ALA documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023—a 65% surge over 2022 numbers—as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources. Pressure groups focused on public libraries in addition to targeting school libraries. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023.Of the record 4,240 unique titles targeted for censorship, the most challenged and reasons cited for censoring the books are listed below.
1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit (available at SKYCTC Library)
2. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit (available at SKYCTC Library)
3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit (available at SKYCTC Library)
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity (available at SKYCTC Library)
5. Flamer by Mike Curato
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit (available at SKYCTC Library)
6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content (available at SKYCTC Library)
7/8. (tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity (available at SKYCTC Library)
7/8. (tie) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content
(Available soon at SKYCTC Library)
9. Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content
(Available soon at SKYCTC Library)
10. Sold by Patricia McCormick
Reasons: claimed to be sexually explicit, rape
(Available soon at SKYCTC Library)
The Most Challenged Books of 2024 list will be announced in early April 2025. Check out the Top 10 Most Challenged Books Archive for lists and data going back to 2001, as well as the 100 most challenged books of past decades.
The 2025 edition of Banned Books Week will take place October 5 – 11, 2025.
Banned Books Week 2024 will be held September 22-28.
The theme of this year’s event is "Freed Between the Lines.”
We find ourselves, each other, and freedom in reading. The right to read is a shared value that we can all celebrate, but book bans threaten our rights and freedoms. Let’s stand together to champion our right to read and libraries and be
Freed Between the Lines!
Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association, www.ala.org
