Can you name the most challenged or banned books of 2024?
In 1990, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom began collecting data on censorship attempts in libraries and schools. It began publishing yearly lists of these official challenges and requests to ban books.
During the period of 2001-2020 there was an annual average of 273 unique titles that were challenged. In 2024, 2,452 unique titles were challenged.
This is the third highest number ever documented by the ALA.
Seventy-two percent of these challenges were from pressure groups and government entities (elected officials, board members, and administrators). Sixteen percent came from parents, and twelve percent were made by library users, teachers, librarians, and staff.
Challenges to books have increased at an alarming rate in this decade and it's predicted to get worse if conservative school board members and conservative groups continue to usurp the abilities of librarians and school curriculum leaders to determine which books are age appropriate for inclusion in school libraries and school curricula.
Before 2015, most challenges were raised by parents of school aged children at the school or in the school district their child attended. In recent years, conservative groups, with deep pockets and powerful lawyers, have begun challenging books in multiple school districts calling for statewide bans even if the complainant has no legal standing in the community or a child in the district.
In previous years, parents worried about books depicting violence, sexual promiscuity, drug, and alcohol usage. excessive profanity, or racial slurs. The Captain Underpants Series by Dav Pilkey often came under fire because parents felt it depicted teachers and principals in a negative light and encouraged kids to be disrespectful.
Now, books that include LGBTQIA+ characters, depictions of nontraditional families, and DEI are facing more scrutiny. Authors of color and LGBTQIA+ authors are more likely to have their books challenged.
The 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024:
1. All Boys aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson received 39 challenges for LGBTQIA+ content and claims about sexually explicit content.
2. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe received 38 challenges for LGBTQIA+ content and claims about sexually explicit content.
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison received 35 challenges for depiction of sexual assault, depiction of incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion). [TIE]
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky also received 35 challenges alleging sexually explicit content, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual assault, depiction of drug use, and profanity. [TIE]
4. N/A
5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins received 33 challenges alleging sexually explicit content.
6. Looking for Alaska by John Greene received 30 challenges alleging sexually explicit content. [TIE]
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews also received 30 challenges alleging sexually explicit content and profanity. [TIE]
7. N/A
8. Crank by Ellen Hopkins received 28 challenges alleging sexually explicit content and depictions of drug use. [TIE]
Sold by Patricia McCormick also received 28 challenges alleging sexually explicit content and depictions of sexual assault. [TIE]
9. N/A
10. Flamer by Mike Curato received 27 challenges for LGBTQIA+ content and alleged sexually explicit content.
These are the top 10 most challenged book from 1990 when the ALA began keeping records:
1. Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz- challenged (1990-1999) for frightening content, the occult, violence, and religious viewpoints.
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite – the second most challenged book in the 1990s and still being challenged in this decade for positively depicting a same-sex relationship and a happy nontraditional family.
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou – challenged for frank portrayals of sexual content, rape, molestation, depictions of racism, and use of profanity.
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier – challenged for explicit content and cynical themes.
5. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – challenged for use of vulgarity, profanity, racial slurs, and depictions of slavery.
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – challenged for offensive language (profanity and racial slurs), racism, sexism, ableism, violence, and suicide.
7. Forever by Judy Blume – number seven on the ALA list of the “100 Most Challenged Books of 1990-2000” for depictions of sexual intercourse and the use of birth control by the main character. Also for allegedly promoting gender fluidity.
8. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson – challenged for its depiction of death, alleged religious profanity, themes of witchcraft, fantasy, and atheism.
9. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman – the ninth most frequently challenged book of the 1990s because of its positive depiction of a same sex relationship and a happy nontraditional family.
10. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – challenged and banned in many American schools for offensive language, sexual content, accusations of racism, misogyny, violence, and it’s negative portrayal of teenage life. Between 1961 and 1982, it was the most frequently censored book in high schools and libraries in the United states.
Sources:
"Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024", American Library Association, April 21, 2023
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10 (Accessed September 5, 2025)
Document ID: 762aeb22-ea38-47c5-b01e-8ac2d30c672c
All images courtesy of www.ala.org