazz Jennings
In 2017, "I am Jazz," an autobiographical picture book by transgender teenager Jazz Jennings, became one of the most challenged and banned books. The book chronicles her early years and was challenged by parents in Wisconsin for talking about sex education, featuring LGBTQ+ content and having what they claimed were offensive viewpoints.
"Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
As one of the most poignant books that gives an up-close look into one of the darkest times in history, Anne Frank's diary has been challenged multiple times in states like Virginia and Michigan due to the sexually explicit language. For the record, that's referring to Anne's curiousity about her changing body.
"George" by Alex Gino
This touching children's novel, written by Alex Gino, is about the journey of a young girl realizing she is transgender but the rest of the world stills sees her as a boy named George. This book has been both challenged and banned for its LGBTQ+ content and conflicting with religious views.
"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak
Although parents today may not see the problem with this classic, imaginative children's book that many grew up reading, at the time it was published in 1963, many parents and librarians challenged this book due to what they called the dark and disturbing nature of the story.
