China Dream by Ma Jian (China)93. The most banned books were primarily young Who Are Moms for Liberty? The effort to ban books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes is not new. As soon as Jazz Jennings could speak, she told her parents that she was a girl, despite having been assigned male at birth. Copyright 2023 PEN America. Between July 2021 and June 2022, books were banned 2,532 times in public schools across the U.S., according to the nonprofit, which works to defend free expression. A new list is released during National Library Week in April. This nonfiction picture book tells the story of the song known as the Black National Anthem. in cart. This is a book about gender equality, liberalism, and dictatorship in the Arab world. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut (U.S.)64. Got any tips? "The Truth About Alice" discusses slut-shaming among teenagers. The first volume was published in 1986 and the second in 1992. In Brazil, it can be easy to land on the list of banned books 2022, because of a strict rule that prohibits people from writing biographies without having permission from the subject or their relatives. PEN America counted school book bans in the 2021-2022 school year and found an alarming 1,648 titles banned somewhere in the United States the most comprehensive count of book bans to date. Their romance is the heart of this National Book Award-winning coming-of-age story from Malinda Lo. In addition to telling real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrum and illustrating them with hilarious illustrations, this book explores sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBTQ. The Call of the Wild by Jack London (U.S.)48. September 20, 2022 / 4:09 PM Below is a list of 25 LGBTQ+ books that have been banned or are currently facing bans across the U.S. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. Here are the 50 most commonly banned books in America from the 2021-2022 school year, with data supplied by PEN America. / CBS News. A girl named Melinda is raped, calls the police, and is then ostracized, causing her to develop selective mutism. Click here to buy The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Why does happiness have to be so hard? It was great to see so many writers & literary legends in one room! The book was published in 2007, but gained new popularity after Netflix released a television series. Kelly Jensen Jan 28, 2022. Jonathan Safran Foer's 2005 book, which was turned into a major film in 2012, is one of the most influential of the 21st century, but that hasn't stopped it from getting banned frequently from school libraries including in seven instances in the past school year alone. Parents in Keller and Spring Branch complained that this graphic novel, which features a transgender character, should be off-limits for young students because it includes images of children kissing in bed. The heartwarming true story of two male penguins at the Central Park zoo who adopt a baby penguin. A 2000s era young-adult series by Lauren Myracle (seen here) is written entirely as instant messages. Jason Reynolds (pictured here) and Brendan Kiely were sharing a hotel room when they heard that George Zimmerman had been acquitted for the murder of Trayvon Martin. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. $10.50. Art Spiegelman. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, More U.S. schools see an uptick in book banning, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead on sale for nearly $7 million, Americans of all political persuasions oppose book bans. Many books 41% that were banned included LGBTQ themes, protagonists or prominent secondary characters. This illustrated memoir by a nonbinary author, which includes sexually explicit cartoon images, triggered attempted bans and even threats of criminal charges in several Texas school districts. But we think they deserve to be read, analyzed, and enjoyed. Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (U.S.)35. Mentions lgales "You might not be the audience, your child might not be the audience, but more often than not, there is an audience for the books and often they are desperately needed," she said. This classic novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison should be banned from schools, according to a parent in the Fort Worth suburb of Birdville, because it includes a graphic description of rape. A top target in recent years has been Alex Gino's middle-grade novel about a transgender girl, Melissa (formerly published as George). It is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. The stories that made this list of banned books 2022, are a collection of books from over the years that have been challenged, banned, and sometimes burned. It's one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. ', Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. While you would assume in on this list of banned books 2022 for the obvious reasons of a young girl hiding for her life during the Holocaust, think again. My Fathers Daughter by Hannah Pool (Eritrea)31. A coming of age story about two teenage friends who discover their sexuality during a summer in the small beach town of Awago. Now that youve seen our list of banned books 2022, what did you think? The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones (U.S.)56. A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway96. Each interview shows the wide breadth of the trans experience, how different it can be depending on a number of factors including geography and family. This is by no means a comprehensive list of banned or challenged books, especially considering that the total book challenges in 2022 exceeded the 2021 record, according to data obtained by the ALA. Charlottes Web by E.B. WebPersepolis: The Story of a Childhood. Drama is a graphic novel that follows Callie, a middle school student and theater-lover who works on the crew of her school's drama production. Author John Green (seen here at the premiere of the film adaptation of "Looking for Alaska") is known for his young-adult novels, which have been well received by critics and fans. It was seen to be indecent or obscene.. Psst! The author of this biographical book was sued by the singer himself over rights to his life history. It was great to see so many writers & literary legends in one room! For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (Spain)99. It was subject to book bans eight times in the past school year. Published January 26, 2022 12:35PM (EST) Display of banned books or censored books at Books Inc independent bookstore in Alameda, California, October 16, 2021. It contains mentions of sex, masturbation, and profanity, making it the No. These themes caused the book to go through five bans over the course of the previous school year. IE 11 is not supported. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Prez (U.S.)39. There is a particularly brutal rape scene in the book. This young adult novel, a National Book Award finalist, mentions abortion and includes multiple descriptions of sex. Check out 10 fantastic childrens books about travel. Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel by Zora Neale Hurston (U.S.)61. School districts have banned it for its depiction of trans kids, sexual content, and discussion of "Black Lives Matter." The book is based on real-life missing Black girls who fail to receive attention from media or police. With some titles restricted in multiple places, the total count of book bans is more than 2,500. Gay. An unexpected turn of events leads the noble prince and his brave knight to find true love in the midst of a most unexpected battle against a monstrous being. Her dreams come true, but it isnt the fantasy shes hoping for. Dawson considers it a manual for life as an LGBTQ person. Roy and Silo subsequently raised the chick, Tango, as their own. Most feature a protagonist of color or characters who reflect the LGBTQ+ experience. Duncan, pictured here, was credited with helping to pioneer horror and suspense for teens. One of the most banned books of the year, Alex Gino's groundbreaking middle-grade book follows a young trans girl who discovers her true identity. In asking to ban this nonfiction book about resisting racism, an Eanes parent suggested replacing it with copies of the Bible. This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson (U.S.)44. The story is about two boys growing up in Afghanistan against the backdrop of the Soviet invasion, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan, and the rise of the Taliban. The book is a compilation of essays describing the author's experience growing up as a queer Black kid in New Jersey, and is written specifically for other queer Black kids. Public libraries have always been at the forefront of the fight against censorship, leading to the creation in 1982 of Banned Books Week, a time to This book, in which the author interviews people who've been shamed on the internet, touches on sensitive subjects, including rape and suicide. Senator Ted Cruz held up a copy of the book during the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in April 2022 as he questioned her about her views of critical race theory. So when his parents announce that theyre going to have a baby, Aidan wants to make sure everything is right for his younger sibling. Morrisons first novel, The Bluest Eye, is perhaps the most frequent member of banned book lists thanks to its painful scenes of sexual abuse and incest. Anderson is seen here attending the National Book Awards in 2008. Used Trade Paperback. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. This novel follows the lives of two migrants, but it was banned in several countries because it challenged the divine nature of the Quran. ", In asking to ban this book about the plight of a Black working-class family as they prepare for Hurricane Katrina, a parent in Katy wrote, "I object to the explicit description of the teenage girl having sex with the boys in her social group. Here, mother Stephanie Baptist reads it to her 8-year-old daughter; the book is part of her daughter's school curriculum in Toronto. In 2006, a parent in Calgary Catholic School District complained about this book because two male penguins raise a baby penguin, so her challenge: homosexual parenting. Its no shock that its been criticized by religious conservatives since it was published in 2019, for exploring these topics: adolescent sexuality, asexuality, and the differences between gender identity and sexuality. In these challenging times, our schedules are out of whack and we are itching to explore. Then, Kristina meets the monster: crank. The Joke in the Arab World by Khaled Qashtin (Jordan)78. Did any of these surprise you? The case was later tossed out. Are there things we can do that protect us and those around. Several titles were targeted in multiple districts. ", A dad in Grapevine, a Dallas suburb, asked his child's school district to ban this book, a collection of poems by women of color on topics relating to social justice, activism and discrimination, because, he said, it promotes "terrorism.". This list has been updated on 09/24/2022. After his father's suicide and with his girlfriend out of town, Aaron Soto finds himself growing closer and closer to his new friend, Thomas. ISBN: 9781549304002. Critical race theory is most often taught at the college or law school levels andacknowledges racial disparitieshave persisted in U.S. history and are reinforced in U.S. law and institutions. | Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Alexie is seen here at the Live Wire! This book, lauded for its portrayal of a transgender child, is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. Because of this, it was banned in schools on eight separate instances in the 2021-2022 school year. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, 41 bans. Drawing from those records, below is a list of 50 books that Texas parents tried to ban in 2021. ", A parent in Plano said this coming-of-age novel about a Mexican American character's journey to understanding his own sexuality and ethnic identity should be banned because it contains "profanity, pornography, gambling, homosexuality." Due to the content of sexual nature despite the fact that there are no sex scenes in the book there were 10 book bans for it over the past school year. The story takes a look at violence, religion, and life in the middle of the century for many Irish young men. Queen of Sheba and Biblical Scholarship by Bernard Leeman (Saudi Arabia)84. 2 banned book of the 2021-2022 school year. | Defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. It is also believed that removing this book from shelves is a convenient whitewashing of tragic historical events. This collection of poetry and short stories about violence, abuse, love, loss and femininity is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in Keller. Read more: Books on race and sexuality are disappearing from Texas schools in record numbers. Based on some sexual content and mental-health issues, as well as the depiction of a pregnant teenager, there were 11 separate school bans of the graphic novel in the past school year. Lady Chatterleys Lover by D. H. Lawrence (U.K.)100. Letters From Burma by Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma). April 26, 2022, 1:26 PM PDT By Elliott Ramos School districts in 26 states have banned or opened investigations into more than 1,100 books, according to an April report The Boys by Garth Ennis (Qatar)83. Last night, under the flashing neon lights of the Telegraph Club, Lily Hu met Kathleen Miller and sparks immediately flew. All rights reserved. Its hard to describe this one, its a doomsday book that emphasizes the idea of a giant catastrophe. Kuklin's story chronicles six real-life trans teens and young adults. Sex Is a Funny Word opens up conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about boundaries, safety, and joy.