Banned Books

What types of items get challenged

What types of items do challengers attempt to censor? the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked one thousand two hundred forty seven censorship attempts in 2023. Seventy six percent of challenged items were books or graphic novels, five percent were displays, four percent were attempts to block access (library closures, funding cuts, bomb threats), four percent were hate crimes (vandalism, theft of materials representing marginalized groups), three percent challenged programs, two percent films, and six percent were classified as "other" attempts at censorship.

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Where challenges take place

Where do censorship attempts take place? Public library collections came under increased scrutiny in 2023. A significant factor in the increase was that groups who had previously targeted materials in school libraries began bringing challenges to the same titles at their public library.

Fifty four percent of censorship attempts took place a public libraries, thirty nine percent at school libraries, five percent at schools, and two percent at institutions of higher education or other places.

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Unique Titles Challenged

Often a small number of titles receive many challenges. The American Library Association has tracked a steep rise in the number of unique titles targeted since 2004. "The record-breaking number of unique titles targeted in 2023 marked a sixty-five percent increase over 2022. Prior to 2021, the average number of unique titles targeted per year was two hundred seventy three."

Three hundred ninety unique titles were targeted in 2004. One hundred eighty three unique titles were targeted in 2014. One thousand eight hundred fifty eight unique titles were targeted in 2021. Two thousand five hundred seventy one unique titles were targeted in 2022. Four thousand two hundred forty unique titles were targeted in 2023.

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Who initiates challenges

Who initiates attempts to censor books? Based on 954 cases studied by the American Library Association, twenty eight percent of challenges in 2023 were initiated by patrons, twenty four percent by parents, twenty one percent by pressure groups, thirteen percent by boards or administrations, three percent by librarians, two percent by elected or government officials, and nine percent of challenges were initiated by unknown sources.

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Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, considered sexually explicit.

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All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, considered sexually explicit.

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This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, and profanity. Claimed to be sexually explicit.

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Flamer by Mike Curato

Flamer by Mike Curato. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content. Claimed to be sexually explicit.

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The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Challenged for rape, incest, EDI content. Claimed to be sexually explicit.

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Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. Challenged for profanity. Claimed to be sexually explicit.

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Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. Challenged for drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content. Claimed to be sexually explicit.

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Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen & Matthew Nolan

Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen & Matthew Nolan. Challenged for sex education, LGBTQIA+ content. Claimed to be sexually explicit.

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Sold by Patricia McCormick

Sold by Patricia McCormick. Challenged for depiction of rape. Claimed to be sexually explicit.

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