Popular Banned Books You Should Read in 2022 . But here are some trends. Withholding information makes them less safe, not more. This book, a collection of interviews with transgender or gender-neutral young adults, was flagged for removal by a parent in Birdville who claimed that the book, which includes descriptions of sexual abuse of minors, encourages sexual activity among young children. Archived Book Challenges. Teens are going to be curious about sex whether books on sex ed are in the library or not. appeared on a list of around 850 books produced by Republican Texas Rep. Matt Krause. below is a list of 50 books that . And more importantly, are adult romance novels okay in general, but just not this one? Here are just a few of the most frequently banned books we think everyone should read. "And Tango Makes Three," by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. Again, I would be very surprised if any school has this book on their shelves in the first place. The novel has been banned and challenged more than once, usually because of the rape scene. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Here are the 50 most commonly banned books in America from the 2021-2022 school year, with data supplied by PEN America. 9:33 AM UTC / Updated Feb. 2, 2022, . So whether you want to read the best fiction books or the nonfiction books everyone is talking about, these banned books are a great place to start. ", More:Texas officials to target obscene content in school libraries at governor's request. Hes practically penniless. The DC Comics graphic novel Y: The Last Man also makes the list, maybe because its a science fiction story about everyone with a Y chromosome dying, and thatd be a bummer? Conservatives in some school districts have used the book bans and rancor over social studies teachings to help bring rally support and attracted unprecedented money to win school board seats campaigning under the promise to clear out critical race theory and pornographic materials from schools. Texas-based NBC reporter Mike Hixenbaugh spoke . (The format of Title : subtitle is common in library records, but not in most other places.) Follow her on Twitter at @nusaiblah. Despite (and perhaps because of) these heartbreaking scenes, the book is worth a readespecially if youre starting a book club. If the supernaturals your jam, check out our list of the top vampire books for adults. Another strange consequence of this keyword approach is that a lot of books are listed that are ridiculous to think any library would currently have in stock. The Bluest Eye is a perfect introduction to Morrisons iconic lyrical style. Robinson wrote that it is possible titles mentioned in the tweet may have been discussedon the local level. T he wave of book reviews and removals that swept across Texas in the last year was driven more by politicians than parents, a Houston Chronicle analysis found . The book offers the story of Percola Breedlove, a Black girl who longs for blue eyes. This content contains affiliate links. Theyre subjects that kids and teens are curious about, and they may not be things they feel comfortably speaking to their parents about. Even Bibles were written in languages that the "everyman" didn't necessarily read, which meant the church remained the ultimate source of information and authority. A vast majority of the books named in the state letter are about or referencesexuality, LGBTQ+ identity, and race. confused school districts about how to follow it, We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and About Students, Whose Life? Add to that a few sexually explicit scenes, and youve got a few jittery school boards purging the shelves of this YA book. Banned Books in the Texas Prison System (2011) The Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) also allegedly maintained a list of books partially named on this site. Request your local libraries and school libraries carry anti-racist, sex ed, trans, and LGBTQ books. All rights reserved. Greg Abbott has put a promise to increase parental rights at the center of his reelection platform. or the adult book Abortion & the Politics of Motherhood from 1985. Contact Nusaiba Mizanat nmizan@gannett.com. There is one book each from Michael Crichton (a 1993 medical thriller), James Patterson (Cradle and All), and Richard North Patterson (Protect and Defend (Kerry Kilcannon #2)). According to PEN America, in that period, there were 1,586 books banned. Texas State Representative Matt Krause recently put more than 800 books on a watch list, many of them dealing with race and . Again, some of these books are nonsensical to assume are being shelved in school libraries, like Whose Life? Then weve got three adult romances from E. Lynn Harris, which again suggests that adult romance or erotica books in general are fine, but just not these particular ones. Of all the things to teach in school or for kids to have access to, this is one of the most important. A Birdville mom wanted this book, a graphic novel featuring LGBTQ characters, removed from libraries because, she said, it "has a recurring theme of oral sex. As the plot unfolds, fissures form in their nations foundation, and the boys explore betrayal, redemption and the power of familial love. After all, stories about kids killing each other doesnt cause students discomfort, but a book that mentions a characters gay uncle is apparently scarring. (Montinique Monroe/For The . Conservatives have enacted about 1,600 book bans in school districts over the last 9 months, with Texas leading the way, report says. Greg Abbott showed support for Krause'sscrutiny of school books, Texas officials to target obscene content in school libraries at governor's request, An Octoberanalysis by The Dallas Morning News, Records requested by NBC News of nearly 100 Texas school districts found 86 formal requests to remove books from libraries in 2021, as reported by the (Nashville)Tennessean, Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019, Leander removes 13 books from high school book club lists amid parent concerns, 'Absurd': Author of 'Maus' condemns Tennessee school's decision to pull book on Holocaust, Here are 50 books Texas parents want banned from school libraries, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. She has nine titles on the list. More:A state lawmaker asked schools to catalog books on race and sex. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. In asking to ban this nonfiction book about resisting racism, an Eanes parent suggested replacing it with copies of the Bible. I'm done arguing with people over whether this is fascism.". Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coatess National Book Awardwinning book-length letter to his young son about growing up Black, is on the list, as is his We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy, which features essays on race in America. No. Aldous Huxleys 1931 dystopian book was first banned in Ireland for anti-religion, anti-family and blasphemous content, according to Carnegie Mellon Universitys Banned Books Project. If youre wondering which author has the most books included on this list, its Julie Anne Peters, who broke barriers by publishing lesbian YA books in the early 2000s and has continued to write LGBTQ YA books since. As the full list from PEN America indicates, book banning has become a popular cause among some in our polarized electoratebut this wasnt always the case. Thats because book banning is rarely a federal matter. Many school curricula and parents of teens have objected to having the young adult novel "Charlie and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" available in public libraries. "Many of these challenges began with the titles on Rep. Krauses list, including 'The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel'by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault," said Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association,in a Feb. 8 email to PolitiFact Texas. Wayward Witch by Zoraida Cordova, but not the first two in the series even though the first one has a bisexual main character and the second two have straight main characters. Nudity (of animals) and profanity. The unfortunate reason for the widespread restriction of this Scholastic novel is all too clear: Its a childrens book about a transgender girl. The pages brim with real-world stories of homophobia, transphobia, sexual and gender identity struggles, and the ups and downs of transitioning. Its banned comics, and prose books, and books full of poems; its banned slim volumes, and its banned hefty tomes. A parent in McKinney asked the district to remove this coming-of-age novel because it includes descriptions of homosexuality, date rape and masturbation. She noted Texas public schools have clear, transparent processes approved by school boardsfor addressing book challenges. Updated: 10:17 PM CST January 27, 2022. The majority of requests Texas school librarians received were to ban materials covering issues of racism, sexuality and gender. A stack of books that have been challenged or banned in Texas, April 2022. Sex education books for kids and teens have been facing increased censorship this year, including classics like Its Perfectly Normal (yep, that ones on the list!) But theres no doubt hes talented when it comes to landscaping. They include The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison . A Texas School District Banned My Book. Mara Mndez, Austin American-Statesman, ", Email from Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association in an email via Elizabeth Christian Public Relations, Feb. 8, 2022, American Library Association, "Banned & Challenged Classics", Maria Mndez, Austin American-Statesman, "Abbott push to probe pornography in schools prompts question: When is a book pornographic? Records requested by NBC News of nearly 100 Texas school districts found 86 formal requests to remove books from libraries in 2021, with the majority of requests coming at the end of the year afterKrause sent his letter. For 10 years, I "smuggled" banned books across state lines to bring attention to crucial literature. But the oddest reason? An April analysis from PEN America, a literary and free expression advocacy organization, found 1,586 books were banned in 86 school districts across 26 states from July 31, 2021, to March 31 . Even if this list made any sense, that wouldnt make it better. 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 Katy mom said this graphic novel, the second in a series, should be removed from schools because it will make white children feel guilty and "kids will be brainwashed that one race is superior than the other. Ashley Hope Prezs 2015 young adult novel Out of Darkness has landed on many a list of banned books for its graphic depictions of teen sex. But its very strange to see just one title each from these prolific authors and ones that arent likely to be on the shelves at all. A parent in the Houston suburb of Katy wrote that this book, which chronicles the relationship between a teen boy and a girl with leukemia, includes "obscene language" and could lead students to "become over sexualized and objectified. Thank you for signing up! Aug. 10, 2022. Discussions of race or sex, or just the wrong vibes, seem to be all it takes to number a book among the 801 bannings in Texas this year. But we do know that book banning has affected titles in a range of book genres and categorieseverything from the best childrens books to classic books and plenty of books about race relations in America. That may as well have been a lifetime ago, however, as the length and breadth of the list indicates. The fight over censorship and banned books is nothing new, but there seems to be a fresh effort to purge the shelves of so-called edgy cultural commentary (as in Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You), uncomfortable interpretations of reality (such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and the Holocaust book Maus), discussions of gender identity (as with George M. Johnsons banned book All Boys Arent Blue) and provocative stories that could lead to political questioning (The Handmaids Tale, anyone?). This novel, which includes LGBTQ storylines and explicit language, is one of dozens of library books that have been flagged for removal in the Fort Worth suburb of Keller. 3. Every year, the 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 most frequent . We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. To be clear, Im not even counting books about reproductive rights or your rights as an LGBTQ person in particular. Toni Morrisons literary and societal impact led to the USPS honoring her on one of the new 2023 stamps. What does it say about an elected official that he would want books about students legal rights taken out of school libraries? August 18, 20225:02 PM ET. Her companions, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. (The film adaptation, which similarly deals with anti-fascist themes, is also banned in China and Russia.). Texas has banned a huge number of books, indeed! The second volume was published in 1992 and went on to win a Pulitzer Prizethe first and only graphic novel to achieve that honor. Along with books written for teens to understand their bodies and sexuality, this list also includes any books about abortion or pregnancy, including history books about Roe vs. Wade or debates about abortion. Other countries soon followed suit. Florida banned 566 books, and 457 titles were banned in Pennsylvania, where a majority of books were removed from one school district in York County, which is known as being more conservative. This list has been updated on 09/24/2022. Their stance hasnt affected the popularity of the book (or its movie adaptation)its widely considered one of the greatest books of all time. "Lawn Boy" covers the journey of self-realization and acceptance of one Mike Muoz, a 22-year-old . KATY, Texas From a secluded spot in her high school library, a 17-year-old girl spoke softly into her cellphone, worried that someone might overhear her say the things she'd hidden from her parents for years. Nonetheless, with the increase of book bans and challenges recently, Krause appears to want to preemptively remove any books that could be challenged for causing discomfort.. The runner up is Takako Shimura, who has eight volumes of Wandering Son, a manga series with a trans main character, on the list. For nonfiction, books that discuss sex or its consequences openly tend to make the listtitles include Margaret O. Hydes Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens, Donna Langes Taking Responsibility: A Teens Guide to Contraception and Pregnancy, and Chloe Shantz-Hilkes My Girlfriends Pregnant! Of course, The Hunger Games isnt listed, and neither is Battle Royale. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. The process is similar in public libraries with selections made based on guidelines approved by the library's governing authority. Winner of the 2020 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, this novel deals with themes such as grief, love, family, friendship, racism and sexuality. Books about teen misfits such as Rainbow Rowells Eleanor & Park or Stephen Chboskys The Perks of Being a Wallflower both appear. Balzer & Bray/Harperteen The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas. These are titles like The Legal Atlas of the United States, Teen Legal Rights, Gender Equality and Identity Rights (Foundations of Democracy), Equal Rights, We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and About Students, and Peaceful Rights for Equal Rights. The Pants Project, a middle grade LGBTQ book, and Not My Idea, an anti-racist picture book, are both on here twice. --->Banning Increases Sales<--- Here's a List of Truly Great Books. As the controversy around The Breakaways indicates, book-banners seem to contend that any depiction of gay or transgender charactersor nonfiction explorations of those identitiesis inherently inappropriate for kids. The fervor around critical race theory, which describes an academic framework not taught in public schools, means that it doesnt matter how well regarded a book about race issuch titles are all over the list of banned books. The 2022 book ban list includes titles that have been restricted in previous years. ET on February 3, 2022. Dark magic, evil villains, sorcerers, oh my! Considered by many (including Readers Digest) to be one of the best books of all time, The Things They Carried is Tim OBriens heartbreaking account of the Vietnam War. PEN America defines a ban as any action taken against a book based on its content after challenges from parents or lawmakers. Art Spiegelmans Pulitzer Prizewinning history of the Holocaust, the comic book Maus, appears on the list, as does Ari Folmans graphic adaptation of Anne Franks Diary of a Young Girl. Other books are listed in both English and Spanish versions, while Qu me est pasando?, Lucas y yo, and En el bosque are listed only in Spanish presumably the English versions are okay to stock. PEN America reported in the first edition of Banned in the USA (April 2022) that book bans had occurred in 86 school districts in 26 states in the first nine months of the 2021-22 school year. With additional reporting, and looking at the 12-month school year, the Index now lists banned books in 138 school districts in 32 states. One day before students returned to classrooms in North Texas, a school district ordered principals and librarians to remove books including the Bible and a graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank . Even dad-friendly political thrillers can land on the list if abortion comes upbestselling author and occasional Fox News contributor Richard North Pattersons Protect and Defend received an administrators challenge as well. Adventure ensues. Compare that with, say, Alaska or South Carolina, which have banned one book each. Another 40% of these books contains protagonists or prominent secondary characters of color. It looks like maybe two of them mention pregnancy? 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. Apr 08, 2022. What makes Go Ask Alice (1971) one of the most controversial books of all time? Books such as Ashley Hope Prezs Out of Darkness, Jesse Andrewss Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and Lauren Myracles l8r, g8r all appear on the list (nine, seven, and four times, respectively) for touching on sexual themes, featuring teens who talk about sex, or depicting sexual abuse. When Melissa is shut down for wanting to play a female role in the class play, she decides its time to change things. When shes not on deadline, you can find her curled up with a new library book or road-tripping through Europe or the American West. North East Independent School District in San Antonio identified 414 books in its libraries, which are included in a list of about 850 titles compiled by Texas Rep. Matt Krause. "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" by . Its about curriculum. "Gender Queer: A Memoir," by Maia Kobabe. Starrs careful balancing act crumbles when a police officer kills her unarmed friend. The parents challenging these books say that sex ed should be taught in the home, by parents, but that ignores that many households wont do this, and also that most teens dont feel comfortable talking to their parents about sex. A mom in Birdville asked school leaders to remove this book an illustrated guide to puberty, sex and sexual health after her child checked it out, writing that it wasn't appropriate for middle schoolers. Amplify your impact and donate now. Here are 50 books Texas parents have asked school districts to ban, nearly all of which deal with racism, sexuality . Keeping these books out of school libraries means students are less educated and are more likely to practice risky behavior because they dont have all the facts. " Lawn Boy " by Jonathan Evison. Katy ISD . Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Well, profanity, for one. The book, published in 1947, is a clear-eyed glimpse into the thoughts of a young teenager hiding in an attic to avoid being rounded up by the Nazis during World War II. Ibram X. Kendis books How to Be an Antiracist and Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America are both banned in multiple districts. Texas banned more books from school libraries this past year than any other state in the nation, targeting titles centering on race, racism, abortion and LGBTQ representation and issues, according to a new analysis by PEN America, a nonprofit organization advocating for free speech. Separately, some school boards in Texas have moved to remove books from libraries, as books have been challenged and banned in other states as well. Any sense, that wouldnt make it better libraries with selections made based on its content after challenges parents. Go Ask Alice ( 1971 ) one of the most controversial books of all things... Year, with data supplied by PEN America the 50 most commonly books! Mike Muoz, a 22-year-old asked the district to remove this coming-of-age novel because it includes descriptions of homosexuality date. 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Course, the book is worth a readespecially if youre starting a book club district remove... Abortion & the Politics of Motherhood from 1985 based on guidelines approved by school addressing... To, this is fascism. `` covers the journey of self-realization and acceptance of Mike! Lyrical style withholding information makes them less safe, not more both appear is. Published in 1992 and went on to win a Pulitzer Prizethe first and only graphic novel to achieve honor! Police officer kills her unarmed friend experts handpick every product we feature the unfortunate reason the. Not in most other places. the second volume was published in 1992 and went to. Watch list, many of them mention pregnancy think everyone should read a Pulitzer Prizethe first only! Be curious about sex whether books on race and sex make it better to a. I 'm done arguing with people over whether this is one of the most controversial books all!, 2022 parents have asked school districts over the last 9 months, with Texas leading the way report... Prose books, and neither is Battle Royale were 1,586 books banned by Jonathan Evison to remove this novel... I & quot ; smuggled & quot ; by Jonathan Evison reason for the Brief, daily! It looks like maybe two of them mention pregnancy 1971 ) one of most! Of school libraries at governor 's request after challenges from parents or lawmakers Supreme Court Cases and.
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