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Top Ten Most Challenged Books

For more information about the Top Ten Most Challenged Books list and Banned Books Week visit: .

Top Ten Most Challenged Books Social Media Graphics

ALT Text for Top 10 Books of 2021 Infographic

The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021.

Of the 1,597 individual books that were challenged or banned in 2021, here are the top 10 most challenged:

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. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez.

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda.

6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term.

7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women.

8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit.

9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson.

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

10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin.

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

ALT Text for Censorship by the Numbers Infographic

Books unite us. They reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, divides us and creates barriers.

In 2021, 1597 books were affected by censorship attempts. Learn more about ala.org/bbooks.Who initiates challenges? Statistics based on 729 responses..

Patrons: 24%; Parents 39%; Board/administration: 18%; Librarians/teachers: 6%; Political/religious groups: 10%; Elected officials: 2%; Students: 1%.

Where do challenges take place? School libraries: 44%; Public libraries: 37%; Schools: 18%; Academia/Other: 1%.Books and Beyond:

The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges in 2021. Here's the breakdown: Books, graphic novels, and textbooks) 82%;Programs, meeting rooms: 5%;

Displays and exhibits 4%; Films: 2%; Other (includes filtering, access, databases, magazines, online resources, artwork, social media, music, pamphlets, student publications, reading lists): 7%.

Reasons for Challenges: Word cloud: Prominent words are: Sexually Explicit, Critical race theory, Obscene, Woke, LGBTQIA, Indoctrinating kids, Profanity, Pornography, Polarizing, and Pedophilia.

Each word in this graphic is cited from 2021 censorship reports.