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Banned Books Week: October 1-7, 2023: Home

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and to call attention to current and historical attempts to censor specific books in libraries and schools.


To learn more:

American Library Association Banned & Challenged Books.
Banned in the USA: The Mounting Pressure to Censor
Most Frequently Challenged Authors of the 21st Century

Find a book in our library

Many books have been banned or challenged repeatedly through the decades.  The books below are in our library and appear the most often on banned or challenged books lists.  Under each title, the reasons given by individuals or groups who have demanded the book be banned are listed (from ALA Top 13 Most Challenged Books).  To borrow the book from the library, click on the cover and follow the information provided. 

Have questions or need help?   Talk to an Edmonds College Librarian at Chat with a Librarian.

Gender Queer: a Memoir

#1 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and
restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, sexually explicit images

All Boys Aren't Blue

#2 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity; considered to be sexually explicit

The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye

#3 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

Reason: sexually explicit, “contains controversial issues”

Looking for Alaska

#5 (tied) MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

#5 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

Reason: drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexually explicit,

Lawn Boy

Lawn Boy

#7 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

REASONS: LGBTQIA+ content and considered to be sexually explicit

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

#8 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term

Out of Darkness

#9 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

REASONS: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse; considered to be sexually explicit

This Book Is Gay

#10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN 2022

Reason: LGBTQIA+ content, providing sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give

Reason:  deemed “pervasively vulgar," profanity, drug use, sexual references

Fun Home

Fun Home

Reason: violence, graphic images

Monster

Monster

Reason: language, violence, "sexual overtures"

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

Reason:  violence, use of N-word

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Reason: sexually explicit

The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried

Reason:  sexual content, profanity

Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why

Reason: addresses teen suicide

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale

Reason:  profanity, “vulgarity and sexual overtones”

Harry Potter series

Harry Potter series

Reason:  occult, witchcraft, "anti-family"

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

Reason:  offensive language, sexually explicit

The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye

Reason:  offensive language, sexually explicit

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

Reason: sexual violence, "promotes Islam,' may to “lead to terrorism”

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Reason: offensive language, “profanity and atheism”

This One Summer

This One Summer

Reason: profanity, sexual references, certain illustrations