Censorship attempts took center stage again in the 2024 report. The number of unique titles targeted for censorship surged by 65% from 2022 to 2023, reaching the highest levels ever documented by ALA, according to the report.
ALA recorded 1,247 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities in 2023. Of the 4,240 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2023, here are the top 10 most frequently challenged:
1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity
5. Flamer by Mike Curato
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI (equity, diversity, inclusion) content
TIE 7. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content
TIE 8. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
9. Let's Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content
10. Sold by Patricia McCormick
Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, rape
LIst and reasons banned compiled from the American Library Association
pub. 2017 [2017-18, 2020-21]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
Reasons Banned:
pub. 2007 [201-14, 2017-18, 2021]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
Reasons Banned:
pub. 1970 [2006, 2013-2014, 2020-21; still banned]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
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pub. 2014 [2015, 2019, 2021; still banned]
Reasons Banned:
pub. 1960 [2009, 2011, 2017, 2020; still banned]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
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pub. 1937 [2001, 2003-04, 2020; still banned]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
Reasons Banned:
pub. [2015-16, 2018; still banned]
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pub. 2007 [2012, 2017-18; still banned]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
Reasons Banned:
pub. 2014 [2016, 2018]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
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pub. 2005 [2012-13, 2015-16; still banned]
Read from Syracuse University Libraries
Reasons Banned:
pub. 2019 [2021; still banned]
Reasons Banned:
pub. 2018 [2021; still banned]
Reasons Banned:
List and reasons banned compiled from the American Library Association
Previously published as George until April 2022 [On ALA’s Top 10 List 2016-21]
Melissa, previously published as George until April 2022, is a children's novel about a young transgender girl written by American author Alex Gino.
Reasons Banned:
pub. 2015 [2017, 2019, 2021; still banned]
Reasons Banned:
pub. 2018 [2020-21; still banned]
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pub. 2020 [2020; still banned]
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pub. 2005 [2006-10, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019; still banned]
Reasons Banned:
pub. 2012 [2014, 2016-19; still banned]
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pub. 2018 [2018-19; still banned]
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pub. 2013 [2018; still banned]
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pub. 2014 [2015-17, 2019]
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pub. 1997-2015 [2002, 2004-05, 2012-13, 2018, 2021]
Reasons Banned:
(Source: American Library Association, 2011)