Click to view the full-size infographic Embed this image on your site: By PlaygroundEquipment.com Banned books have been a hot topic lately. One of the latest banned books to make headlines was Maus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel created by Art Spiegelman. The novel depicts the author interviewing his father about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. In 2022, a Tennessee school board voted to remove Maus from their eighth-grade curriculum, which caused an uproar among the book’s supporters and opened up a greater conversation about censorship of books. Ever wonder why so many people try to pull certain books from library and school shelves? The Playground Equipment team compiled a banned books list and reasons why parents believe these books should be removed, from the reasonable to the ridiculous. Check out which books Americans had a problem with in 2020, in the past eight years and beyond, and why. What Is the Most Banned Book in America? For all time, the most frequently banned book is 1984 by George Orwell. (How very Orwellian!) The most banned and challenged book for 2020 was George by Alex Gino. What Are the Top 10 Banned Books in America of All Time? Out of the many books that have been banned, many of them are considered to be classics and even incorporated into the required reading for classes. Here are the top 10 most challenged books of all time: 1984 by George Orwell The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Color Purple by Alice Walker The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Lord of the Flies by William Golding Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Which Books Are the Most Banned in the U.S. Today? There were 273 books challenged or banned during 2020, and George by Alex Gino was the most frequently challenged due to its subject matter, which includes LGBTQIA+ content. The 2021 banned books list is not yet available. Here is the top 10 list of banned books in the U.S. in 2020: George by Alex Gino Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas George, which was also on the list of banned books in 2018 and 2019, tells the story of a young transgender girl named Melissa. While the rest of the world sees her as George, she longs to be seen as Melissa, her true self. While the book has been praised by The New York Times and National Public Radio for its depiction of transgender experiences, it has been challenged every year since 2016. The author has since retitled the book Melissa. A new addition to the banned books list is Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. This book, published in 2020, is a New York Times best-seller that explores issues related to race, racism, and anti-racism in America. It has been banned and challenged for allegedly including "selective storytelling incidents” and not including instances of racism against all people. The third most challenged book of 2020 was All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. This is the first year that the book appeared in the list of top 10 most challenged books. It tells the story of two teenage boys as they handle police brutality and racism within their community. The book has been challenged for many reasons, including drug use, profanity, alcoholism, and anti-police sentiments. Why Are Books Banned? Usually, it’s the result of parents and community insistence. The most common reasons why books are banned in the U.S. are racial issues, sexual content or education, encouragement of “damaging” lifestyles, violence, presence of witchcraft or paganism, and religious affiliations. Surveys show that between 82% and 97% of book challenges (documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries) receive no media attention, so it is difficult to capture the full scope of the issue. In recent times, if you look at the list of banned books and reasons why they were challenged, you’ll see a pattern of LGBTQ+ themes frequently being attacked. The most challenged or banned books between 2000-09 were the Harry Potter books, the Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. In the 20 years since J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series took the world by storm, it has faced many attempts to limit, ban, and even burn the books. It was the most frequently challenged book series in the U.S. for 1999 and earned the 48th slot on the 1990-1999 banned books list. When Is Banned Books Week? Banned Books Week takes place during the last week of September. The ALA Banned Books Week has been during the last week of September since 1982. It is an annual awareness campaign launched by the American Library Association and Amnesty International to celebrate the freedom to read and to stress the importance of ensuring the accessibility of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to anyone who wishes to read them. The goal is to give readers the freedom to develop their own opinions and conclusions as well as learn about the history of banned books in America. It is important to be aware of banned books and why they are challenged by parents, teachers, libraries, and organizations across the globe! The Most Challenged Books of 2013-2020 Most Challenged Books of 2020 Total Challenges: 156 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) George Alex Gino 2015 LGBTQIA+ content, religious viewpoint, controversial issues Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds 2020 Controversial issues, racial issues All American Boys Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely 2015 Profanity, alcoholism, drug use, anti-police, controversial issues Speak Laurie Halse Anderson 1999 Political viewpoint, sexual content, profanity The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Sherman Alexie 2007 Sexual content, profanity, author misconduct Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard Jennifer Zivoin 2018 Controversial issues, anti-police To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee 1960 Use of “N” word, racial issues Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck 1937 Racial issues The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison 1970 Sexual content The Hate U Give Angie Thomas 2017 Profanity, anti-police Most Challenged Books of 2019 Total Challenges: 377 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) George Alex Gino 2015 Sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content, transgender character, religious viewpoint Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out Susan Kuklin 2014 Sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo Jill Twiss EG Keller 2018 LGBTQIA+ content, political viewpoint, corrupts youth Sex Is a Funny Word Cory Silverberg Fiona Smyth 2015 LGBTQIA+ content, gender identity, sex education, unsuited for age group Prince & Knight Daniel Haack Stevie Lewis 2018 LGBTQIA+ content, gender identity, religious viewpoint, corrupts youth I Am Jazz Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Shelagh McNicholas 2014 LGBTQIA+ content, transgender character, controversial issues The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood 1985 Profanity, sexual content Drama Raina Telgemeier 2012 LGBTQIA+ content, corrupts youth Harry Potter series J. K. Rowling 1997 Occult, controversial issues And Tango Makes Three Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Henry Cole 2005 LGBTQIA+ content Most Challenged Books of 2018 Total Challenges: 347 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) George Alex Gino 2015 Sexual content, transgender character A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo Jill Twiss EG Keller 2018 LGBTQIA+ content, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint Captain Underpants series Dav Pilkey 1997 Profanity, unsuited for age group, LGBTQIA+ content The Hate U Give Angie Thomas 2017 Profanity, sexual content, drug use, anti-police Drama Raina Telgemeier 2012 LGBTQIA+ content Thirteen Reasons Why Jay Asher 2017 Discusses suicide This One Summer Mariko Tamaki Jillian Tamaki Profanity, sexual content Skippyjon Jones series Judy Schachner 2003 Racism The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Sherman Alexie 2007 Sexual content, profanity, violence, gambling, underage drinking, religious viewpoint This Day in June Gayle E. Pitman Kristyna Litten 2014 LGBTQIA+ content Most Challenged Books of 2017 Total Challenges: 354 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) Thirteen Reasons Why Jay Asher 2007 Discusses suicide The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Sherman Alexie 2007 Profanity, alcoholism, sexuality, gambling, drugs, anti-family, racial issues Drama Raina Telgemeier 2012 LGBTQIA+ content, Sexual content The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini 2003 Sexual content, violence, unsuited to age group, profanity George Alex Gino 2015 Transgender character Sex Is a Funny Word Cory Silverberg Fiona Smyth 2015 Sexual content To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee 1960 Violence, profanity, use of “N” word The Hate U Give Angie Thomas 2017 Profanity, sexual content, drug use And Tango Makes Three Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Henry Cole 2005 LGBT content, anti-family, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group I Am Jazz Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Shelagh McNicholas 2014 Gender identity Most Challenged Books of 2016 Total Challenges: 323 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) This One Summer Mariko Tamaki Jillian Tamaki 2014 LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, profanity, sexual content Drama Raina Telgemeier 2012 LGBTQIA+ content George Alex Gino 2015 Transgender character I Am Jazz Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Shelagh McNicholas 2014 Gender identity Two Boys Kissing David Levithan 2013 LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, promotes “public displays of affection” Looking for Alaska John Green 2005 Drugs, alcohol, smoking, unsuited for age group Big Hard Sex Criminals Matt Fraction Chip Zdarsky 2015 Sexual content Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread Chuck Palahniuk 2015 Profanity, sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content Little Bill series Bill Cosby Varnette P. Honeywood 1997 Author misconduct Eleanor & Park Rainbow Rowell 2013 Profanity Most Challenged Books of 2015 Total Challenges: 275 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) Looking for Alaska John Green 2005 Sexual content, profanity Fifty Shades of Grey E.L. James 2011 Sexual content, poorly written, religious viewpoint, nudity, unsuited for age group I Am Jazz Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Shelagh McNicholas 2014 Gender identity, unsuited for age group, sexual content Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out Susan Kuklin 2014 Anti-family, profanity, LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, political viewpoint, unsuited for age group The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Mark Haddon 2003 Profanity, atheism, unsuited for age group The Holy Bible Religious viewpoint, promotes Christianity Fun Home Alison Bechdel 2006 Violence, sexual content, LGBTQIA+ content Habibi Craig Thompson 2011 Nudity, sexual content, unsuited for age group Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan Jeanette Winter 2009 Religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, violence, promotes Islam Two Boys Kissing David Levithan 2013 LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content, promotes public displays of affection Most Challenged Books of 2014 Total Challenges: 311 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Sherman Alexie 2007 Profanity, alcoholism, sexuality, gambling, drugs, anti-family, racial issues Persepolis Marjane Satrapi 2000 Gambling, profanity, political viewpoint, depiction of torture And Tango Makes Three Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Henry Cole 2005 LGBTQIA+ content, anti-family, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison 1970 Sexual content, unsuited for age group, controversial issues It’s Perfectly Normal Robie Harris 1994 Nudity, sexual content, unsuited to age group, sexual education Saga Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples 2012 Anti-family, nudity, profanity, sexual content, unsuited for age group The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini 2012 Anti-family, nudity, profanity, sexual content, unsuited for age group The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky 1999 LGBTQIA+ content, drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual content, unsuited for age group A Stolen Life Jaycee Dugard 2011 Drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual content, unsuited for age group, profanity Drama Raina Telgemeier 2012 LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content Most Challenged Books of 2013 Total Challenges: 307 Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) Captain Underpants Dav Pilkey 1997 Profanity, unsuited for age group, violence The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison 1970 Sexual content, unsuited for age group, controversial issues The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Sherman Alexie 2007 Profanity, alcoholism, sexuality, gambling, drugs, anti-family, racial issues Fifty Shades of Grey E.L. James 2011 Sexual content, poorly written, religious viewpoint, nudity, unsuited for age group The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins 2012 Anti-family, racial issues, occult, violence, religious viewpoint, sexual content A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl Tanya Lee Stone 2006 Drugs, alcohol, nudity, profanity, sexual content Looking for Alaska John Green 2005 Sexual content, drugs, alcohol, smoking, unsuited for age group The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky 1999 LGBTQIA+ content, drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual content, unsuited for age group Bless Me Ultima Rudolfo Anaya 1972 Occult, profanity, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit Bone Jeff Smith 1991 Political viewpoint, racism, violence The 10 Most Challenged and Banned Classics of All Time Book Title Author Illustrator Published Reason(s) 1984 George Orwell 1949 Pro-communist, sexual content The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain 1884 Racism The Catcher in the Rye J. D. Salinger 1951 Profanity, unsuited for age group The Color Purple Alice Walker 1982 Profanity, sexual content, unsuited for age group, racial issues The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald 1925 Drugs, sexual content, profanity I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou 1969 Sexual content, racial issues Lord of the Flies William Golding 1954 Profanity, sexual content, racism, violence Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck 1937 Profanity, racism, violence One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Ken Kesey 1975 Violence, sexual content, corrupts youth, profanity To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee 1960 Profanity, racism, racial issues The Importance of a Well-Rounded Education in Schools Schools play an important part in both the formal and informal education of children, from the classroom to the playground. This includes interpersonal skills and compassion in addition to math and science. Teaching kids about different creeds, cultures, and challenges helps make them more open-minded as well as empathetic to people in their communities. Whether children are learning from a desk or a swing set, it’s important that we acknowledge and embrace the things that make us unique. Edited by: Ben Thompson