Libraries

ALA Announces 2017’s Top 10 Most-Challenged Books

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Annika Barranti Klein

Staff Writer

Annika Barranti Klein likes books, obviously.   Twitter: @noirbettie

The American Library Association announced the Top 10 Most-Challenged Books of 2017 yesterday:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhWzdH7FzZU/

They are:

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Reason: suicide

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: profanity, sexually explicit

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Reason: LGBT content

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Reasons: sexual violence, religious themes, “may lead to terrorism” (editorial note: WHUT)

George by Alex Gino

Reason: LGBT content

Further reading: Why I’m Reading GEORGE To My Kids

Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg

Reason: sex education

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Reason: violence, racial slurs

Further reading: Is It Time To Retire TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD From Required Reading Lists?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reasons: drug use, profanity, “pervasively vulgar”

Further reading: THUG Banned By Katy, Texas, School District, #AngieThomasAppreciationDay Roundup

And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Reason: LGBT content

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Reason: gender identity


As you can see, books are still being challenged for the same tired reasons they’ve always been challenged. This year’s list is made…interesting by the inclusion of YA novels by men who have been accused of sexual assault (Jay Asher and Sherman Alexie).

Further reading: 15 Challenged Books Retitled as Clickbait, Why I Let My Children Read Banned Books

Or you might like to see all Banned Books Week content.