Banned or Challenged
The term banned books must be differentiated from challenged books as these are two different actions and outcomes. “A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials based on the objection of a person or group of people.”
Challenged materials still remain in circulation, unless a ban is enacted. A ban is a potential outcome of a challenge, resulting in the materials being removed from a library or classroom. Teachers can be reprimanded for using restricted material.(Book Bans: What to Know. Sarah Wood)
NPR gathered definitions of book bans from a variety of sources in a piece presented in June 2024. Here are a few.
Kasey Meehan, program director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read (speaking at a video press conference in April): “We define a book ban as any action taken against a book based on its content that leads to a previously accessible book being completely removed from availability for students or where access to a book is restricted or diminished.
Emily Drabinski, president of the American Library Association: “A ‘book ban’ is the removal of a title from a library because someone considers it harmful or dangerous.
Joe Tier, a self-described “concerned grandparent and parent living in Eldersburg, Maryland”: “I think [the term book ban is] designed to be inflammatory and to obfuscate the constructive dialogue that should occur about age-appropriate content.
As of 2020, the top ten reasons books were challenged or banned, according to the American Library Association, included:
- sexual content (92.5% percent of books on the list)
- offensive language (61.5%)
- unsuited to age group (49%)
- religious viewpoint (26%)
- LGBTQIA+ content (23.5%)
- violence (19%)
- racism (16.5%)
- use of illegal substances (12.5%)
- “anti-family” content (7%)
- political viewpoint
Below is a list of the 15 top banned books in the US according to the American Library Association.
“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe
“All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
“Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Perez
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
“This Book Is Gay” by Juno Dawson
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie
“Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews
As an avid reader I have read many of the books on this list. Before determining whether a book should be challenged or banned, it seems that it should be read. If you read any of the books listed here, share what you think. Here are a few questions to consider.
- What did you think of this book? (Please identify the title)
- Would you let your child read it? At what age would it be most appropriate?
- Why wouldn’t you want your child to read it?
- What other thoughts about this book can you share?
