ALA Announces 2017’s Top 10 Most-Challenged Books
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The American Library Association announced the Top 10 Most-Challenged Books of 2017 yesterday:
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.
They are:
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reason: suicideThe Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: profanity, sexually explicitDrama by Raina Telgemeier
Reason: LGBT contentThe 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 KidsSex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg
Reason: sex educationTo 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 RoundupAnd Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reason: LGBT contentI Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Reason: gender identityAs 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.
