Delve into the evolving landscape of literature by exploring our curated list of banned books in America 2023. Uncover the controversies surrounding banned books in US public schools and navigate through the American Library Association banned books list. Discover the nuances of censorship, including Banned children’s books in America, shaping the diverse tapestry of literary discourse.
In America, There are so many books that are banned by the American Library Association (ALA) in High Schools, Libraries, etc. These books are banned because mostly they contain adult themes, vulgarity, and controversial content.
Throughout history, there have been certain books that have faced censorship and outright bans due to their content, theme, or impact on society. This is an issue that involves exploring the fine difference between freedom of expression and the book’s impact on society, especially on young readers. According to a recent report by PEN America, around 1648 books were banned between 2021 and 2022.
In this article, we have a complete list of 100 banned books in America. Also, find out the list of the top 10 books that have recently been banned in the United States.
Banned Books in America
The right to freedom of speech is a cherished value in the land of America. However, throughout the years, many books have faced bans and censorship for various reasons. From the ban on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee to the ban on the latest Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, this has been a contentious issue as it upholds the task of “protecting the public” and staying true to the principles of freedom of speech.
Over the last school year, the books that have been banned are broadly works of black and queer people. Following is the list of books that have ever been banned in America.
The Top 10 List of Banned Books in America
There were many banned books in America in 2022–23. Most affected books are written by or about people of color or the LGBTQ+ community. Some of the most popular books banned in America are:
1. Looking for Alaska by John Green
Looking for Alaska was published in 2011. The story is about a teenager who goes to boarding school and falls in love with a mysterious girl. This book was banned for its sexual content, use of profanity, and drug use.
2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Bluest Eye was published in 1970 and is a novel about a black girl who suffers from abuse and internalized racism. It was banned for sexual content, violence, racism, and incest.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Written in 1960, this is a Pulitzer Prize-winning classic novel that has not been immune to controversies. The book has faced various challenges in schools and in the country itself due to its racial themes and usage of racial slurs.
4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sallinger
The Catcher in the Rye is a classic novel about teenage angst and rebellion. Critics have argued that the depiction of angst, rebellion, and crude language is not suitable for the younger audience and can influence teenagers adversely.
5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Written in 2003, this is a novel about the friendship and betrayal between two boys in Afghanistan. It was banned for sexual content, violence, and religious viewpoints.
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Written in February 1999, this is a novel about a shy teenager who deals with various issues such as sexuality, mental health, and trauma. It was banned for sexual content, profanity, drug use, and LGBTQ+ content.
7. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Written in October 2007, this is a novel about a girl who commits suicide and leaves behind tapes explaining why she did it. It was banned for suicide, sexual content, profanity, and drug use.
8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Originally published during 2008–10, this is a dystopian novel about a girl who participates in a televised fight to the death. It was banned for violence, anti-family content, and religious viewpoints.
9. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985. It is a dystopian novel about a society where women are oppressed and forced to bear children for the elite. It was banned for sexual content, violence, profanity, and controversial political viewpoints.
10. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter is a seven-book series that was released between 1997 and 2007. This is a fantasy book series about a boy who discovers he is a wizard and fights against an evil lord. It was banned for witchcraft, violence, and anti-family content.
Top 100 banned books in America
The above List of 100 Banned Books in America that are banned in America recently in the years 2022–23. However, the list of banned books in America over the years has climbed to 1000. The themes of the books are very wide in range and do not have a specific genre. Most recently, some of the major books banned were written by Sarah J. Mass, Colleen Hoover, John Green, Ellen Hopkins, Adam Silvera, John Grisham, and Rupi Kaur. The topics of the books are said to be controversial or not suitable for younger audiences.
Explore Complete list of banned books in America that have been banned in the United States lately.
1. Beyond Magenta: Transgender and Nonbinary Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
2. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
3. This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson
4. Flamer by Mike Curato
5. Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel) by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
6. Dresses by Marcus Ewert and Rex Ray
7. A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
8. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss and EG Keller
9. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
10. All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
11. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
12. All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell
13. Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
14. Alt Ed by Catherine Atkins
15. Ana on the Edge by AJ Sass
16. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole
17. Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
18. Antiracist Baby by Ibram X Kendi and Ashley Lukashevsky
19. Ask the passengers by AS King
20. Autobiography by Christina Lauren
21. Beartown, Fredrik Backman
22. Beautiful, Amy Reed
23. Being Jazz: My Life As a (Transgender) Teen, Jazz Jennings
24. Beloved, Toni Morrison
25. Better Nate Than Ever, Tim Federle
26. Beyond Magenta: Transgender and Nonbinary Teens Speak Out, Susan Kuklin
27. Big Bob, Little Bob, James Howe, and Laura Ellen Anderson
28. Black Brother, Black Brother, Jewell Parker Rhodes
29. Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard, Echo Brown
30. Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope, Jodie Patterson, and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
31. Both can be true. Jules Machias
32. Boy Girl Boy, Ron Koertge
33. Boy Girl, Terence Blacker
34. Boy Toy, Barry Lyga
35. Breathless, Jennifer Niven
36. Bumped, Megan McCafferty
37. Call Me Max, Kyle Lukoff, and Luciano Lozano
38. Calvin, JR, Vanessa Ford, and Kayla Harren
39. Chosen, PC Cast, and Kristen Cast
40. City of Thieves, David Benioff
41. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare
42. Damsel, Elana K. Arnold
43. Darius the Great Deserves Better, Adib Khorram
44. Date Rape (At Issue), Christine Watkins
45. Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
46. Dear Martin, Nic Stone
47. Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda, J.P. Stassen
48. Different Kinds of Fruit Kyle Lukoff
49. Dime, ER Frank
50. Doing It! Let’s talk about sex. Hannah Witton
51. Drama: A Graphic Novel, Raina Telgemeier
52. Draw Me a Star, Eric Carle
53. Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell
54. Embrace Jessica Shirvington
55. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
56. Fable, Adrienne Young
57. Fade, Lisa McMann
58. Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell
59. Flowers in the Attic, VC Andrews
60. Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything, E Lockhart
61. Forever Judy Blume
62. Foul Is Fair, Hannah Capin
63. Frankie & Bug, Gayle Forman
64. Fred Gets Dressed, Peter Brown
65. From Blood and Ash, Jennifer L. Armentrout
66. Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, Jennifer L. Armentrout
67. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, Alison Bechdel
68. Gabi, a Girl in Pieces, Isabel Quintero
69. Girl in Pieces, Kathleen Glasgow
70. Glass, Ellen Hopkins
71. GLBTQ*: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens, Kelly Huegel
72. Go Ask Alice, Beatrice Sparks
73. Gracefully Grayson, Ami Polonsky
74. Graceling, Kristin Cashore
75. Grit, Gillian French
76. Ground Zero, Alan Gratz
77. Guyaholic, Carolyn Mackler
78. Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
79. Hear These Voices: Youth at the Edge of the Millennium, Anthony Allison
80. Heroine, Mindy McGinnis
81. Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi
82. I am Jazz, Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, and Shelagh McNicholas
83. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Erika L. Sánchez
84. I never Laura Hopper
85. I’ll Give You the Sun, Jandy Nelson
86. In Our Mothers’ House, Patricia Polacco
87. Infandous, Elana K. Arnold
88. It Feels Good To Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity, Theresa Thorn and Noah Grigni
89. It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley
90. Jacob’s New Dress, Sarah and Ian Hoffman
91. Jesus Land: A Memoir, Julia Scheeres
92. Julián is a mermaid, Jessica Love
93. Juliet Takes a Breath, Gabby Rivera
94. Killing Mr. Griffin, Lois Duncan
95. lr, gr, Lauren Myracle
96. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Mariko Tamaki, and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
97. Lawn Boy, Jonathan Evison
98. Leah on the Offbeat, Becky Albertalli
99. Lessons From a Dead Girl, Jo Knowles
100. Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel), Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
Exploring the Controversial: A List of Banned Books by Genre in America
This table represents a snapshot of the diverse range of books that have been challenged or banned in America, reflecting the varied reasons behind such actions.
| Genre |
Book Title |
Author |
Reason for Ban/Challenge |
| Classic |
“To Kill a Mockingbird” |
Harper Lee |
Racism, offensive language |
| Classic |
“The Catcher in the Rye” |
J.D. Salinger |
Offensive language, sexual content |
| Science Fiction |
“1984” |
George Orwell |
Political content, sexual content |
| Children’s Literature |
“And Tango Makes Three” |
Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson |
Homosexuality, family values |
| Young Adult |
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” |
Sherman Alexie |
Offensive language, sexual content, racism |
| Classic |
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” |
Mark Twain |
Racism, offensive language |
| Fantasy |
“Harry Potter Series” |
J.K. Rowling |
Witchcraft, promoting disobedience |
| Historical Fiction |
“The Color Purple” |
Alice Walker |
Sexual content, offensive language, violence |
| Drama |
“Beloved” |
Toni Morrison |
Violence, sexual content, religious viewpoint |
| Memoir |
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” |
Maya Angelou |
Sexual content, offensive language |
Reasons why books are banned in the US?
- Controversial Content: Books may be banned due to controversial themes, discussions, or content that some find objectionable or offensive.
- Explicit Material: Presence of explicit or inappropriate material, such as graphic violence or sexual content, can lead to bans, especially in educational settings.
- Opposing Views: Books expressing views that oppose prevalent political, religious, or social ideologies may face censorship.
- Age Appropriateness: Concerns about the suitability of content for certain age groups, especially in schools, can be a reason for banning books.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Some books may be banned due to cultural insensitivity, perpetuating stereotypes, or misrepresenting certain groups.
- Challenging Norms: Books that challenge societal norms or conventional wisdom may be subject to censorship.
- Fear of Influence: Authorities may ban books fearing their potential influence on readers, particularly if the ideas are deemed subversive or dangerous.
- Moral and Religious Concerns: Books that clash with prevailing moral or religious beliefs may be banned in adherence to cultural values.
- Educational Settings: In US public schools, books can be banned due to concerns about their appropriateness for the educational environment.
- Legal Reasons: Books may face bans if they violate certain laws or regulations, such as obscenity laws or copyright infringement.
Conclusion – List of Banned Books in America
Certain banned books in America question freedom of expression and societal concerns. While certain books are banned due to sensitive content, others are solely banned because they focus on providing access to diverse ideas and perspectives. From Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling to The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, the list of banned books in America is ever-expanding. In the above article, we have provided a complete list of banned books in America.
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FAQs on List of Banned Books in America
What are some of the most commonly banned books in America?
Frequently banned books include “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, and “1984” by George Orwell, among others, due to themes deemed controversial.
Why are books banned in America?
Books are often banned for reasons such as offensive language, sexual content, themes of racism or violence, or because they challenge societal norms and beliefs.
How can I find a list of books banned in America in 2023?
The American Library Association (ALA) and other civil rights organizations frequently update lists of challenged and banned books, which can be found on their official websites.
Are there any banned children’s books in America?
Yes, children’s books like “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie have faced bans in various schools and libraries.
What is the most banned book in America and why?
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain is one of the most challenged books due to its language and themes of race, making it a frequent target for censorship.
Are there more than 100 books banned in America?
Yes, there are over 1,000 books banned in America.
Why are books being banned in America?
Due to their controversial content or because the content is not suitable for young readers,.
Is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini banned in America?
Yes, the book is banned because its content has been called controversial by critics.
How many books are banned in American High Schools?
There are more than 100 books that are banned in American High Schools due to age factors and adult themes.
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