Banned Books Week 2018: Top Challenged Books

Fight for your right to read!

This week is Banned Books Week, a week-long annual celebration that celebrates the freedom to read. Everyday, books are challenged and banned for their content, just because there is a chance that it might offend someone. So that is why the book community -librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and book lovers alike-come together to celebrate and value of free and open access to information. Everyone has the right to seek and express new ideas, even it turns out to be unpopular to some people.

So, here are the top challenged 10 books of 2017. Make sure to read these books in defiance:

• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher – Originally published in 2007, this YA novel resurfaced as being a controversial book due to the success of the Netflix adaptation. It was banned and challenged in multiple school districts due to its discussion of suicide.
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie  – This book has been continuously challenged ever since its publication. This book was challenged in school curriculum because of its use of profanity and the depiction of situations that were deemed sexually explicit.
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier – This graphic novel is award-winning, however, that didn’t stop it from being banned from school libraries. It was challenged because it includes LGBT characters and it would be considered confusing to young readers.
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – This critically acclaimed novel was challenged and banned it includes sexual violence and it was thought it could lead to terrorism and promote Islam.
• George by Alex Gino – This children’s book was challenged for having a story including a transgender child.

• Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth  – A book written by a certified sex educator was always going to cause controversy. This 2015 informational children’s book was challenged because it addresses sex education and would lead children to want to have sex or ask questions about sex.
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – This American classic was challenged and banned for violence and the use of the “N-word”.
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – Despite winning many awards, this YA bestseller was banned in school libraries and curriculums because its was considered “pervasively vulgar” and its use of drug use, profanity and offensive language.
• And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson – This popular children’s book was challenged because it featured a same-sex relationship.
• I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings – This autobiographical picture book, which features a 13-year-old narrator, was challenged because it addresses gender identity.