Top Ten for 2017
The ALA Office for
Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university
materials in 2017. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10
Most Challenged Books are:
- Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher Juv.A8254t
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. - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time
Indian written by Sherman Alexie Juv.A3847a
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. - Drama written and
illustrated by Raina Telgemeier Juv.T2714d
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.” - 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.” - George written by Alex Gino Juv.G4932g
Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child. - Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory
Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth Juv. 613.9.S587s
This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex educationand is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.” - 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. - 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. - And Tango Makes Three written by Peter
Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole
Juv.R523a Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship. - I Am Jazz written by Jessica
Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas Juv. 306.76H5474i
This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.
and not to forget Graphic Novels
Banned and Challenged Comics
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund keeps lists and case studies of banned and challenged comics. They have many other resources as well
For information and case studies of banned and challenged
comics and graphic novels see http://cbldf.org/banned-challenged-comics/
The list includes these; reasons for the challenges are in
parenthesis:
Amazing Spider-Man:
Revelations by J. Michael
Straczynski, John Romita, Jr., and Scott Hanna
(Sexual overtones)
Barefoot Gen by Keiji
Nakazawa
Juv. 952.04 .N163b
(Violence, discrimination)
Batman: The
Dark Knight Strikes Again by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley
(Sexism,
offensive language, and unsuited to age group)
Batman: The Killing Joke by
Alan Moore and Brian Boland
(Advocates
rape and violence)
Blankets by Craig Thompson
PN6727 .T48 B58 2003
(Obscene images)
Bone by Jeff Smith
Juv. S65212b
(Promotion
of smoking and drinking)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl by
Phoebe Gloeckner
(Sexual
content)
Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama
(Violence
and nudity)
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Juv.T2714d
(Sexual
content)
The Color of Earth by Kim
Dong Hwa
Juv.K495
(Nudity,
sexual content, and unsuited to age group)
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
PN6727.B3757.Z46 2006
(Obscene
images)
The Graveyard Book ( Graphic
Novel)by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell
(Violent
imagery)
Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes
(Profanity,
coarse language, and brief non-sexual nudity)
In The Night Kitchen by
Maurice Sendak
Juv. S4745i
(Nudity)
League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen: The Black Dossier by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill
(Sex
scenes)
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Juv. S755m
(Anti-ethnic
and unsuited for age group)
Neonomicon by Alan Moore and
Jacen Burrows
(Sexual
content)
Palomar by Gilbert Hernandez
(Sexual
content, child pornography)
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Juv.955.05.S353pr
(Profanity,
violent content)
Pride of Baghdad by Brian K.
Vaughan and Niko Henrichon
Juv. V3644p
(Sexual content)
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and
Fiona Staples
PN6727 .V387 S24 2012
(Sexual content, anti-family, nudity, offensive
language, and unsuited for age group.)
Sandman by Neil Gaiman and
various artists
PN6728 .S26 G35 1991
(Anti-family
themes, offensive language, and unsuited for age group)
SideScrollers by Matthew Loux
(Profanity
and sexual references)
Stuck
in the Middle, edited by Ariel Schrag
(Language,
sexual content, and drug references)
Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard
Cruse
(Depiction
of homosexuality)
Tank Girl by Alan Martin and
Jamie Hewlett
(Nudity
and violence)
This One Summer by Jillian
Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
Juv. T1533t
(Sexual
content, unsuited to age group)
Watchmen by Alan Moore and
Dave Gibbons
Juv. M8212w
(Unsuited
to age group)
Y: The Last Man by Brian K.
Vaughan and Pia Guerra
Juv.V3644y
(Sexual content)
Take the New York Times Banned Books Week Quiz!
https://www.nypl.org/bannedbooks
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