These books are some of the most challenged in the US. Here’s how to buy them
As book banning efforts reach an all-time high in the US, Clémence Michallon rounds up 20 of the country’s most challenged books
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/12/18/15/clemence-michallon.png?quality=75&width=137&auto=webp)
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/16/Banned%20Books%20Week%20Collage.jpg)
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
Book banning efforts are at an all-time high in the US. The American Library Association, which tracks book challenges across the country, recorded 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022 – nearly twice the amount recorded in 2021.
Many of the books targeted by challenges feature LGBT+ characters or address issues such as racism.
This is reflected in the ALA’s list of the 100 most challenged books between 2010 and 2019, as well as its yearly most challenged books lists. The same goes for a list compiled last year by CBS, rounding up the 50 most challenged books in America, based on data supplied by PEN America.
Here are 20 of the most commonly challenged books below, along with links to purchase them from independent bookstores. It is not an exhaustive list, but rather a mere samples of the books whose presence in schools and libraries has been put into question.
Please do feel free to peruse the links above, and – to borrow from what John Green said in an interview on this topic with The Independent — “read broadly, and read boldly.”
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Gender%20Queer%20Oni%20Press.jpeg)
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X Kendi and Jason Reynolds
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/17/Stamped%20Racism%20Antiracism%20and%20You%20Little%20Browb%20Books%20for%20Young%20Readers.jpg)
Beyond Magenta: Transgender and Nonbinary Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Beyond%20Magenta%20Candlewick.jpeg)
Looking For Alaska by John Green
![Looking For Alaska](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/17/Looking%20For%20Alaska%20Dutton.jpeg)
Beloved by Toni Morrison
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Beloved%20Knopf.jpg)
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Two%20Boys%20Kissing%2C%20Knopf%20Books%20for%20Young%20Readers%20.jpeg)
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Speak%20Farrar%20Straus%20and%20Giroux.jpeg)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/The%20Hate%20U%20Give%20Balzer%20%20Bray.jpg)
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Persepolis%20Pantheon.jpeg)
Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Laura Cornell
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Heather%20Has%20Two%20Mommies%20Candlewick%20Press.jpeg)
Melissa by Alex Gino
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Melissa%20Scholastic%20Press.jpeg)
This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/This%20Book%20Is%20Gay%20Sourcebooks.jpg)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/I%20Know%20Why%20the%20Caged%20Bird%20Sings%20Random%20House.jpeg)
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Lawn%20Boy%20Algonquin.jpeg)
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Out%20Of%20Darkness%20Carolrhoda%20Lab.jpeg)
I Am Jazzby Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/I%20Am%20Jazz%20Dial%20Books.jpeg)
And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/And%20Tango%20Makes%20Three%20Simon%20%20Schuster%20Childrens%20Publishing%20.jpeg)
All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M Johnson
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/All%20Boys%20Arent%20Blue%20Farrar%2C%20Straus%20and%20Giroux.jpeg)
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/Brave%20New%20World%20Harper.jpeg)
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/21/14/The%20Bluest%20Eye%20Vintage.jpeg)
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments