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The Most Banned and Challenged Books of the Past 8 Years [Updated]

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Banned books have been a hot topic lately. One of the latest banned books to make headlines was Maus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel created by Art Spiegelman. The novel depicts the author interviewing his father about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. In 2022, a Tennessee school board voted to remove Maus from their eighth-grade curriculum, which caused an uproar among the book’s supporters and opened up a greater conversation about censorship of books.

Ever wonder why so many people try to pull certain books from library and school shelves? The Playground Equipment team compiled a banned books list and reasons why parents believe these books should be removed, from the reasonable to the ridiculous. Check out which books Americans had a problem with in 2020, in the past eight years and beyond, and why.

What Is the Most Banned Book in America?

For all time, the most frequently banned book is 1984 by George Orwell. (How very Orwellian!)

The most banned and challenged book for 2020 was George by Alex Gino.

What Are the Top 10 Banned Books in America of All Time?

Out of the many books that have been banned, many of them are considered to be classics and even incorporated into the required reading for classes.

Here are the top 10 most challenged books of all time:

  1. 1984 by George Orwell
  2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  3. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
  4. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  7. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  8. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
  10. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Which Books Are the Most Banned in the U.S. Today?

There were 273 books challenged or banned during 2020, and George by Alex Gino was the most frequently challenged due to its subject matter, which includes LGBTQIA+ content. The 2021 banned books list is not yet available.

Here is the top 10 list of banned books in the U.S. in 2020:

  1. George by Alex Gino
  2. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
  3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
  4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
  5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
  6. Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
  7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  8. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  9. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  10. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

George, which was also on the list of banned books in 2018 and 2019, tells the story of a young transgender girl named Melissa. While the rest of the world sees her as George, she longs to be seen as Melissa, her true self. While the book has been praised by The New York Times and National Public Radio for its depiction of transgender experiences, it has been challenged every year since 2016. The author has since retitled the book Melissa.

A new addition to the banned books list is Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. This book, published in 2020, is a New York Times best-seller that explores issues related to race, racism, and anti-racism in America. It has been banned and challenged for allegedly including "selective storytelling incidents” and not including instances of racism against all people.

The third most challenged book of 2020 was All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. This is the first year that the book appeared in the list of top 10 most challenged books. It tells the story of two teenage boys as they handle police brutality and racism within their community. The book has been challenged for many reasons, including drug use, profanity, alcoholism, and anti-police sentiments.

Why Are Books Banned?

Usually, it’s the result of parents and community insistence. The most common reasons why books are banned in the U.S. are racial issues, sexual content or education, encouragement of “damaging” lifestyles, violence, presence of witchcraft or paganism, and religious affiliations. Surveys show that between 82% and 97% of book challenges (documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries) receive no media attention, so it is difficult to capture the full scope of the issue. In recent times, if you look at the list of banned books and reasons why they were challenged, you’ll see a pattern of LGBTQ+ themes frequently being attacked.

The most challenged or banned books between 2000-09 were the Harry Potter books, the Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier.

In the 20 years since J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series took the world by storm, it has faced many attempts to limit, ban, and even burn the books. It was the most frequently challenged book series in the U.S. for 1999 and earned the 48th slot on the 1990-1999 banned books list.

When Is Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week takes place during the last week of September.

The ALA Banned Books Week has been during the last week of September since 1982. It is an annual awareness campaign launched by the American Library Association and Amnesty International to celebrate the freedom to read and to stress the importance of ensuring the accessibility of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to anyone who wishes to read them. The goal is to give readers the freedom to develop their own opinions and conclusions as well as learn about the history of banned books in America.

It is important to be aware of banned books and why they are challenged by parents, teachers, libraries, and organizations across the globe!



The Most Challenged Books of 2013-2020

Most Challenged Books of 2020

Total Challenges: 156

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

George

Alex Gino

 

2015

LGBTQIA+ content, religious viewpoint, controversial issues

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds

 

2020

Controversial issues, racial issues

All American Boys

Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

 

2015

Profanity, alcoholism, drug use, anti-police, controversial issues

Speak

Laurie Halse Anderson

 

1999

Political viewpoint, sexual content, profanity

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

 

2007

Sexual content, profanity, author misconduct

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice

Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard

Jennifer Zivoin

2018

Controversial issues, anti-police

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

 

1960

Use of “N” word, racial issues

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

 

1937

Racial issues

The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison

 

1970

Sexual content

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas

 

2017

Profanity, anti-police

Most Challenged Books of 2019

Total Challenges: 377

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

George

Alex Gino

 

2015

Sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content, transgender character, religious viewpoint

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out

Susan Kuklin

 

2014

Sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo

Jill Twiss

EG Keller

2018

LGBTQIA+ content, political viewpoint, corrupts youth

Sex Is a Funny Word

Cory Silverberg

Fiona Smyth

2015

LGBTQIA+ content, gender identity, sex education, unsuited for age group

Prince & Knight

Daniel Haack

Stevie Lewis

2018

LGBTQIA+ content, gender identity, religious viewpoint, corrupts youth

I Am Jazz

Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Shelagh McNicholas

2014

LGBTQIA+ content, transgender character, controversial issues

The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret Atwood

 

1985

Profanity, sexual content

Drama

Raina Telgemeier

 

2012

LGBTQIA+ content, corrupts youth

Harry Potter series

J. K. Rowling

 

1997

Occult, controversial issues

And Tango Makes Three

Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Henry Cole

2005

LGBTQIA+ content

Most Challenged Books of 2018

Total Challenges: 347

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

George

Alex Gino

 

2015

Sexual content, transgender character

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo

Jill Twiss

EG Keller

2018

LGBTQIA+ content, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint

Captain Underpants series

Dav Pilkey

 

1997

Profanity, unsuited for age group, LGBTQIA+ content

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas

 

2017

Profanity, sexual content, drug use, anti-police

Drama

Raina Telgemeier

 

2012

LGBTQIA+ content

Thirteen Reasons Why

Jay Asher

 

2017

Discusses suicide

This One Summer

Mariko Tamaki

Jillian Tamaki

 

Profanity, sexual content

Skippyjon Jones series

Judy Schachner

 

2003

Racism

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

 

2007

Sexual content, profanity, violence, gambling, underage drinking, religious viewpoint

This Day in June

Gayle E. Pitman

Kristyna Litten

2014

LGBTQIA+ content

Most Challenged Books of 2017

Total Challenges: 354

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

Thirteen Reasons Why

Jay Asher

 

2007

Discusses suicide

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

 

2007

Profanity, alcoholism, sexuality, gambling, drugs, anti-family, racial issues

Drama

Raina Telgemeier

 

2012

LGBTQIA+ content, Sexual content

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

 

2003

Sexual content, violence, unsuited to age group, profanity

George

Alex Gino

 

2015

Transgender character

Sex Is a Funny Word

Cory Silverberg

Fiona Smyth

2015

Sexual content

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

 

1960

Violence, profanity, use of “N” word

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas

 

2017

Profanity, sexual content, drug use

And Tango Makes Three

Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Henry Cole

2005

LGBT content, anti-family, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group

I Am Jazz

Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Shelagh McNicholas

2014

Gender identity

Most Challenged Books of 2016

Total Challenges: 323

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

This One Summer

Mariko Tamaki

Jillian Tamaki

2014

LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, sexual content

Drama

Raina Telgemeier

 

2012

LGBTQIA+ content

George

Alex Gino

 

2015

Transgender character

I Am Jazz

Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Shelagh McNicholas

2014

Gender identity

Two Boys Kissing

David Levithan

 

2013

LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, promotes “public displays of affection”

Looking for Alaska

John Green

 

2005

Drugs, alcohol, smoking, unsuited for age group

Big Hard Sex Criminals

Matt Fraction

Chip Zdarsky

2015

Sexual content

Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread

Chuck Palahniuk

 

2015

Profanity, sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content

Little Bill series

Bill Cosby

Varnette P. Honeywood

1997

Author misconduct

Eleanor & Park

Rainbow Rowell

 

2013

Profanity

Most Challenged Books of 2015

Total Challenges: 275

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

Looking for Alaska

John Green

 

2005

Sexual content, profanity

Fifty Shades of Grey

E.L. James

 

2011

Sexual content, poorly written, religious viewpoint, nudity, unsuited for age group

I Am Jazz

Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Shelagh McNicholas

2014

Gender identity, unsuited for age group, sexual content

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out

Susan Kuklin

 

2014

Anti-family, profanity, LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, political viewpoint, unsuited for age group

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark Haddon

 

2003

Profanity, atheism, unsuited for age group

The Holy Bible

 

 

 

Religious viewpoint, promotes Christianity

Fun Home

Alison Bechdel

 

2006

Violence, sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content

Habibi

Craig Thompson

 

2011

Nudity, sexual content, unsuited for age group

Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan

Jeanette Winter

 

2009

Religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, violence, promotes Islam

Two Boys Kissing

David Levithan

 

2013

LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, promotes public displays of affection

Most Challenged Books of 2014

Total Challenges: 311

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

 

2007

Profanity, alcoholism, sexuality, gambling, drugs, anti-family, racial issues

Persepolis

Marjane Satrapi

 

2000

Gambling, profanity, political viewpoint, depiction of torture

And Tango Makes Three

Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Henry Cole

2005

LGBTQIA+ content, anti-family, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group

The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison

 

1970

Sexual content, unsuited for age group, controversial issues

It’s Perfectly Normal

Robie Harris

 

1994

Nudity, sexual content, unsuited to age group, sexual education

Saga

Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples

 

2012

Anti-family, nudity, profanity, sexual content, unsuited for age group

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

 

2012

Anti-family, nudity, profanity, sexual content, unsuited for age group

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

 

1999

LGBTQIA+ content, drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual content, unsuited for age group

A Stolen Life

Jaycee Dugard

 

2011

Drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual content, unsuited for age group, profanity

Drama

Raina Telgemeier

 

2012

LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content

Most Challenged Books of 2013

Total Challenges: 307

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

Captain Underpants

Dav Pilkey

 

1997

Profanity, unsuited for age group, violence

The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison

 

1970

Sexual content, unsuited for age group, controversial issues

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

 

2007

Profanity, alcoholism, sexuality, gambling, drugs, anti-family, racial issues

Fifty Shades of Grey

E.L. James

 

2011

Sexual content, poorly written, religious viewpoint, nudity, unsuited for age group

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

 

2012

Anti-family, racial issues, occult, violence, religious viewpoint, sexual content

A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl

Tanya Lee Stone

 

2006

Drugs, alcohol, nudity, profanity, sexual content

Looking for Alaska

John Green

 

2005

Sexual content, drugs, alcohol, smoking, unsuited for age group

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

 

1999

LGBTQIA+ content, drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual content, unsuited for age group

Bless Me Ultima

Rudolfo Anaya

 

1972

Occult, profanity, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit

Bone

Jeff Smith

 

1991

Political viewpoint, racism, violence

The 10 Most Challenged and Banned Classics of All Time

Book Title

Author

Illustrator

Published

Reason(s)

1984

George Orwell

 

1949

Pro-communist, sexual content

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain

 

1884

Racism

The Catcher in the Rye

J. D. Salinger

 

1951

Profanity, unsuited for age group

The Color Purple

Alice Walker

 

1982

Profanity, sexual content, unsuited for age group, racial issues

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

1925

Drugs, sexual content, profanity

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

 

1969

Sexual content, racial issues

Lord of the Flies

William Golding

 

1954

Profanity, sexual content, racism, violence

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

 

1937

Profanity, racism, violence

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ken Kesey

 

1975

Violence, sexual content, corrupts youth, profanity

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

 

1960

Profanity, racism, racial issues

 

The Importance of a Well-Rounded Education in Schools

Schools play an important part in both the formal and informal education of children, from the classroom to the playground. This includes interpersonal skills and compassion in addition to math and science. Teaching kids about different creeds, cultures, and challenges helps make them more open-minded as well as empathetic to people in their communities. Whether children are learning from a desk or a swing set, it’s important that we acknowledge and embrace the things that make us unique.

Edited by: Ben Thompson