CHILDREN'S BOOKS
This book has been heavily banned for religious reasons due to themes of witchcraft and magic.
What is Harry Potter?
In this book by J.D. Salinger, a 16-year-old boy becomes disillusioned with society after being expelled from his prep school, and struggles to find authenticity and innocence in a world of corruption and superficiality.
What is The Catcher in the Rye?
This book, originally published in 1818 has been banned due to religious objections, violence and gore, challenging societal norms, and questions of morality.
What is Frankenstein?
This 1969 novel by author Maya Angelou has been banned for topics such as sexual assault and abuse, and depictions of racism that have been found “anti-white.”
What is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
This is considered one of the most banned and challenged books for its political and social themes, specifically its critique of totalitarianism, government control, and censorship.
What is 1984?
This novel by Roald Dahl has been banned for being too scary and containing profanities and references to drugs.
What is James and the Giant Peach?
In this perverted version of the American Dream, a powerful man exerts his material influence to steal another man's materialistic wife from him, culminating in the murder of the powerful man and a resolution of the love triangle.
What is The Great Gatsby?
This 1996 novel written by Chuck Palahnuik has been censored due to its violent content, sexual themes, and anarchist philosophy.
What is Fight Club?
Jeannette Wallace’s 2005 memoir has been banned across the US for sexual content, substance abuse, violence, and offensive language.
What is The Glass Castle?
The book was written by Suzanne Collins and has been challenged and removed from school libraries for violent content, specifically the part where children are fighting to the death.
What is The Hunger Games?
This beloved children's book, written by Shel Silverstein, features the personification of a tree and has been banned for themes of sexism and unhealthy relationship dynamics.
What is The Giving Tree?
In this coming-of-age story, a high school freshman is befriended by two seniors who teach him about love, drugs, and friendship.
What is The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
This 2011 romance novel has been turned into a box-office hit and banned because of sexually explicit content, nudity, and offensive language.
What is Fifty Shades of Grey?
This autobiography published in 2013 has been banned from schools, especially in Pakistan, due to controversial religious references, and its discussions of race and history.
What is I Am Malala?
This book by J.R.R. Tolkien was banned because it was deemed “satanic,” promoted witchcraft, and was perceived as political subversion.
What is The Lord of the Rings?
This children’s book featuring monsters has been banned due to themes of darkness and displays of disobedience by the main character.
What is Where the Wild Things Are?
In this coming-of-age story, an African-American 16-year-old girl witnesses the shooting of her close African American male childhood friend by a white police officer.
What is The Hate U Give?
This 1970 novel was written by a famed Nobel Laureate and banned for sexually explicit content, depictions of sexual abuse, incest, and graphic language.
What is The Bluest Eye?
This autobiography published in 1947 has been banned for its discussions of puberty, sexuality, and anatomical descriptions.
What is The Diary of Anne Frank?
This book by Veronica Roth was banned for the portrayal of violence, themes of defying authority, and LGBTQ+ representation.
What is Divergent?
This work was written by Dr. Seuss and has been banned for promoting anti-business ideals and advocating for the environment rather than the economy.
What is The Lorax?
A young 11-year-old girl moves from New York to New Jersey, where she has to deal with puberty scares, middle-school cliques, and religious indecision.
What is "Are You There, God? It's me, Margaret."
This 2016 romance novel has been cited as a “BookTok sensation” and banned due to its depiction of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and sexual content.
What is It Ends With Us?
This book by Michelle Alexander was published in 2010, and has been banned in prisons and schools because of fears it could cause unrest, as well as the racial discussions in the book.
What is The New Jim Crow?
This book by Margaret Atwood has been banned in many schools in Florida, Oregon, and Texas for human sexuality, material that may discomfort students (such as sexual violence and profanity), the discussion of feminism, and extremism.
What is The Handmaid's Tail?