2021 Top 10 Challenged Books Revealed In State of America's Libraries Report

Who challenges books and where. Graphic from the ALA.

As a part of National Library Week, the American Library Association (ALA) released their 2022 State of America's Library Report today, revealing the top 10 most challenged books of 2021.

Keep reading to learn more about these books—and where to find them at the Birmingham Public Library (BPL)!

The State of America's Library Report is a special edition this year, continuing to cover how libraries are adapting to the pandemic and the increasing call for book bans in libraries across the country. If you are interested in seeing the full report, click here for all the details. 

A highly anticipated part of National Library Week is the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021 list. These books will be highlighted during Banned Book Week, which is set for September 14—24.

Celebrate early today by checking out one of these books from any member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC), including the BPL.

The ALA tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1,597 individual books that were challenged or banned in 2021, these are the top 10 most challenged books.  

Recognize any of these books? Graphic from the ALA.

Here are the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021 and why. 

10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin

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

You can find Beyond Magenta here in our catalog. 

9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

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

You can find This Book is Gay here in our catalog. The book is currently on order, but you can check out the ebook now. 

8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 

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

You can find The Bluest Eye here in our catalog.

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. 

You can find Me and Earl and the Dying Girl here in our catalog. You can also check out the movie, too. 

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

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of derogatory terms.

You can find The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian here in our catalog.

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

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

You can find The Hate U Give here in our catalog. You can also find the movie in our catalog. 

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. 

You can find Out of Darkness here in our catalog.

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. 

You can find All Boys Aren't Blue here in our catalog.

2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison 

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

You can find Lawn Boy here in our catalog.

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe 

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

You can find Gender Queer here in our catalog.

Happy reading! 

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By Cheyenne Trujillo | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Public Relations