Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an annual event that celebrates the freedom to read. Since 1982, Banned Books Week has brought together the entire book community "in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular." (www.bannedbooksweek.org) The theme for 2024 is "Freed Between the Lines."

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images

2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and profanity and because it was considered to be sexually explicit

3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sex education and LGBTQIA+ content

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sex education and LGBTQIA+ content

5. Flamer by Mike Curato

Reasons: Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit

7/8 (tie). Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women

7/8 (tie). Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Reasons: Challenged because it is claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content

9. Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan

Reasons: Challenged because it is claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content

10. Sold by Patricia McCormick

Reasons: Challenged because it is claimed to be sexually explicit, rape

List compiled by the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Libraries Association.