CEFLS: Banned Books: 2020

Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2020

George by Alex Gino
ISBN: 9780545812542
Publication Date: 2015-08-25
Reasons: challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with religious viewpoint, and not reflecting "the values of our community"
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds; Ibram X. Kendi
ISBN: 9780316453691
Publication Date: 2020-03-10
Reasons: banned and challenged because of author's public statements, and because of claims that the book contains "selective storytelling incidents" and does not encompass racism against all people.
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds; Brendan Kiely
ISBN: 9781481463331
Publication Date: 2015-09-29
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be "too much of a sensitive matter right now".
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
ISBN: 9780374371524
Publication Date: 1999-10-22
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel's inclusion of rape and profanity.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
ISBN: 9780316013680
Publication Date: 2007-09-12
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author.
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano; Marietta Collins; Ann Hazzard; Jennifer Zivoin (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781433828546
Publication Date: 2018-05-01
Reasons: challenged for "divisive language" and because it was thought to promote anti-police views.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
ISBN: 9780446310789
Publication Date: 1988-10-11
Reason: banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a "white savior" character, and its perception of the Black experience.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
ISBN: 9780140177398
Publication Date: 1993-09-01
Reasons: banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
ISBN: 9780375411557
Publication Date: 1993-12-28
Reason: banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child abuse.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas; Nikki Giovanni (Foreword by)
ISBN: 9780062498533
Publication Date: 2017-02-28
Reason: challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message.

Links

5 Quick Ideas for Banned Books Week
American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world, providing association information, news, events, and advocacy resources for members, librarians, and library users.
Banned & Challenged Books
The American Library Association's official page for banned and challenged books.
Banned Books Week
The Banned Books Week Coalition is a national alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness of the annual celebration of the freedom to read. The Coalition seeks to engage various communities and inspire participation in Banned Books Week through education, advocacy, and the creation of programming about the problem of book censorship.
Banned Books Week - University of North Florida
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund - Banned Books Week Handbook
Don’t Take the Freedom to Read for Granted
In the marketplace of ideas, librarians believe we should have as much opportunity to choose what to read as we have to consume goods and services essential to sustaining lives.
Freedom to Read Foundation
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association's "unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries".

Banned Books: 2020

Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2020

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