This presentation includes the most banned and censored books in the United States between 2000 - 2020 as documented by the American Library Association's finding, and the reasons given by those who challenged these books.

1. THE 100 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS
of 2000 – 2020
from the American Library Association
Compiled by Warren J. Blumenfeld

3. REASONS BOOKS MAY BE
CHALLENGED OR BANNED
1. Children questioning authority of
parents and other authority figures
2. Profanity
3. Characters speaking in non-
Standard English
4. African American literature and
dialect

4. 5. Portrayals of women (Some groups
object to portrayals of women in
traditional roles and others to
portrayals of women in
nontraditional roles.)
6. Mythology
7. Non-Christian culture
8. Supernatural, occult, witchcraft,
Halloween
9. Ethnic studies
10. Violence

5. 11. Sexual acts, sexually explicit
language
12. Invasions of privacy, asking
readers to examine personal
backgrounds
13. Abundance of cartoons
14. Works by or about homosexuals
15. Works that do not champion the
work ethic
16. Books that do not promote
patriotism

6. 17. Negative statements about parents,
authority, or U.S. traditions
18. Science fiction and fantasy
19. Works by “questionable” authors:
Langston Hughes, Malcolm X,
Ogden Nash
20. “Trash”: The Catcher in the Rye, Go
Ask Alice, Flowers for Algernon
21. Nontraditional family units
22. Books promoting self-awareness,
self-understanding

7. 23. Books promoting critical thinking
24. Works unfavorable to African
Americans
25. Use of masculine pronouns to refer
to male and female.
From Jenkinson, Edward B. (1985). “Protecting Holden
Caulfield and His Friends from the Censors.”
English Journal, 74(1), 26-33.

8. Most Challenged Reasons: 2000 - 2009
 5,099 challenges reported to Office for
Intellectual Freedom
 1,577 "sexually explicit" material
 1,291 "offensive language"
 989 "unsuited to age group"
 619 "violence"
 361 "homosexuality"
 274 "occult" or "Satanic"
 291 "religious viewpoint"
 119 "anti-family"

9. THE 100 MOST
CHALLENGED BOOKS
OF 2000 - 2009

10.  100: America: A Novel, by E. R. Frank
 99: Are Your There, God? It’s Me
Margaret, by Judy Blume
 98: I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
 97: The House of the Spirits, by
Isabel Allande
 96: Grendel, by John Gardner
 95: Shade’s Chirdren, by Garth Nix
 94: Goosebumps (series) by R. L.
Stine

11.  93: Bumps in the Night, by Harry
Allard
 92: The Boy Who Lost His Face, by
Louis Sachar
 91: Julie of the Wolves, by Jean
Craighead George
 90: A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline
L’Engle
 89: Friday Night Lights, by H. G.
Bissenger
 88: The Handmaid’s Tale, by
Margaret Atwood

12.  87: Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
 86: Cut, by Patricia McCormick
 85: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by
Chris Crutcher
 84: So Far from the Bamboo Grove,
by Yoko Watkins
 83: Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn
Reynolds
 82: Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
 81: Black Boy, by Richard Wright

13.  80: A Day No Pigs Would Die, by
Robert Newton Peck
 79: The Upstairs Room, by Johanna
Reiss
 78: The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr.
Charles Silberstein
 77: Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin
Lebert
 76: A Prayer for Owen Meany, by
John Irving
 75: Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
 74: The Lovely Bones, by Alice
Sebold

14.  73: What’s Happening to My Body
Book, by Lynda Madaras
 72: Song of Solomon, by Toni
Morrison
 71: Junie B. Jones (series), by
Barbara Park
 70: Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
 69: Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
 68: Always Running, by Luis
Radriguez
 67: A Time to Kill, by John Grisham

15.  66: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by
Mildred Taylor
 65: The Things They Carried, by Tim
O’Brien
 64: Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara
Park
 63: The Terrorist, by Caroline B.
Cooney
 62: The Stupids (series), by Harry
Allard
 61: Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
 60: Spark, by Laurie Halse Anderson

16.  59: Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
 58: Fat Kid Rules the World, by K. L.
Going
 57: Blood and Chocolate, by Annette
Curtis Klause
 56: When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius
Lester
 55: Summer of My German Soldier,
by Bette Green
 54: The Facts Speak for Themselves,
by Brock Cole
 53: You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco

17.  52: The Great Gilly Hopkins, by
Katherine Paterson
 51: Daughters of Eve, by Lois
Duncan
 50: The Kite Runner, by Khaled
Hosseini
 49: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest, by Ken Kesey
 48: Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
 47: The Adventures of Super Diaper
Baby, by George Beard

18.  46: Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt
Vonnegut
 45: Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
 44: Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
 43: Blubber, by Judy Blume
 42: The Fighting Ground, by Avi
 41: Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
 40: Life Is Funny, by E. R. Frank
 39: Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
 38: Arming America, by Michael
Bellasiles

19.  37: It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
 36: Brave New World, by Aldous
Huxley
 35: Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal
Snogging, by Louise Rennison
 34: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big,
Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
 33: Snow Falling on Cedars, by David
Guterson
 32: Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo
Anaya

20.  31: What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by
Sonia Sones
 30: We All Fall Down, by Robert
Cormier
 29: The Face on the Milk Carton, by
Caroline B. Cooney
 28: Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine
Paterson
 27: My Brother Sam Is Dead, by
James Lincoln Collier
 26: Beloved, by Toni Morrison
 25: Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan

21.  24: In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice
Sendak
 23: The Giver, by Lois Lowry
 22: Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily
von Ziegesar
 21: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper
Lee
 20: King and King, by Linda de Haan
 19: Catcher in the Rye, by J. D.
Salinger
 18: Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

22.  17: The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
 16: Forever, by Judy Blume
 15: The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
 14: The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn, by Mark Twain
 13: Captain Underpants (series), by
Dav Pilkey
 12: It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie
Harris
 11: Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean
Myers

23.  10: The Perks of Being a Wallflower,
by Stephen Chbosky
 9: ttyl; ttfn; 18r g8r (series), by
Lauren Myracle
 8: His Dark Materials (series), by
Philip Pullman
 7: Scary Stories (series), by Alvin
Schwartz
 6: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,
by Maya Angelou

24.  5: Of Mice and Men, by John
Steinbeck
 4: And Tango Makes Three, by Justin
Richardson & Peter Parnell
 3: The Chocolate War, by Robert
Cormier
 2: Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds
Naylor
 1: Harry Potter (series), by J. K.
Rowling

25. 2010: Top Ten
 10: Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious viewpoint and violence
 9: Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy
Sonnie,
Reasons: homosexuality and sexually explicit
 8: Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara
Ehrenreich,
Reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language,
political viewpoint, and religious viewpoint

26.  7: What My Mother Doesn't Know, by
Sonya Sones,
Reasons: sexism, sexually explicit, and unsuited to
age group
 6: Lush, by Natasha Friend,
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually
explicit, and unsuited to age group
 5: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins,
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group,
and violence
 4: Crank, by Ellen Hopkins,
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, and sexually
explicit

27.  3: Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity, offensive language,
racism, and sexually explicit
 2: The Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language, racism, sex
education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age
group, and violence
 1: And Tango Makes Three, by Peter
Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality, religious viewpoint,
and unsuited to age group

28. 2011: Top Ten
 10: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee,
Reasons: offensive language; racism
 9: Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von
Ziegesar,
Reasons: drugs; offensive language; sexually
explicit
 8: What My Mother Doesn't Know, by
Sonya Sones, Reasons: nudity; offensive
language; sexually explicit
 7: Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious
viewpoint; sexually explicit

29.  6: Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds
Naylor,
Reasons: nudity; offensive language; religious
viewpoint
 5: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-
Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie,
Reasons: offensive language; racism; religious
viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
 4: My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's
Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy,
by Dori Hillestad Butler,
Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit;
unsuited to age group

30.  3: The Hunger Games trilogy, by
Suzanne Collins,
Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity;
offensive language; occult/satanic; violence
 2: The Color of Earth (series), by Kim
Dong Hwa,
Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually
explicit; unsuited to age group
 1: ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren
Myracle,
Reasons: offensive language; religious
viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age
group

31. 2012: Top Ten
 10: Beloved, by Toni Morrison,
Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint,
violence
 9: The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls,
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
 8: Scary Stories (series), by Alvin
Schwartz
Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
 7: Looking for Alaska, by John Green,
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit,
unsuited for age group

32.  6: The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini:
Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language,
religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
 5: And Tango Makes Three, by Peter
Parnell and Justin Richardson:
Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
 4: Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James:
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
 3: Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually
explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group

33.  2: The Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie,
Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually
explicit, unsuited for age group
 1: Captain Underpants (series), by
Dav Pilkey,
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age
group

34. 2013: Top Ten
 10. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint,
violence
 9. The Glass Castle by Jeanette
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
 8. Scary Stories (series) by Alvin
Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
 7. Looking for Alaska by John
GreenMiles
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit,
unsuited for age group

35.  6. The Kite Runner by Khaled
Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language,
religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
 5. And Tango Makes Three by Peter
Parnell and Justin
Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
 4. Fifty Shades of Grey by EL
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
 3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit,
suicide, unsuited for age group

36.  2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-
Time Indian by Sherman
Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually
explicit, unsuited for age group
 1. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Reasons for challenges: Offensive language,
unsuited for age group

37. 2014: Top Ten
 10) Drama, by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: sexually explicit
 9) A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive
language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age
group
 8) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by
Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality,
offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for
age group. Additional reasons: “date rape and
masturbation”

38.  7) The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited to age
group, violence.
 6) Saga, by Brian Vaughan and Fiona
Staples
Reasons: Anti-Family, nudity, offensive language,
sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.
 5) It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit,
unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges
it child pornography”

39.  4) The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited for age group.
Additional reasons: “contains controversial issues”
 3) And Tango Makes Three, Justin
Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political
viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age
group. Additional reasons: “promotes the
homosexual agenda”

40.  2) Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi
Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political
viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially,
and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions”
 1) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-
Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity,
drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive
language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited
for age group, violence. Additional reasons:
“depictions of bullying”

41. 2015: Top Ten
 10) Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan
Reasons: Homosexuality and other (“condones
public displays of affection”).
 9) Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story
from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter
Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age
group, and violence.
 8) Habibi, by Craig Thompson
Reasons: Nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited
for age group.

42.  7) Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel
Reasons: Violence and other (“graphic images”).
 6) The Holy Bible
Reasons: Religious viewpoint.
 5) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
Reasons: Offensive language, religious
viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other
(“profanity and atheism”).

43.  4) Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens
Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: Anti-family, offensive language,
homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint,
religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and
other (“wants to remove from collection to ward
off complaints”).
 3) I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz
Jennings
Reasons: Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex
education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for
age group.

44.  2) Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James
Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited to age
group, and other (“poorly written,” “concerns that
a group of teenagers will want to try it”).
 1) Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit,
and unsuited for age group.

45. 2016: Top Ten
 10) Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow
Rowell
One of seven New York Times Notable
Children’s Books and a Printz Honor
recipient, this young adult novel was
challenged for offensive language.
 9) Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby
and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
This children’s book series was challenged
because of criminal sexual allegations
against the author.

46.  8) Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t
Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk
This collection of adult short stories, which
received positive reviews from Newsweek and
the New York Times, was challenged for
profanity, sexual explicitness, and being
“disgusting and all around offensive.”
 7) Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt
Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
Considered to be sexually explicit by library staff
and administrators, this compilation of adult
comic books by two prolific award-winning artists
was banned and challenged.

47.  6) Looking for Alaska written by John Green
This 2006 Printz Award winner is a young adult
novel that was challenged and restricted for a
sexually explicit scene that may lead a student
to “sexual experimentation.”
 5) Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan
Included on the National Book Award longlist
and designated a Stonewall Honor Book, this
young adult novel was challenged because its
cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it
was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT
content.

48.  4) I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz
Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
This children’s picture book memoir was
challenged and removed because it portrays a
transgender child and because of language, sex
education, and offensive viewpoints.
 3) George written by Alex Gino
Despite winning a Stonewall Award and a
Lambda Literary Award, administrators removed
this children’s novel because it includes a
transgender child, and the “sexuality was not
appropriate at elementary levels.”

49.  2) Drama written and illustrated by Raina
Telgemeier
Parents, librarians, and administrators banned this
Stonewall Honor Award-winning graphic novel for
young adults because it includes LGBT characters,
was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to
have an offensive political viewpoint.
 1) This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki
and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
This young adult graphic novel, winner of both a
Printz and a Caldecott Honor Award, was restricted,
relocated, and banned because it includes LGBT
characters, drug use, and profanity, and it was
considered sexually explicit with mature themes.

50. 2017: Top Ten
 10) I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz
Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
This autobiographical picture book co-written by the
13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it
addresses gender identity.
 9) And Tango Makes Three written by Peter
Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by
Henry Cole
Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most
Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book,
published in 2005, was challenged and labeled
because it features a same-sex relationship.

51.  8) The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas
Despite winning multiple awards and being the
most searched-for book on Goodreads during its
debut year, this YA novel was challenged and
banned in school libraries and curriculums
because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and
because of drug use, profanity, and offensive
language.
 7) To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an
American classic, was challenged and banned
because of violence and its use of the N-word.

52.  6) Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory
Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth
This 2015 informational children’s book written by a
certified sex educator was challenged because it
addresses sex education and is believed to lead
children to “want to have sex or ask questions about
sex.”
 5) George written by Alex Gino
Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda
Literary Award winner was challenged and banned
because it includes a transgender child.

53.  4) The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini
This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was
challenged and banned because it includes sexual
violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and
“promote Islam.”
 3) Drama written and illustrated by Raina
Telgemeier
This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic
novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged
and banned in school libraries because it includes
LGBT characters and was considered “confusing.”

54.  2) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time
Indian written by Sherman Alexie
Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007
for acknowledging issues such as poverty,
alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award
winner was challenged in school curriculums
because of profanity and situations that were
deemed sexually explicit.
 1) Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher
Originally published in 2007, this New York Times
bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book
after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name.
This YA novel was challenged and banned in
multiple school districts because it discusses suicide.

55. 2018: Top Eleven
 11) Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Reason: challenged and burned for including
LGBTQIA+ content
 10) This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman,
illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Reason: challenged and burned for including
LGBTQIA+ content
 9) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time
Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual
references, profanity, violence, gambling, and
underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint

56.  8) Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated
by Judy Schachner
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of
Mexican culture
 7) This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki,
illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity,
sexual references, and certain illustrations
 6) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for
addressing teen suicide
 5) Drama written and illustrated by Raina
Telgemeier
Reasons: banned and challenged for including
LGBTQIA+ characters and themes

57.  4) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was
deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and
sexual references
 3) Captain Underpants series written and
illustrated by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: series was challenged because it was
perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir
Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-
sex couple

58.  2) A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill
Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: banned and challenged for including
LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious
viewpoints
 1) George by Alex Gino
Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated
because it was believed to encourage children to
clear browser history and change their bodies using
hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,”
describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and
including a transgender character

59.  10) And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell
and Justin Richardson illustrated by Henry
Cole
Reason: challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+
content
 9) Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Reasons: banned and forbidden from discussion
for referring to magic and witchcraft, for
containing actual curses and spells, and for
characters that use “nefarious means” to attain
goals
2019: Top Ten

60.  8) Drama written and illustrated by Raina
Telgemeier
Reasons: challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and
for concerns that it goes against “family
values/morals”
 7) The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity
and for “vulgarity and sexual overtones”
 6) I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz
Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
Reasons: challenged and relocated for
LGBTQIA+ content, for a transgender character,
and for confronting a topic that is “sensitive,
controversial, and politically charged”

61.  5) Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack,
illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Reasons: challenged and restricted for featuring
a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content; for being
“a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young
children” with the potential to cause confusion,
curiosity, and gender dysphoria; and for
conflicting with a religious viewpoint
 4) Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg,
illustrated by Fiona Smyth
Reasons: challenged, banned, and relocated for
LGBTQIA+ content; for discussing gender
identity and sex education; and for concerns that
the title and illustrations were “inappropriate”

62.  3) A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill
Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: challenged and vandalized for
LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints, for
concerns that it is “designed to pollute the morals
of its readers,” and for not including a content
warning
 2) Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens
Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for
“its effect on any young people who would read
it,” and for concerns that it was sexually explicit
and biased

63.  1) Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens
Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for
“its effect on any young people who would read
it,” and for concerns that it was sexually explicit
and biased

64. 2020: Top Ten
 10) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was
thought to promote an anti-police message
 9) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it
was considered sexually explicit and depicts child
sexual abuse
 8) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs
and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect
on students

65.  7) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs
and their negative effect on students, featuring a
“white savior” character, and its perception of the
Black experience
 6) Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s
Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne
Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard,
illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” and
because it was thought to promote anti-police views
 5) he Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time
Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity,
sexual references, and allegations of sexual
misconduct by the author

66.  4) Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted
because it was thought to contain a political
viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against
male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape
and profanity
 3) All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and
Brendan Kiely
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity,
drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was
thought to promote anti-police views, contain
divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive
matter right now”

67.  2) Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by
Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of
author’s public statements, and because of claims
that the book contains “selective storytelling
incidents” and does not encompass racism against
all people
 1) George by Alex Gino
Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for
LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious
viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our
community”