We are just wrapping up Banned Books Week, which celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. In the words of Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, "For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Every year, ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from reports filed by library professionals and community members and from news stories published throughout the United States."
These were the most challenged books of 2022
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe Number of challenges: 151 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson Number of challenges: 86 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Number of challenges: 73 Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, claimed to be sexually explicit
Flamer by Mike Curato Number of challenges: 62 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green Number of challenges: 55 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (tie) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Number of challenges: 55 Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Number of challenges: 54 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Number of challenges: 52 Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Number of challenges: 50
10. (tie) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Number of challenges: 48 Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins Number of challenges: 48 Challenged for: drug use, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Number of challenges: 48 Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (tie) This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson Number of challenges 48 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit
These were the most challenged books of 2022
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Number of challenges: 151
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
Number of challenges: 86
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Number of challenges: 73
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, claimed to be sexually explicit
Flamer by Mike Curato
Number of challenges: 62
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green
Number of challenges: 55
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (tie) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Number of challenges: 55
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Number of challenges: 54
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Number of challenges: 52
Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
9. Out of Darkness
by Ashley Hope Perez
Number of challenges: 50
10. (tie) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Number of challenges: 48
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Number of challenges: 48
Challenged for: drug use, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Number of challenges: 48
Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (tie) This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson
Number of challenges 48
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit
You can find more information about book challenges here https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/b...