Well, here we are again, folks. It’s banned books week. Once again I’m here with a new post listing the top 10 most challenged books during the previous year. During 2016 there were 323 recorded challenges by the ALA and they have brought us a new crop of frequently challenged books. The The Holy Bible had been removed from the list this year. However, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a book or series of books being challenged because of the “criminal sexual allegations against the author“. I think it is also worth noting that half of the list are illustrated.
2016
- This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: Includes LGBT characters, drug use, profanity, sexually explicit with mature themes. - Drama, by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: Includes LGBT characters, sexually explicit, offensive political viewpoint. - George, by Alex Gino
Reasons: Includes a transgender child, “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levelsâ€. - I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
Reasons: Portrays a transgender child, language, sex education, offensive viewpoints. - Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan
Reasons: Cover has an image of two boys kissing, sexually explicit LGBT content. - Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Reasons: Sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentationâ€. - Big Hard Sex Criminals, by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
Reasons: Sexually explicit. - Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread, by Chuck Palahniuk
Reasons: Profanity, sexual explicitness, being “disgusting and all around offensiveâ€. - Little Bill (series), by Bill Cosby and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
Reasons: Criminal sexual allegations against the author. - Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell
Reasons: Offensive language.
Click these links if you are looking for the top 10 lists for previous years with easy links to Amazon: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001.
Additionally, in 2010, I put together a list of the 100 Most Banned & Challenged Books Of The Decade by aggregating several lists from the American Library Association.