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The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to ensure free access to information. Every year, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S.

The Top 10 lists are only a snapshot of book challenges. Surveys indicate that 82-97% of book challenges – documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries – remain unreported and receive no media.

Click on the button to open the dropdown menu of years of Top 10 Most Challenged Books.

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019

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The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Of the 566 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:

George by Alex Gino

Reasons: challenged, banned, restricted, and hidden to avoid controversy; for LGBTQIA+ content and a transgender character; because schools and libraries should not “put books in a child’s hand that require discussion”; for sexual references; and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint and “traditional family structure” Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

Reasons: challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for “its effect on any young people who would read it,” and for concerns that it was sexually explicit and biased A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller

Reasons: Challenged and vandalized for LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints, for concerns that it is “designed to pollute the morals of its readers,” and for not including a content warning Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth

Reasons: Challenged, banned, and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content; for discussing gender identity and sex education; and for concerns that the title and illustrations were “inappropriate” Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis

Reasons: Challenged and restricted for featuring a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content; for being “a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children” with the potential to cause confusion, curiosity, and gender dysphoria; and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas

Reasons: Challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content, for a transgender character, and for confronting a topic that is “sensitive, controversial, and politically charged” The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and for “vulgarity and sexual overtones” Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

Reasons: Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and for concerns that it goes against “family values/morals” Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

Reasons: Banned and forbidden from discussion for referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson illustrated by Henry Cole

Reason: Challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content

Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2018

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2018

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2018. Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the Top 11 Most Challenged Books are:

George by Alex Gino

Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller

Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey

Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner

Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten

Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

Top 10 for 2017

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2017

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials and services 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

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

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

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

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

This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex education and 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

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

This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.

Top 10 for 2016

Out of 323 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2016

This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint George written by Alex Gino

Reasons: challenged because it includes a transgender child, and the “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels” I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas

Reasons: challenged because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan

Reasons: challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content Looking for Alaska written by John Green

Reasons: challenged for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation” Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky

Reason: challenged because it was considered sexually explicit Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk

Reasons: challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being “disgusting and all around offensive” Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby and and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood

Reason: challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell

Reason: challenged for offensive language





Top 10 for 2015

Out of 275 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2015

Looking for Alaska, by John Green

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James

Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other (“poorly written,” “concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it”) I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Reasons: inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin

Reasons: anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints”) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon

Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“profanity and atheism”) The Holy Bible

Reasons: religious viewpoint Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel

Reasons: violence and other (“graphic images”) Habibi, by Craig Thompson

Reasons: nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter

Reasons: religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan

Reasons: homosexuality and other (“condones public displays of affection”)





Top 10 for 2014

Out of 311 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

View the Censorship by the Numbers infographic for 2014

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: “depictions of bullying” Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi

Reasons: gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions” And Tango Makes Three, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “promotes the homosexual agenda” The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “contains controversial issues” It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris

Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges it is child pornography” Saga, by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Reasons: anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “date rape and masturbation” A Stolen Life, Jaycee Dugard

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group Drama, by Raina Telgemeier

Reason: sexually explicit





Top 10 for 2013

Out of 307 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey

Reasons: offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James

Reasons: nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Reasons: religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit Looking for Alaska, by John Green

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya

Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit Bone (series), by Jeff Smith

Reason: political viewpoint, racism, violence





Top 10 for 2012

Out of 464 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey

Reasons: offensive language, unsuited for age group The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Reasons: homosexuality, unsuited for age group The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit Looking for Alaska, by John Green

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz

Reasons: unsuited for age group, violence The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit Beloved, by Toni Morrison

Reasons: sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence





Top 10 for 2011

Out of 326 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa

Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, insensitivity, offensive language, occult/satanic, violence My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler

Reasons: nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: offensive language, racism, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Reasons: nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoint Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Reasons: insensitivity, nudity, racism, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones

Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Reasons: offensive language, racism

Top 10 for 2010

Out of 348 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Reasons: homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: offensive language, racism, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Reasons: insensitivity, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit Crank, by Ellen Hopkins

Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence Lush, by Natasha Friend

Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones

Reasons: sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich

Reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie

Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

Reasons: religious viewpoint, violence





Top 10 for 2009

Out of 460 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Reasons: homosexuality The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer

Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group





Top 10 for 2008

Out of 513 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman

Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, violence ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz

Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, violence Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya

Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, violence The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen

Reasons: homosexuality, unsuited to age group The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper

Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

Top 10 for 2007

Out of 420 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, sexism, unsuited to age group The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, violence Olive's Ocean, by Kevin Henkes

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman

Reason: religious viewpoint The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

Reason: racism The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit ttyl, by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

Reason: sexually explicit It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris

Reasons: sex education, sexually explicit The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group





Top 10 for 2006

Out of 546 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, unsuited to age group Gossip Girls (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Reasons: offensive language and sexually explicit The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler

Reasons: anti-family, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz

Reasons: insensitivity, occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher

Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Beloved, by Toni Morrison

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, violence





Top 10 for 2005

Out of 405 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie H. Harris

Reasons: abortion, homosexuality, nudity, religious viewpoint, sex education, unsuited to age group Forever, by Judy Blume

Reasons: offensive language, sexual content The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger

Reasons: sexual content, offensive language, unsuited to age group The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: sexual content, offensive language Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher

Reasons: racism, offensive language Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds

Reason: sexual content What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones

Reasons: sexual content, being unsuited to age group Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey

Reasons: anti-family content, unsuited to age group, violence Crazy Lady!, by Jane Leslie Conly

Reason: offensive language It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie H. Harris

Reasons: sex education, sexual content





Top 10 for 2004

Out of 547 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers

Reasons: offensive language, racism, violence Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael A. Bellesiles

Reasons: inaccurate, political viewpoint Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones

Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group, sexually explicit In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak

Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit King & King, by Linda deHaan

Reason: homosexuality I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Reasons: offensive language, racism, violence

Top 10 for 2003

Out of 458 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Reasons: sexual content, offensive language, unsuited to age group Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling

Reasons: occult/Satanism Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Reason: offensive language Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture, by Michael Bellesiles

Reason: inaccuracy Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers

Reason: drugs, offensive language, racism, sexual content, violence Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

Reason: drugs It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris

Reasons: homosexuality, nudity, sexual content, sex education We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: offensive language, sexual content King & King, by Linda de Haan

Reason: homosexuality Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson

Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language





Top 10 for 2002

Out of 515 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling

Reasons: occult/Satanism, violence Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence Taming the Star Runner, by S.E. Hinton

Reason: offensive language Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey

Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

Reason: offensive language Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson

Reasons: occult/Satanism, offensive language, violence Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor

Reason: offensive language Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George

Reasons: unsuited to age group, violence





Top 10 for 2001

Out of 448 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling

Reasons: anti-family, occult/Satanism, religious viewpoint, violence Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group, violence The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene

Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Reasons: offensive language, unsuited to age group Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers

Reason: offensive language Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause

Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group





Background Information from 2000 to 2009

View the 2000-2009 book challenge infographic

From 2000 to 2009, 5,099* challenges were reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom.

1,577 challenges due to "sexually explicit" material

1,291 challenges due to "offensive language"

989 challenges due to materials deemed "unsuited to age group"

619 challenged due to "violence"'

361 challenges due to "homosexuality"

Further, 274 materials were challenged due to "occult" or "Satanic" themes, an additional 291 were challenged due to their "religious viewpoint," and 119 because they were "anti-family."

Please note that the number of challenges and the number of reasons for those challenges do not match because works are often challenged on more than one ground.

1,639 of these challenges were in school libraries; 1,811 were in classrooms; 1,217 took place in public libraries. There were 114 challenges to materials used in college classes, and 30 to academic libraries. There are isolated cases of challenges to library materials made available in or by prisons, special libraries, community groups, and students.

The vast majority of challenges were initiated by parents (2,535), with patrons and administrators to follow (516 and 489 respectively).

* We receive challenge reports after the Top Ten lists have been published. This number reflects all the challenges we received since July 31, 2013 for the 2000-2009 time period.

Before 1990

OIF has only been collecting data about banned books since 1990, so we do not have any lists of frequently challenged books or authors before that date.