Banned Books Week – The 11 Most Challenged Titles Of 2018

In this post to celebrate banned books week, we share the 11 most challenged titles of 2018.

What is Banned Books Week?

‘Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association and Amnesty International, that celebrates the freedom to read, draws attention to banned and challenged books, and highlights persecuted individuals.’ (via)

Banned Books Week is the book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read. This year the week is celebrated from 22-28 September 2019.

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookshops, and libraries.

The ALA (American Library Association) says: ‘A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. The number of challenges reflects only incidents reported. We estimate that for every reported challenge, four or five remain unreported.’

The 11 Most Challenged Titles of 2018 

1. George written 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.
2. 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.
3. Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
   Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behaviour, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple.
4. The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas
   Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop”, and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references.
5. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
   Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes.
6. Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher
   Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide.
7. This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
   Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations.
8. Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
   Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture.
9. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie
   Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint.
10. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
    Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content.
11. Two Boys Kissingwritten by David Levithan
    Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content.

Source for list: Banned Books

Have a look at the most frequently banned titles in these years: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

Banned image

 by Amanda Patterson