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Freedom to Read: Book Banning in 2021 and 22

It's Not Just Books: Film Censorship

Book Banning Today

Book banning is on the rise. Intellectual Freedom reports 729 book challenges targeting 1,597 titles. The majority of targeted titled were by Black and/or LGBTQIA+ authors. This comes alongside a movement to restrict which resources and words are allowed in classrooms, libraries and public life. 

Why Is This Happening

Zack Beauchamp at Vox.com writes,  "The complaints run along some familiar themes: Writing by leftist radicals will steer youth toward political extremism; literature from LGBTQ authors encourages them to adopt “alternative lifestyles”; books that discuss sex and sexuality push them toward risky behaviors."

Discussion of "Critical Race Theory" being taught in classrooms has ostensibly fueled bannings targeting books that try to address racism, homophobia and transphobia.

What Can We Do?

Targeted Titles

 

  1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe



    Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images

     

  2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison



    Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
     

  3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson



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

     

  4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez



    Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit


     
  5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas



    Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda


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



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


     
  7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews



    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women
     
  8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison



    Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit


     
  9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson



    Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.


     
  10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin



    Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.