We’re not even through the first month of the year and already 2022 is shaping up to be one for the records in terms of challenged and banned books. I usually do a whole big thing during Banned Books Week, but I don’t want to wait until September to talk about them this year. I don’t feel like I CAN wait, given how things are going.
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever lose the ability to buy banned books on your own, so “while you still can” part of the title is a bit of sarcasm. However, it’s becoming increasingly likely that your kids will lose access to many of these novels and biographies through their school library. It’s already happened in places like Tennessee, which just banned Maus entirely from classrooms.
The best way to fight back is, of course, to buy, borrow and read banned books. So, without further ranting on my part, here are 50 banned books to read…while you still can, starting with the top 10.
Top 10 Banned Books to Read in 2022
First, let me just say that these 10 particular books are no more or less important than the rest in the next section. I chose them because they’re the ones making headlines right now, both on a national level and in quieter ways in small town newspapers. I also chose a good mix of topics to give you a broader view of what kind of information “book banners” don’t want you to see.
FYI, the book links below are affiliate links, so if you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I embedded the Kindle preview when possible (not all have one). Many of these books are available to borrow through Overdrive. If you need access, check out my post on where to get a free library card in your state that you can use online.
1. The Complete Maus
Let’s start with one making major headlines right now, Maus. The popular Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the horrors of Holocaust. As NY Times explains, “Its form, the cartoon (the Nazis are cats, the Jews mice), shocks us out of any lingering sense of familiarity and succeeds in ‘drawing us closer to the bleak heart of the Holocaust.'”
It’s currently sold out on Amazon and pretty much everywhere else. As for borrowing it, all of the libraries that I have access to show a long wait list for it. It wasn’t even in the top 100 books until Tennessee banned it, which just proves that the the quickest way to ensure that everyone wants to read something is by telling them that the can’t.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Spiegelman, Art (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 296 Pages - 11/19/1996 (Publication Date) - Pantheon (Publisher)
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue
LGBTQIA books are being banned at an alarming rate, according to a recent MSNBC story (and verified simply by looking at the most recent challenged books lists). A handful of parents in my son’s district are actively trying to get this book either pulled entirely from the library or shoved behind a counter where kids can’t see it, so it’s at the top of my list to read.
The book is a series of essays chronicling the author’s childhood and teen years as a queer Black man in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as a “primer for teens eager to be allies.” It’s available for Kindle and in hardcover & paperback on Amazon.
Depending on your local library, you can also borrow it from Overdrive. I use the Free Library of Philadelphia, and they still have like 13 copies open for borrowing.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Johnson, George M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 04/28/2020 (Publication Date) - Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (Publisher)
3. The Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison’s 2007 heartbreaking book about an 11-year-old Black girl in America who prays for her eyes to turn blue so that people will think she is beautiful made headlines this year when a Missouri school board voted 4-5 to ban it from their district.
Morrison, who passed away in 2019, once said that banning books was the “purist and yet elementary kind of censorship designed to appease adults rather than educate children.” I couldn’t agree more.
The Bluest Eye is available on Amazon for Kindle and in hardcover & paperback. You should be able to find it in your library, too.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Morrison, Toni (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 226 Pages - 07/24/2007 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher)
4. Gender Queer
Just a few days ago, the Virginia senate killed a bill that would have required a signed parent permission slip to check out this book and others “that describe or depict sexual acts.” It’s also the other subject of that aforementioned effort on some parents’ part to remove access to books in our own district’s library. In fact, since its release in 2019, it’s been one of the most banned books in America period.
Maia (who goes by e/em/eir pronouns) originally started the memoir as a way to explain to eir parents what being non-binary meant. Today, it’s considered one of the best guides on gender identity for teens and allies alike. Grab it on Amazon in Kindle/comiXology, hardcover, or paperback.
- Kobabe, Maia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 05/28/2019 (Publication Date) - Oni Press (Publisher)
5. New Kid by Jerry Craft
Jerry Craft’s award-winning graphic novel for middle-grade readers is a hit among kids…but not so much with parents in one Texas school district. While they’ve since put it back, the Katy Independent School District yanked the story from its shelves after a few parents complained that it “promoted Critical Race Theory and Marxism.” It doesn’t, of course. According to MSNBC, Craft actually had to look those things up to try to figure out exactly how he was teaching them to children.
The story follows Jordan, a 7th grader attending a prestigious school where he’s one of only a handful of kids of color. From the description: “As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?”
It’s available Amazon in Kindle/comiXology, audiobook, hardcover, or paperback.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Craft, Jerry (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 02/05/2019 (Publication Date) - Quill Tree Books (Publisher)
6. “Monday’s Not Coming,” by Tiffany D. Jackson
Monday’s Not Coming is yet another on a long list of books by Black authors that are being challenged or outright banned by parents who see Critical Race Theory everywhere because they haven’t bothered to take five minutes to learn what it actually is.
The YA novel centers around the mysterious disappearance of Monday and her best friend’s desperate attempts to find out what happened to her. Jackson wrote it to shine a light on missing Black children.
According to a CNN report, “Data shows that missing white children receive far more media coverage than missing black and brown children, despite higher rates of missing children among communities of color.”
Monday’s Not Coming is currently free on Amazon for Kindle (you may need a Prime membership, though). You can also buy it in hardcover, paperback, and audiobook format.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Jackson, Tiffany D. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 432 Pages - 05/22/2018 (Publication Date) - Katherine Tegen Books (Publisher)
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Lawn Boy is just one of the many books challenged by parents at a school district in Wake County. Ultimately, their request was denied, and denied again after those parents appealed the board’s unanimous decision.
Evison’s semi-autobiographical novel centers around Mike Muñoz, a young Chicano man living in Washington State who recently lost his latest gig working on a landscaping crew. At its heart, it’s a coming of age story, but it’s also a strong commentary about classism.
As of right now, it’s available for Kindle and as an audiobook. You can also get it in “library binding” format, but it’s a lot more expensive.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Evison, Jonathan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 321 Pages - 04/03/2018 (Publication Date) - Algonquin Books (Publisher)
8. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Thomas’ YA novel The Hate You Give made headlines this week when a school in Illinois yanked it from classrooms for “profanity.” It’s not the first time Thomas’ novel (inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement) was challenged, and sadly it probably won’t be the last.
Like Craft’s character in New Kid, 16-year-old Starr tries to balance living in a poor neighborhood while attending a fancy prep school. When she witnesses the police shoot her unarmed best friend, that careful balances shatters and her world comes crashing down around her.
The Hate You Give is available Amazon in Kindle, audiobook, hardcover, or paperback.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Thomas, Angie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 447 Pages - 02/28/2017 (Publication Date) - Balzer + Bray (Publisher)
9. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Unlike the other books on this list, I can almost understand the rationale behind challenging 13 Reasons Why. At the very least, I can empathize with it. Parents are terrified that it glamorizes teen suicide, that it will somehow encourage their own children to take their lives.
Here’s the thing, though, it’s not really about Hannah (the girl who leaves behind her 13 reasons for killing herself) at all. It’s about the people she left behind and the devastating consequences of her actions. It’s a book that parents should read with their teens rather than trying to protect them from it.
This one is also available Amazon in Kindle, audiobook, hardcover, or paperback.
10. The Hunger Games
Another frequently challenged book, the Hunger Games trilogy has been banned by high schools for its perceived “insensitivity, offensive language, violence, anti-family, anti-ethic and occult/satanic.” Yes, it does have some violence in it, but I’m not sure where they’re getting the rest from.
If anything, its incredibly pro-family, given that the entire series kicks off with Katniss volunteering to take her sister’s place to save her from certain death.
All three books are available through Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and hardcover.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Collins, Suzanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 387 Pages - 09/01/2009 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Press (Publisher)
40 More Challenged & Banned Books to Add to Your “To Be Read” Pile
The American Library Association puts out an updated list each year around Banned Books Week. The 2021 list isn’t out yet, but in 2020 they tracked 156 total challenges to books and materials in libraries and schools across the US. Here are just a few, broken down by the most commonly cited reason.
Challenged for “LGBTQIA content”
In 2020, LGBTQIA books made up 80% of the top 10 banned books, and they remain among the most frequently challenged.
- George by Alex Gino
- Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
- A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Marlon Bundo and Jill Twiss
- Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg
- Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack
- I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel
- Mommy, Mama and Me by Leslea Newman
- 10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert
- Lily and Dunkin – Donna Gephart
- Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland
Challenged Books by Black Authors
After LGBTQIA topics, books by Black authors are among the most frequently challenged.
- The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
- Monster by Walter Dean Myers
- Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
- The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Challenged for “vulgarity,” “profanity,” and “sexually explicit content”
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (also banned for “political agenda” and being biased against males)
- This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
- Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman
- An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
- The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
- Drama by Raina Telgemeier
- Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
- Forever by Judy Blume
- Looking for Alaska by John Green
Challenged for “occult themes,” “witchcraft,” and “religious viewpoint” reasons
- The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
- His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- Carrie by Stephen King
- The House of Night Series by P.C. and Kristin Cast
- Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer
- Goosebumps Series by R. L. Stine
- A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
- Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
There are dozens of other “reasons” that people who challenge books give, these are just some of the most common. If you’re interested in more banned books Marshall University has a terrific list along with extensive reasons behind each challenge. I also used this one by the Pikes Peak Library District as a reference.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is censorship. What happened to an open mind. Now government tells you what to read. SMDH
It isn’t Government today, it’s schools with special phone lines for parents to call in libraries and tell the librarians which books they find offensive and want banned, even award winning books are being banned. They’re clearly throwing around the CRT without e er reading what it’s about, because it has nothing to do with the books they’re banning and using that reason. It’s sickening this is happening in US Schools!
It’s not the government but you won’t see that. It very clearly shows that parents are the ones pushing for books to be banned because they don’t want their kids to have an open mind. Period.
Absolutely agree… it is NOT the government, it is individual parents that want books to be censored. The reasons are many…. trying to ban a book to a kid is like please go and read it! This new generation of people that are growing up will have no facts, no knowledge no way to think for themselves.
Books should not be banned. The parents can tell their children not to read them for whatever reason they may have, but to ban them from anyone having access is against the constitution and freedom of speech. I see no books on white power, neo Nazi, white terrorism, etc. On any list. We have freedom speech here in the USA, and bound fall under that category, I believe. We all need to fight this as a unconstitutional issue
I couldn’t agree more! Why is Mein Kampf on any of those lists? It’s scary to see what parents don’t want their kids to read as opposed to what they feel is okay to read. People seem to want to whitewash American history and pretend nothing bad ever happened and that there is no classism, racism, sexism, etc. It’s good to read other people’s stories and where they’re coming from so that we can understand and empathize and gain knowledge. Reading is one of my favorite things to do and it’s so shameful and maddening that they’re trying to ban books because they’re too lazy to be parents and watch what their kids bring home to read. We shouldn’t all be punished for bad parenting.
Do you mean parents are trying to remove these books from public school libraries? Or are these books actually banned and no longer going to be available to purchase new, used, audio version or check out at a public library? Because those are two very different things. I could care less about what is in my kids library honestly. They can get whatever book they want from online or the public library. But I do care about the fact that many kids aren’t even being taught how to read. Literacy scores are at an all time low in our state. Public schools are public for a reason and all this drama just over shadows the fact that the schools are failing the kids period.
They are being banned by schools. I am a 1990 graduate who remembers book banning in PA. in the 80’s. Fortunately, I went to very progressive schools who refused to dumb down their students by banning any book let alone The Scarlett Letter: Huckleberry Finn: 1984: A Raisin in the Sun and other such classics read around the world by intelligent readers. Banning books appeases those who Fear and subjugates those who want to Grow in Knowledge and Understanding. Thanks to Donald Trump and his New Fascist Republican Party following, America’s children are going from 38TH place as the World’s Educated to Being the Drivers of the Clown cars that are driving off the edge of their parents flat earth. More teachers, librarians and superintendents are resigning in mass to protest archaic laws. Is it a wonder that many children can’t read?
THIS!!! ☝️ Perfect!
When I was in school it was simple. The library was devided by age/grades. You only checked out books accordingly and a report always went home as to what ypu were reading. In my house tje more educated you were, the better well rounded perspn you were. That meant society benefited. My kids were raised the same, as are my grandkids. Bookbanning says nothing about the books, but everything about the fear and ignorance of those banning them!
Right now they are taking them of the shelves in schools, but there are a few that are banned by state.. Right now it’s our books soon it will be our music.. Does know one see this.. I get some of the books have words we dont use or should never say.. But this is gone to far.
Here’s a novel idea: how about reading books instead of banning them. Sharing ideas, imagery, knowledge, life experience, and creations is more important than spreading closed-minded agendas.
This is so sad,We sound like we are living in Nazi Germany.
Listening to audiobooks, reading novels, and watching movies are some of my favorite recreational pastimes. My inability to complete my assignments on time and become a great student is, nevertheless, a result of this circumstance. It is via the BestWritersOnline websites that I locate competent writers, and I depend on their ratings to do so.
The point of book banning is avoidance: avoidance of topics that may make the reader feel and think about things that may be discomforting or conflict with their values.
Avoiding these issues in books not only doesn’t shield one from confronting them in real life, but may paradoxically leave the reader unprepared to deal with them when they occur.
Violence, “bad” language, sexuality and sexual orientation, etc. are part of the human experience.
Let’s become educated about them, discuss them and perhaps, increase our compassion.
Book banning reflects a weak society. It shows that we can’t deal with reality.
Cat, I couldn’t agree with you more
I’m purchasing as many as I can and read. It is my decision if I don’t care for a book not someone else.
that is extremely insensitive to compare. that should never be joked about
They aren’t my joking. Nazi’s in Germany burned books and they’ve been doing that here recently, right wing nuts have anyway. All you have to do is Google it and you’ll find plenty of legitimate articles on it. I didn’t take that comment as a joke, they’re literally burning books they seem “inappropriate”, same as the Nazi’s did. That leads to even more censorship and what we’re going to be told we’re allowed to read. I don’t want to that, I live in “free” (by theory) country and I should be allowed to read what I want. Mein Kampf was literally on none of those lists. Does that tell you anything?
I didn’t find it offensive, they said “We sound like we’re living in Nazi Germany” not that we are. And by them burning and banning books, it does sound like Nazi Germany. No one said anything about the Holocaust, just Nazi Germany and the book argument.
A few of these books are likely to be insufferably PC, possibly achingly dull, but none is likely to do actual damage.
What exactly are they afraid of–“confusing” their children? Childhood is confusing, puberty is chaos. Any hint that they’re not alone in the world (none on the list is sympathetic to serial killers) might save some kids some misery. Is that what these people fear?
I can’t express enough how disheartening this list of banned books makes me feel. I feel for our children and the lack of understanding they will have about the world around them. Many of these banned books I have read in either high school and college. I’ve seen many changes in the world being born in 1963 but what’s happening in The United States today is morally wrong. This is not the country I remember as a child. It’s disturbing to think about how much hate, violence, and racism that can only lead to nazi Germany.
Shielding your child from factual reading is shielding them from life. If they don’t learn from books, school, or home the streets will certainly teach them.
I LOVED Go Ask Alice when I was a kid. It actually is part of the reason I never drank or did drugs with my friends when I was in middle school and high school.