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Banned Books 2020

From The American Library Association

There has been a lot of discussion recently about appropriate books for school libraries, we thought this would be a good time to show you the most recently challenged books according to the American Library Association and the reason they were challenged.

Every year, the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S.



Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020

 

  1. George by Alex Gino
    Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”
  2. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
    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
  3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
    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”
  4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
    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
  5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author
  6. Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
    Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
  7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience
  8. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
    Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
  9. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
  10. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message

SOURCE: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

3 thoughts on “Banned Books 2020”

  1. It’s terrible what the “People in charge” are now banning certain books in school.”To kill a Mockingbird”, “Of Mice and Men”?
    Sad state of affairs .When will THEY start “”Burning Books” in the center square ? Glad I no longer have children in school.!

  2. This is a terrifying slippery slope into a world in which I definitely don’t want to be a part. I hope this ‘trend’ reverses itself before it gains full traction across the country.

  3. Small-minded people wrapped tightly within several degrees are making politically
    based decisions for children and their parents, but only for school. Did someone just
    murmur Nazi Germany?

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