The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 1,269 demands to censor books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted books bans since ALA began compiling data more than 20 years ago. The most challenged and reasons cited for censoring the books are listed below:
- Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
HQ77.8.K628 A3 2020
- All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
HQ76.27.A37 J644 2020
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, claimed to be sexually explicit
PS3563.O8749 B55 2000
- Flamer by Mike Curato
Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
- Looking for Alaska by John Green
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
xGreen
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
- Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
PS3605.V57 L39 2019
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
xAlexie
- Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
Challenged for: depictions of abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit
PS3616.E7432 O98 2015
- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit
- Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Challenged for: drug use, claimed to be sexually explicit
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
PS3601.N373 M38 2015
- This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit
HQ76.26.D39 2021