10/06/23

Banned Books Week
October 1 - 7, 2023

Libraries across the country stand against censorship, the practice of suppressing or prohibiting books or film that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or harmful.

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

At Summit County Libraries, we believe in the intellectual freedom of all our patrons to decide what reading or viewing material is appropriate for them and their families.

By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles lists of challenged books as reported in the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country.

We encourage you to check out one of these books, read it, form your own opinion, and continue to advocate for increased understanding and intellectual freedom in your spheres of influence.

Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe (151 challenges)
   Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
    
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson (86 challenges)
   Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
    
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (73 challenges)
   Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, EDI content, claimed to be sexually explicit
    
4. Flamer by Mike Curato (62 challenges)
   Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
    
5.  (tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green (55 challenges)
   Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
   
   5. (tie) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (55 challenges)
   Challenged for: depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
    
6. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison (54 challenges)
   Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
   
   
7. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (52 challenges)
   Challenged for: profanity, claimed to be sexually explicit
    
8. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez (50 challenges)
   Challenged for: depictions of abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit
    
9. (tie) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (48 challenges)
   Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit

10. (tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl  by Jesse Andrews (48 challenges)
Challenged for: considered sexually explicit and degrading to women

10. (tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins (48 challenges)
Challenged for: drug use, claimed to be sexually explicit​​​​​​​

10.(tie)This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson (48 challenges)
Challenged for: providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.