Apr 08, 2019 the organization uses information from the media as well as book challenge reports to create its annual list of the most challenged books. The great gilly hopkins, a newbery honor book by katherine paterson, was one of the 100 most frequently challenged books of the 1990s and 2000s. The most frequently challenged books of 2017 mpr news. Judy blume is the author featured most frequently on this list 5 times. These are the most challenged books, according to the a. Banned or challenged books, grades 58 teachervision. In 2016, for example, an election year defined by political debates over bathroom bills, immigration and race, several of the most frequently challenged titles shared themes of gender, religious. It is an extremely detailed book that covers a wide.
The statistic illustrates the most frequently challenged book titles in the united states between january 1, 20 and august 6, 2014. Included in the report is alas annual top 10 list of the most challenged books in libraries from the past year. Aug 14, 2014 the chart below plots the top five most common reasons the giver was challenged in red. They found that of the 100 most frequently challenged books from 2000 to 2009, more than half addressed issues about race, sexuality andor disability. The book hit shelves in september of 1998, and it became the most frequently challenged book of 1999. The 35 most frequently banned books of the past 5 years. List of most commonly challenged books in the united states. It was and may still be illegal to sell or possess the anarchists cookbook in washington state. Rowlings harry potter series took the world by storm, it has faced many attempts to limit, ban, and even burn the books. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the top 10 most challenged books are. As a classic and a challenged book, ray bradburys fahrenheit 451 made the list for the most frequently challenged books from 20002009.
The american library association said the book, which has appeared on the list for four years running, is frequently challenged as being antifamily, culturally insensitive and sexually explicit. Among the 10 titles that parents and other gatekeepers challenged or banned are comingofage graphic novel this one summer and drama, an illustrated story with an lgbtq character. Check out the list for 2018 below, with an explanation of. The most frequently challenged, banned, and relocated books. Leaving controversial titles such as these out of your collection or limiting their access is not the answer to challenges. Banned and challenged picture books edmonton public. Investigate the 100 most frequently challenged books for 19901999 and 20002009. Madeleine lengles fantastical story of a girl travelling through time and space to rescue her father has ranked on alas 100 most frequently challenged books from 19902009. Jay ashers 2007 young adult novel of the same name was the most challenged or banned book last year, according to the american library associations office for intellectual freedom oif. The office for intellectual freedom has published lists of the most challenged books since 2001, compiled from media articles and censorship reports.
The american library association deemed it the most censored book from 1966 to 1975 and the tenth most challenged book from 1990 to 1999. Frequently banned or challenged due to obscene language, immoral behavior, antireligious attitude, and references to prostitution. Banned and challenged picture books by wendylibrarian a staffcreated list. Sep 26, 2018 jay ashers 2007 young adult novel of the same name was the most challenged or banned book last year, according to the american library associations office for intellectual freedom oif. Its better for them to know and learn about it from a book or a teacher than for them to make mistakes firsthand and regret it later. The bestselling hit list series gives you the information you need to defend challenged.
Frequently challenged books for kids and teens at one time or another, all the books on this list have been challenged by individuals or groups seeking to have them removed from libraries or classrooms, according to the american library association. Ala releases top 11 most frequently challenged books of. Sex, politics and the banned books of 2016 the new york times. Oct 01, 2015 rank of sherman alexies the absolutely true diary of a parttime indian on oifs list of top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2014. Sep 26, 2017 as a classic and a challenged book, ray bradburys fahrenheit 451 made the list for the most frequently challenged books from 20002009. The giver, by lois lowry lowrys classic childrens novel is usually challenged for similarly classic reasons. The most banned and challenged books of the past 5 years. Traditionally the ala releases a top ten list within the state of americas libraries report. The ala office for intellectual freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Sep 25, 2017 last year, for the first time, the top two most challenged works were graphic novels for young adults, and half of the top 10 most challenged books were illustrated narratives. This is perhaps suggestive of political atmospheres and. For a book to be included on the list for banned books week, it has to have been removed or restricted. The organization uses information from the media as well as book challenge reports to create its annual list of the most challenged books. There are books that explore the boundaries of taste and.
The most frequently challenged books of 2016 complaints about books range from the theme of suicide in thirteen reasons why. The week of september 2228 is known as banned books week, an annual campaign used to raise awareness of banned or challenged books and celebrate the freedom to read. These are the 10 most banned and challenged books in. Each year, the alas office for intellectual freedom compiles a list of the top ten most frequently challenged books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. Religious groups, in particular, have targeted the 1962 novel, arguing that the book undermines religious beliefs and challenges their idea of god. The most challenged or banned books between 200009 were the harry potter books, the alice series by phyllis reynolds naylor, and the chocolate war by robert cormier. These are the 100 most frequently challenged books from 19901999 according the american library association.
Most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century. For example, if every one of judy blumes books was challenged but only oncenot one of her books would make the top 10 list, but she herself would make the most challenged author list. Often the reasons are political, legal, religious or moral. Apr 11, 2018 topping the alas list of the most challenged books in 2017 is jay ashers thirteen reasons why, a young adult novel that was recently adapted into a netflix series. Top 10 most challenged books lists advocacy, legislation. Ten of the most frequently challenged books in america and. Author robie harris childrens book on sex, puberty, and relationships was perhaps doomed to appear on the most frequently challenged list. Apr 11, 2017 on monday, the american library association released its annual report of the most challenged books and articles nationwide. Jul 09, 20 most commonly banned books some books have been repeatedly banned or challenged throughout history. My english teacher printed out banned books from 19902009 and it had stupidass reasons like antiethnic the hunger games, of all books and sarcastic. The most frequently challenged books the most frequently challenged books that people try to ban. The most recent incident happened in 2009 when the book was challenged in the big sky high school in missoula, montana. Her young adult novels are typically about coming of age issues such as teenage sexuality.
Browse audiobooks in frequently banned and challenged. These are the 10 most banned and challenged books in america. Of the 566 books challenged or banned in 2019, the following are the top 10 most frequently challenged. The bars in blue represent how often that excuse was given for all book challenges the oif has recorded. Banned books week champions challenged literature cnn.
The freedom to read is one that we often take for granted. The book, alexies first foray into young adult fiction, won the national book award for young peoples literature in 2007. The 2017 list of mostbanned books included the kite runner, the hate u give and i am jazz. Sep 29, 2017 the giver, by lois lowry lowrys classic childrens novel is usually challenged for similarly classic reasons.
Dec 17, 2017 the book hit shelves in september of 1998, and it became the most frequently challenged book of 1999. List of 100 most frequently challenged books 200009. Another challenged book which often appears in the top ten most challenged books list, to kill a mockingbird is a heavyweight contender for the title of the great american novel. Of the 566 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books. Find more shareable statistics on the free downloads webpage.
This is a list of books that appear the most often on banned books lists and are available at butler university irwin library. Individual states have banned books as recently as the 1980s. Sep 25, 2015 it has been one of the top 10 most frequently challenged books in the us since 2011, with objections including that it was antifamily, sexually explicit and unsuitable for age. The book was banned from school libraries in albemarle county, virginia, when a parent complained about offensive language. Ala releases top 11 most frequently challenged books of 2018. It has been one of the top 10 most frequently challenged books in the us since 2011, with objections including that it was antifamily, sexually explicit and unsuitable for age. Lets kick off national library week with last years most frequently challenged books. The most frequently challenged, banned, and relocated. The harry potter series, three of which were published in the u. According to the ala, this book has also been moved up to the list of the top ten most frequently challenged books in 2015. Sep 27, 2017 the book was challenged because of its cover featuring an image of two boys kissing, and because it was thought to include sexually explicit l. These kids books listed in no particular order have been challenged and in some cases, banned for a variety of reasons. People are scared children will be scarred for life if they read a certain book.
Please note that the most frequently challenged authors may not appear in the list of most frequently challenged books. Audiobooks in frequently banned and challenged books in celebration of banned books week, here is a selection of the most frequently banned and challenged books in america. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because. Most frequently challenged books of 20 bless me, ultima by rudolfo anaya first landed on the top 10 list of most frequently challenged books in 2008. Its topics relating to things such as witchcraft have generated controversy. Harry potter and the sorcerers stone, a wrinkle in time, blubber, scary stories to tell in the darkthese are some of the most beloved, and most challenged, books. Banned and frequently challenged books book collecting guide. Difficult books are not the same thing as bad books. Stories about sex, and lgbtq sex in particular, are among the most challenged, and therefore in the most need of vocalized support.
In its own chapter, each book is succinctly profiled. Apr 21, 2020 in 2016, for example, an election year defined by political debates over bathroom bills, immigration and race, several of the most frequently challenged titles shared themes of gender, religious. Apart from that, the book also discusses many topics like poverty, alcohol, violence, bullying, and sexuality. Eight of the 10 titles identified in the american library associations annual ranking of the most frequently banned or protested books featured l. List of most commonly challenged books in the united. The american library associations office for intellectual freedom reported that of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the following eleven there was a tie at the bottom.
Last year, for the first time, the top two most challenged works were graphic novels for young adults, and half of the top 10 most challenged books were illustrated narratives. Sex, politics and the banned books of 2016 the new york. This is perhaps suggestive of political atmospheres and priorities during these periods. Apr 14, 2015 the american library association said the book, which has appeared on the list for four years running, is frequently challenged as being antifamily, culturally insensitive and sexually explicit. Despite a 1953 publication date, the book did not appear on the 19901999 list. Top 10 most challenged books of 2019 national coalition. As each sequel was released, libraries and churches across the u. The top 11 most frequently challenged books of 2018 list is included in alas state of americas libraries 2019 report. 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.
The most frequently challenged books of 2016 complaints about books range from the theme of suicide in thirteen reasons why to profanity and sexual content in alexies book. Jun 19, 2019 the most recent incident happened in 2009 when the book was challenged in the big sky high school in missoula, montana. The american library associations office for intellectual freedom reported that of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the following eleven there was a tie at the bottom received the brunt of the bashing. The 2017 list of most banned books included the kite runner, the hate u give and i am jazz. The story of a society where all the art and ideas that are useful but dangerous are held in the mind of single citizenwho then passes them on to a selected heiralso deals brutally with concepts of managed reproduction, sending some. Harry potter and 20 years of controversy intellectual. Sorcerers stone was the most frequently challenged book in the u.
Defending frequently challenged young adult books is an invaluable collection of fiftytwo of the most infamously challenged young adult books. There are lots of reasons that books can be challenged or event banned. This year 11 books were selected, since two titles were tied for the final. Even so, if the list is to be taken more as an overview, a clear trend emerges. The book was challenged because of its cover featuring an image of two boys kissing, and because it was thought to include sexually explicit l.
Oif receives reports from libraries, schools, and the media on attempts to ban books and compiles this information into lists in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The ala condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information. Apr 14, 2015 the most challenged book on the list was the absolutely true diary of a parttime indian by sherman alexie, a story about a native american youth with disabilities attending a white high school. Again, some fundamentalist christians have a problem with talking animals in literature. Just because you dont know that a book has been banned doesnt mean it hasnt. Aug 04, 2016 john greens 2005 novel was the most challenged book of 2015. Most commonly banned books some books have been repeatedly banned or challenged throughout history. The most frequently challenged and banned books in the us. Featuring 24 hot button books, hit list for children 2 presents a whos who of childrens literature writers including dahl, allard, blume, rowling, stine, lengle. Rowlings harry potter series took the world by storm, it has faced many attempts to. Many titles that we consider to be classics were challenged, censored, or banned when they were first published.
In the 1980s, it had the unusual distinction of being the nations most frequently censored book, and, at the same time, the second most frequently taught novel in the public schools. The bestselling hit list series gives you the information you need to defend challenged books with an informed response, all the while ensuring free access to young book lovers. Rowling was the most challenged work from 2000 to 2009. Sep 27, 2019 the week of september 2228 is known as banned books week, an annual campaign used to raise awareness of banned or challenged books and celebrate the freedom to read. The most challenged book on the list was the absolutely true diary of a parttime indian by sherman alexie, a story about a native american youth with disabilities attending a white high school. John greens 2005 novel was the most challenged book of 2015. This book has also been constantly challenged due to its use of racial slurs and strong language. Its worth noting that while the ala keeps close tabs on reported book challenges, not all challenges are reported. Sep 28, 2018 author robie harris childrens book on sex, puberty, and relationships was perhaps doomed to appear on the most frequently challenged list. Religious groups, in particular, have targeted the 1962 novel, arguing that the book undermines religious.
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