This week is
Banned Books Week, the week to celebrate our freedom to read! It was first observed in 1982 and it highlights the books that have been challenged in libraries and schools around the United States. I have decked out the library with caution tape and signs - it has definitely drawn the attention of the students, but they think they actually can't check these books out! :) I may have to rethink my Banned Books Week display for next year!
In celebration of Banned Books Week, I want to share some books that have been challenged or banned over the years. Scroll to the bottom to see my 5 favorite young adult banned books!
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you use the link to buy a book, I may make money,
and you will get a great book to read (at no additional cost!) Everyone wins!
5 Classics that have been challenged and/or banned:
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| Challenge reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group |
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| Challenge reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group |
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| Challenge reasons: alleged anti-religion and anti-family themes, sexual content |
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| Challenge reasons: themes of racism, incest, and child sexual abuse |
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| Challenge reasons: sexuality, profanity, suicide, violence, anti-Christian themes |
5 Young Adult books that have been challenged and/or banned:
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| Challenge reasons: unsuited to age group, witchcraft, religious viewpoint, anti-family, darkness/scariness/violence |
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| Challenge reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit |
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| Challenge reasons: obscene language, sexual content, violence, unsuited to age group |
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| Challenge reasons: alcohol, bullying, violence, sexual references, profanity and slurs |
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| Challenge reasons: "anti-cop," profanity, drug use, sexual references |
5 Nonfiction books that have been challenged and/or banned:
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| Challenge reasons: anti-family, profane language, homosexuality |
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| Challenge reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit |
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| Challenge reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint |
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| Challenge reasons: sexual content, homosexuality |
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| Challenge reasons: unsuited to age group, objectionable content |
5 graphic novels that have been challenged and/or banned:
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| Challenge reasons: profane language, political viewpoint, gambling |
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| Challenge reasons: LGBTQ content, drugs or alcohol, profane language |
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| Challenge reasons: LGBTQ content, sexual content, political viewpoint |
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| Challenge reasons: bullying, sexual content, drugs or alcohol |
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| Challenge reasons: references to smoking, drinking, and gambling |
5 children's books that have been challenged and/or banned:
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| Challenge reasons: homosexuality |
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| Challenge reasons: LGBTQ content, unsuited to age group, sexual content |
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| Challenge reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence |
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| Challenge reasons: the books use of the words "fart" and "farting" 24 times |
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| LGBTQ content, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint |
And now . . . My favorite 5 YA books that have been challenged and/or banned:
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford is a HILARIOUS novel of Carter's freshman year in high school. It is laugh out loud funny, and very much like being inside the head of a 14 year old boy. Because of this, it has been challenged for objectionable content. But it's also why it's awesome, and whenever I have a 9th grade boy who doesn't really like reading, I get him to read this book!
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney is a great mystery about a girl who sees her own face on a milk carton as "missing" - she tries to uncover the truth about her family and herself. This book has been challenged for being unsuited for the age group, challenging authority, and sexual content. It has an entire series that follows Janie's journey, and all of the books are so good. Highly recommended!
Just One Day by Gayle Forman is a book about a girl who meets a boy on a school trip to Europe and they have one day together. It is a sweet realistic romance for teens. It has been challenged for sexual content, drugs or alcohol, and profane language. Although I probably wouldn't recommend it for a middle school student, it is a great teen read!
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow is a book that is so timely - so good! It is a book about a hacker teen and his friends and how they get picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and questioned - and once released they see that everyone is treated as a potential terrorist and work to fight back. Because of this it has been challenged for having a political viewpoint. But this book is so good and thought-provoking! A must read!
Unwind by Neal Shusterman might be my favorite dystopian novel. It is set in a post-abortion society where all life is valued - and abortions are illegal; however, once a child becomes a teenager, the parents can choose to have them "unwound" where their organs and body parts are harvested as donors. In this view, they are not technically killed because their body lives on in another. It is a fascinating story of 3 teens who are slated to be discarded in this way and their struggle to survive. It has been challenged for sexual content, suicide, and drugs or alcohol. This is another book I recommend often!
So - what is your favorite banned book?
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