It’s Banned Books Week again, and the censorship of books continues to be a clear and present danger. From The American Library Association’s website (it's long, but important):

"The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to defend each person's right to read under the First Amendment and to ensure free access to information. Every year, ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from confidential reports filed by library professionals and community members, as well as news stories published throughout the United States.

Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the data compiled by ALA represent only a snapshot of censorship attempts in libraries.

The 2024 data reported to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. Parents only accounted for 16% of demands to censor books, while 5% of challenges were brought by individual library users. The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books.

The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice.

Since 2021, ALA has tracked a sharp spike in censorship attempts in libraries. In 2024, ALA recorded the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990: ALA documented 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials in 2024 across all library types, a decrease from 2023, when a record high 1,247 attempts were reported. ALA recorded attempts to remove 2,452 unique titles in 2024, which significantly exceeds the average of 273 unique titles that were challenged annually during 2001–2020.

The Top 10 Most Challenged Books lists are released annually during National Library Week and Right to Read Day.

Looking for the most challenged books from previous years? Check out the Top 10 Most Challenged Books Archive for lists and data going back to 2001, as well as the 100 most challenged books of past decades.

Your support matters now more than ever. Donations strengthen ALA's efforts to fight censorship, support libraries and library workers confronting attempts to remove materials and other resources, and increase awareness about the nationwide assault on the freedom to read. If you're able, please consider donating to the Office for Intellectual Freedom today.”

This year's theme is "Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights." The week culminates in a day of action on Saturday, October 11th. Look for Banned Books Week events in your area to get involved. And don't miss reading Adrienne L. Pettinelli's "Field Notes: The Day the Book Banners Came for Us" (from the September/October 2022 Horn Book Magazine) and Pat Scales's "What Makes a Good Banned Book?" (from the September/October 2009 Horn Book Magazine).

Here are the most banned books of 2024 (plus links to how the Horn Book reviewed some of them):

1. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. (TIE) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Depiction of sexual assault, depiction of incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
4. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual assault, depiction of drug use, profanity
5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit
6. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit 
7. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
8. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of drug use
9. Sold by Patricia McCormick Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, , depiction of sexual assault
10. Flamer by Mike Curato Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

Which banned books are you reading this week?