Follow up to the post about “banned” books:
For all my book banning needs my first stop is the American Library Association (ALA) website. To my mind they are at the forefront of protecting the First Amendment rights of Americans by defending writers and publishers from having their books removed from circulation.
Furthermore librarians are veddy good at keeping records and churning out statistics.
Every year the ALA publishes a list of the books that have had their appropriateness publicly questioned. Here is the most recent list currently available.
Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021
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.
Fortunately for us, the ALA is unparalleled in record-keeping book challeges. Unfortunately, perhaps one day perhaps their excellence will one day extend to their accessibility. There’s a wealth of great info on their site about book banning attempts, proposed legislation, Banned Books Week, and other goodies. Good luck finding it!😅
Tweet The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information. Every year, the Office for Intell
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