September 18-24 2022 is Banned Books Week. Books unite us. Books encourage boundless exploration and allow readers to spread their wings. Stories give flight to new ideas and perspectives. Reading—especially books that set us free—expands our worldview. Censorship, on the other hand, locks away our freedom and divides us from humanity in our own cages. The American Library Association tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. 1,597 individual books were challenged or banned in 2021.
Top 10 Banned Books of 2021
- Gender Queer By Maia Kobabe
Banned, challenged, and restricted fo rLGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images - Lawn Boy By Jonathan Evison
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. - All Boys Aren’t Blue By George M. Johnson
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - Out of Darkness By Ashley Hope Perez
Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit - The Hate U Give By Angie Thomas
Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and 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
Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term. - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl By Jesse Andrews
Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women. - The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison
Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit. - This Book is Gay By Juno Dawson
Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and
LGBTQIA+ content. - Beyond Magenta By Susan Kuklin
Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
Who Challenges Books?
18% Board/administration
10% Political/religious groups
6% Librarians/teachers
2% Elected officials
1% Students
Where Do Challenges Take Place?
44% School libraries
37% Public libraries
18% Schools
1% Academic/Other
Why Are Books Challenged?
According to the American Libraries Association Office of Intellectual Freedom, the top three reasons for challenging books are:
- Sexually Explicit
- Offensive Language
- Unsuited to Any Age Group
Did You Know?
Did you know that a major promulgator of unreported banned books are prisons?
For more on this issue:
Literature Locked Up: How Prison Book Restriction Policies Constitute the Nation’s Largest Book Ban
Censorship and Banned Book Lists in Correctional Facilities
Censorship in Prisons and Jails: A War on the Written Word
The Cruel Practice of Banning Books Behind Bars
The Marshall Project: Banning Books in Prison
Submit a Virtual Readout Video
Your words have power. Stand up to censorship and declare your literary freedoms by reading from a banned book or discussing censorship issues on camera. Readers can post a video of themselves reading from a banned book or talking about censorship. Videos may be featured on the Banned Books Week YouTube channel. Use the Virtual Readout Form to submit your video.