Current Events > Top Ten Challenged or Banned Books

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Each year the American Library Association highlights the most challenged or banned books across the nation. Banned book week is September 23-29.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/NLW-Top10

Top 10 Challenged Books of 2017
Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

6. Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth

This 2015 informational childrens 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.

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.

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.

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 Childrens Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship.

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.
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Read to kill a mocking bird in school and we watched the movie version of the kite runner as well.
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Where's 1000 days of Sodom and a clockwork orange

I read banned books
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Trying to ban To Kill a Mockingbird in 2017? Really?

__aCEr__ posted...

Trying to ban To Kill a Mockingbird in 2017? Really?

This surprised me too.
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At least 10-15 years ago Huckleberry Finn was the big firestarter. Entirely due to the n word.
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masticatingman posted...

At least 10-15 years ago Huckleberry Finn was the big firestarter. Entirely due to the n word.

It still is. It's currently banned in the school district I work in
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CasualGuy posted...

masticatingman posted...

At least 10-15 years ago Huckleberry Finn was the big firestarter. Entirely due to the n word.

It still is. It's currently banned in the school district I work in

Spoiler: I'm Black.

Twain and Harper Lee were writing about the world they lived in and the language used, not endorsing the racism behind the "n-word". People who read with understanding know this. Sad they banned Twain. He was an American treasure.

H.P. Lovecraft used the word differently and it's clear he was a racist but even he has stuff worth reading.

Anyway, whatever happened to teachable moments?
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Captain_Qwark posted...

My mentor teacher received a 3 page angry letter from a parent last week because she's reading Freak the Mighty to her class which uses the f-word slur and has child abuse in it.

parents are stupid

I wouldn't put it that way, but I agree. I'd rather kids learn and talk about those things with a parent/teacher than peers. They're going to find out anyway.
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bump
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Where does Mein Kampf and Anarchists Cookbook stand?
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