A challenged book is one that is sought to be removed or otherwise restricted from public access, typically from a library or a school curriculum. This is a list of the most commonly challenged books in the United States. It is primarily based on data gathered by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). The OIF gathers their data from media reports from reports from librarians and teachers.[1]
According to the OIF, the top three reasons for challenging such materials were that they contained "sexually explicit" content, "offensive" language, or were "unsuited to age group".[2][3]
The list is sorted alphabetically by default. Included is each book's rank in the ALA's lists of top 100 challenged books by decade (if applicable).
| Title | Author | Reason(s) for Challenge | Year(s)
published | 2000–2009
ALA rank[4] | 1990–1999
ALA rank[5] | | The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian[6] | Sherman Alexie | Content regarding alcohol, bullying, violence; sexual references; profanity and slurs | 2007 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Adventures of Huckleberry Finn | Mark Twain | Coarse language, racial stereotypes and use of the word "nigger" | 1884 | 14 | 5 |
| The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby | Dav Pilkey | Encouraging poor spelling | 2002 | 47 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Mark Twain | Coarse language; racial stereotypes | 1876 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 83 |
| Alice (series) | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | Sexual content | 1985–2012 | 2 | 14 |
| All the King's Men[7] | Robert Penn Warren | Depicting a "depressing view of life" and "immoral situations" | 1946 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Always Running | Luis J. Rodriguez | Gang violence, drug use and sexual references | 1993 | 68 | 85 |
| America | E. R. Frank | Sexual references; drug and alcohol use | 2002 | 100 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| American Psycho | Bret Easton Ellis | Sexual references; violence toward women | 1991 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 53 |
| An American Tragedy[7] | Theodore Dreiser | Sexual content; abortion; murder | 1925 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Anarchist Cookbook | William Powell | Content related to the manufacturing of illicit narcotics and explosives | 1971 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 59 |
| Anastasia Krupnik (series) | Lois Lowry | References to beer, Playboy magazine, and suicide | 1979–1995 | 75 | 28 |
| And Tango Makes Three | Peter Parnell, Justin Richardson | Content regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage | 2005 | 4 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Animal Farm[7] | George Orwell | Political (Communist) commentary | 1945 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Annie on My Mind | Nancy Garden | LGBT content | 1982 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 44 |
| Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging | Louise Rennison | Crude language, sexual content, LGBT content | 1999 | 35 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Arizona Kid | Ron Koertge | LGBT content | 1988 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 75 |
| Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. | Judy Blume | Content dealing with menstrual cycles and feminine hygiene | 1970 | 99 | 60 |
| Arming America | Michael A. Bellesiles | Content dealing with firearms, later proven to have been fabricated | 2000 | 38 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| As I Lay Dying[7] | William Faulkner | Dealing with issues of death; abortion | 1930 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Asking About Sex and Growing Up | Joanna Cole | Sexual education | 1988 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 57 |
| Six Short Stories | Chris Crutcher | Content dealing with eating disorders, child abuse, racism, LGBT themes and AIDS | 1991 | 44 | 63 |
| The Awakening[7] | Kate Chopin | Sexual content | 1899 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl[6] | Tanya Lee Stone | Crude language, sexual content, mature themes | 2006 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Beloved | Toni Morrison | Themes regarding slavery; violence | 1987 | 26 | 45 |
| Transgender Teens Speak Out | Susan Kuklin | Anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other ("wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints"). | 2014 |
| Big Hard Sex Criminals | Matt Fraction, illustrated by Chip Zdarsky | Sexually explicit | 2015 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Black Boy | Richard Wright | Themes of Communism, racism and atheism | 1946 | 81 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Bless Me, Ultima | Rudolfo Anaya | Profanity, crude language and violence | 1972 | 32 | 78 |
| Blood and Chocolate | Annette Curtis Klause | Sexual content; supernatural themes | 1997 | 57 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Blubber | Judy Blume | Content dealing with the issue of bullying | 1974 | 43 | 30 |
| The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison | Themes of racism, incest and child sexual abuse | 1970 | 15 | 34 |
| Bone (series)[6] | Jeff Smith | References to smoking, drinking and gambling | 1991–2004 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Boy Who Lost His Face | Louis Sachar | Themes of the occult, sexuality and bullying; profanity | 1989 | 92 | 46 |
| Boys and Sex | Wardell Pomeroy | Sexual education | 1968 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 61 |
| Brave New World | Aldous Huxley | Alleged anti-religion and anti-family themes; sexual content | 1931 | 36 | 54 |
| Brideshead Revisited[7] | Evelyn Waugh | Themes of homosexuality, alcoholism, infidelity | 1945 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Bridge to Terabithia | Katherine Paterson | Allegations that the book promotes secular humanism, New Age religion, occultism, and Satanism | 1977 | 28 | 8 |
| Bumps in the Night | Harry Allard | Supernatural and occult themes, anti-family, encourages disobedience | 1979 | 93 | 56 |
| The Call of the Wild[7] | Jack London | Author's pro-Socialism views | 1903 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Captain Underpants (series) | Dav Pilkey | Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence [6] | 1997–2015 | 13 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Carrie | Stephen King | Violence, anti-religion, sexual themes | 1974 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 81 |
| Cat's Cradle[7] | Kurt Vonnegut | Language, animal abuse, anti-religious themes, and scatological humor | 1963 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Catch-22[7] | Joseph Heller | Obscene language | 1961 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Catcher in the Rye | J. D. Salinger | Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 1951 | 19 | 10 |
| The Chocolate War | Robert Cormier | Nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 1974 | 3 | 4 |
| Christine | Stephen King | Obscene language, sexual themes | 1983 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 95 |
| A Clockwork Orange[7] | Anthony Burgess | Obscene language | 1962 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Color Purple | Alice Walker | Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 1982 | 17 | 17 |
| The Color Trilogy (series)[6] | Kim Dong Hwa | Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 2009 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Crank[6] | Ellen Hopkins | Drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit[6] | 2004 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Crazy | Benjamin Lebert | Obscene language, sexual themes | 2000 | 77 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Crazy Lady! | Jane Leslie Conly | Offensive language[6] | 1993 | 45 | 62 |
| Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat | Alvin Schwartz | Supernatural themes | 1974 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 47 |
| Cujo | Stephen King | Violence, obscene language, explicit sex scenes | 1983 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 49 |
| The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Mark Haddon | Offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other ("profanity and atheism").[6] | 2003 |
| Curses, Hexes and Spells | Daniel Cohen | Supernatural themes, references to the Bible | 1974 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 71 |
| Cut | Patricia McCormick | References to cutting and self-harm | 2000 | 86 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Daddy's Roommate | Michael Willhoite | LGBT themes | 1991 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 2 |
| Daughters of Eve | Lois Duncan | Obscene language, sexual content, and violence | 1979 | 51 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| A Day No Pigs Would Die | Robert Newton Peck | References to animal slaughter and mating | 1972 | 80 | 16 |
| The Dead Zone | Stephen King | Obscene language | 1979 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 82 |
| Deal with It! | Esther Drill | Explicit sexual content and LGBT themes | 1999 | 82 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Deenie | Judy Blume | References to masturbation | 1973 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 42 |
| Detour for Emmy | Marilyn Reynolds | Sexual content, and references to teen pregnancy | 1993 | 83 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Drama[6] | Raina Telgemeier | Includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint[6] | 2012 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Draw Me a Star | Eric Carle | Sexual content, and nude drawings of Adam and Eve | 1992 | 61 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Drowning of Stephan Jones | Bette Greene | LGBT themes | 1991 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 96 |
| The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things | Carolyn Mackler | Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 2003 | 34 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Earth's Children (series) | Jean M. Auel | Graphic sexual content | 1980–2011 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 19 |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | Offensive language[6] | 2013 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Face on the Milk Carton | Caroline B. Cooney | Sexual content, challenging authority, and unsuitable for age group | 1990 | 29 | 80 |
| The Facts Speak For Themselves | Brock Cole | Sexual content, violence | 1997 | 54 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Fade | Robert Cormier | References to child sexual abuse, and violence | 1988 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 65 |
| Fahrenheit 451 | Ray Bradbury | Obscene language, references to smoking and drinking, violence, and religious themes | 1953 | 69 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Fallen Angels | Walter Dean Myers | Offensive language, racism, violence[6] | 1988 | 11 | 36 |
| Family Secrets | Norma Klein | Sexual content, obscene language, references to adultery, smoking, and implied incest | 1985 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 76 |
| A Farewell to Arms[7] | Ernest Hemingway | Sexual content | 1929 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Fat Kid Rules the World | KL Going | Obscene language, sexual themes, and drug use | 2003 | 58 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Fight Club | Chuck Palahniuk | Sexually explicit, violence, anarchist themes, smoking, drinking, etc... | 1996 |
| Fifty Shades of Grey[6] | E. L. James | Sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other ("poorly written," "concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it").[6] | 2011 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Fighting Ground | Avi | Obscene language | 1984 | 42 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Final Exit | Derek Humphry | References to assisted suicide | 1991 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 29 |
| Flashcards of My Life[6] | Charise Mericle Harper | Sexual content and unsuitable to age group | 2006 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Flowers for Algernon | Daniel Keyes | Sexual content | 1966 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 43 |
| For Whom the Bell Tolls[7] | Ernest Hemingway | Pro-Communist views | 1940 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Forever... | Judy Blume | Offensive language, sexual content[6] | 1975 | 16 | 7 |
| Friday Night Lights | H. G. Bissinger | Obscene language, sexual content, and racism | 1990 | 89 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic | Alison Bechdel | Violence and other ("graphic images").[6] | 2006 |
| George | Alex Gino | Includes a transgender child, and the "sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels" | 2015 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Giver | Lois Lowry | Obscene language, sexual content, violence, and unsuitable to age group | 1993 | 23 | 11 |
| Girls and Sex | Wardell Pomeroy | Sex education | 1970 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 98 |
| The Glass Castle[6] | Jeannette Walls | Offensive language, sexually explicit[6] | 2005 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Go Ask Alice | Anonymous | drugs[6] | 1971 | 18 | 25 |
| Go Tell It on the Mountain[7] | James Baldwin | Obscene language, explicit sex, references to masturbation, rape, violence and sexism. | 1953 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Goats | Brock Cole | Obscene language, and a scene describing the rescue of a naked woman | 1987 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 26 |
| Gone with the Wind[7] | Margaret Mitchell | Several uses of racial slurs, the book's portrayal of slavery, and references to rape. | 1936 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Goosebumps (series) | R. L. Stine | Supernatural themes, violence, and encouraging disobedience | 1992–1997 | 94 | 15 |
| Gossip Girl (series) | Cecily von Ziegesar | Drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit[6] | 2002–2011 | 22 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Grapes of Wrath[7] | John Steinbeck | Portrays Kern County, California in a negative light | 1939 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Great Gatsby[7] | F. Scott Fitzgerald | Language and sexual references | 1925 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Great Gilly Hopkins | Katherine Paterson | Obscene language and racism | 1978 | 52 | 20 |
| Grendel | John Gardner | Depictions of torture and mutilation | 1971 | 96 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Guess What? | Mem Fox | Supernatural things, and references to punk rock | 1990 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 66 |
| Habibi | Craig Thompson | Nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.[6] | 2011 |
| Halloween ABC | Eve Merriam | Possible Satanic and cult references, as well as violence | 1987 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 31 |
| The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood | Sexuality, profanity, suicide, violence, anti-Christian themes | 1985 | 88 | 37 |
| Harris and Me | Gary Paulsen | Obscene language | 1993 | 70 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Harry Potter (series) | J. K. Rowling | Unsuited to age group, witchcraft, religious viewpoint, anti-family, darkness/scariness/violence, and for "setting bad examples". | 1997–2007 | 1 | 48 |
| Heather Has Two Mommies | Lesléa Newman | Homosexuality | 1989 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 9 |
| His Dark Materials (series) | Philip Pullman | Political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, violence[6] | 1995–2000 | 8 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Holy Bible | various | Religious viewpoint, violence[6][3] | Canon est. ca. 3rd century | N/A | N/A |
| The House of the Spirits | Isabel Allende | Sexual content | 1982 | 97 | 73 |
| The Hunger Games[6] | Suzanne Collins | Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group[6] | 2008–2010 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| I Am Jazz | Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings | Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group.[6] | 2014 |
| I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | Maya Angelou | Sexually explicit[6] | 1969 | 6 | 3 |
| I Saw Esau | Iona Opie, Peter Opie | Obscene language | 2000 | 98 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| In Cold Blood[7] | Truman Capote | Violence, sexual content, and obscene language | 1966 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| In the Night Kitchen | Maurice Sendak | Nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit[6] | 1970 | 24 | 21 |
| Invisible Man[7] | Ralph Ellison | Obscene language and sexual content | 1952 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| It's Perfectly Normal | Robie Harris | Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group. Additional reasons: "alleges it is child pornography"[6] | 1994 | 12 | 13 |
| It's So Amazing | Robie Harris | Sex education, sexual content[6] | 1999 | 37 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Jack | A. M. Homes | LGBT themes and references to divorce and domestic violence | 1990 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 74 |
| James and the Giant Peach | Roald Dahl | Supernatural themes and references to drug use | 1961 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 50 |
| The Joy of Gay Sex | Charles Silverstein, Edmund White | LGBT themes and explicit sexual content | 1977 | 78 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Julie of the Wolves | Jean Craighead George | Unsuited to age group, violence[6] | 1972 | 91 | 32 |
| Jump Ship to Freedom | James Lincoln Collier, Christopher Collier | Obscene language, violence, and racism | 1981 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 100 |
| Jumper | Steven Gould | References to physical and sexual abuse towards children | 1992 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 94 |
| The Jungle[7] | Upton Sinclair | Author's pro-Socialism and anti-Communism views | 1906 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Junie B. Jones (series) | Barbara Park | Encouraging disobedience | 1992–2011 | 71 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Kaffir Boy | Mark Mathabane | References to male prostitution and sexual abuse | 1986 | 39 | 33 |
| Killing Mr. Griffin | Lois Duncan | Violence and obscene language | 1978 | 25 | 64 |
| King & King | Linda De Haan, Stern Nijland | Homosexuality[6] | 2002 | 20 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Kite Runner | Khaled Hosseini | Offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence[6] | 2003 | 50 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Lady Chatterley's Lover[7] | D. H. Lawrence | Sexual content | 1928 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Life is Funny | E.R. Frank | Sexual content | 2000 | 40 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| A Light in the Attic | Shel Silverstein | Violence and encouraging disobedience | 1981 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 51 |
| Little Bill (children book series) | Bill Cosby, illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood | Criminal sexual allegations against the author[6] | 1997–2000 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Lolita[7] | Vladimir Nabokov | References to pedophillia and sexual abuse | 1955 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Looking for Alaska[6] | John Green | Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group. | 2005 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Lord of the Flies | William Golding | Obscene language, violence, and animal cruelty | 1954 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 68 |
| The Lord of the Rings[7] | J. R. R. Tolkien | Supernatural themes | 1954 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Lovely Bones | Alice Sebold | Religious themes | 2002 | 74 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Lush[6] | Natasha Friend | Drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 2006 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Stories You Can't Unread | Chuck Palahniuk | Profanity, sexual explicitness, and being "disgusting and all around offensive"[6] | 2015 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Mein Kampf | Adolf Hitler | Glorification of Nazism | 1925 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Mick Harte Was Here | Barbara Park | Obscene language, and references to death | 1996 | 64 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Mummy Laid an Egg | Babette Cole | Sex education | 1994 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 77 |
| My Brother Sam Is Dead | James Lincoln Collier, Christopher Collier | Obscene language and violence | 1974 | 27 | 12 |
| My Mom's Having a Baby![6] | Dori Hillestad Butler | Nudity, sex education, sexual content, and unsuitable for age group | 2005 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| My Sister's Keeper[6] | Jodi Picoult | Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence[6] | 2004 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Naked and the Dead[7] | Norman Mailer | Obscene language | 1948 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Naked Lunch[7] | William S. Burroughs | Sexual content | 1959 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| A True Story from Afghanistan | Jeanette Winter | Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence[6] | 2009 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Native Son | Richard Wright | Violence and sexual content | 1940 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 69 |
| The New Joy of Gay Sex | Charles Silverstein, Edmund White, Felice Picano | LGBT themes and sexual content | 1993 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 24 |
| Nickel and Dimed[6] | Barbara Ehrenreich | Drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint[6] | 2001 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Nineteen Eighty-Four[7] | George Orwell | Pro and Anti-Communist views, sexual content, and violence | 1949 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Of Mice and Men | John Steinbeck | Offensive language, racism, violence[6] | 1937 | 5 | 6 |
| Olive's Ocean | Kevin Henkes | Obscene language and sexual content | 2003 | 59 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| On My Honor | Marion Dane Bauer | References divorce, death, suicide, and defeat | 1986 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 72 |
| One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Ken Kesey | Obscene language, violence, and references to mental illness | 1962 | 49 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| This One Summer | Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki | Includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and considered sexually explicit with mature themes | 2014 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Ordinary People | Judith Guest | Obscene language and sexual content | 1976 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 52 |
| The Outsiders | S. E. Hinton | Anti-religious content | 1967 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 38 |
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | Drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: "date rape and masturbation"[6] | 1999 | 10 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Persepolis (series)[6] | Marjane Satrapi | Gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. Additional reasons: "politically, racially, and socially offensive," "graphic depictions"[6] | 2000–2003 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Pigman | Paul Zindel | Obscene language | 1968 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 39 |
| The Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett | Sexual content, and references to violence toward women | 1989 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 91 |
| A Prayer for Owen Meany | John Irving | Anti-religion and criticism of the Vietnam War and the Iran-Contra incident | 1989 | 76 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Private Parts | Howard Stern | Sexual content | 1993 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 86 |
| Rabbit, Run[7] | John Updike | Sexual content | 1960 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Rainbow Boys | Alex Sánchez | LGBT themes, sexual content | 2001 | 48 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Revolutionary Voices[6] | Amy Sonnie | Homosexuality, sexually explicit[6] | 2000 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry | Mildred D. Taylor | Offensive language[6] | 1976 | 66 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Running Loose | Chris Crutcher | Racial slurs, sexual content | 1983 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 92 |
| Saga (series)[6] | Brian K. Vaughan | Anti-family, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group[6] | 2012–present | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Satanic Verses[7] | Salman Rushdie | Portrayal of the prophet Muhammad in a negative light | 1988 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (series) | Alvin Schwartz | Unsuited for age group, violence[6] | 1981–1991 | 7 | 1 |
| A Separate Peace[7] | John Knowles | Sexual content | 1959 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Sex | Madonna | Sexual content | 1992 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 18 |
| Sex Education | Jenny Davis | Sexual content | 1995 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 93 |
| Shade's Children | Garth Nix | Sexual content and nudity | 1997 | 95 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Slaughterhouse-Five | Kurt Vonnegut | Sexual content, anti-religious content, violence | 1969 | 46 | 67 |
| The Sleeping Beauty Quartet (series) | Anne Rice | Sexual content | 1983–2015 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 55 |
| Snow Falling on Cedars | David Guterson | Sexual content | 1994 | 33 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| So Far from the Bamboo Grove | Yoko Kawashima Watkins | References to rape and violence against women | 1986 | 84 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Song of Solomon | Toni Morrison | Sexual content, bestiality, and racism | 1977 | 72 | 84 |
| Sophie's Choice[7] | William Styron | Sexual content | 1979 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Sons and Lovers[7] | D. H. Lawrence | Sexual content, and incest | 1913 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Speak | Laurie Halse Anderson | References to rape | 1999 | 60 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes | Chris Crutcher | Obscene language, sexual content | 1993 | 85 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| A Stolen Life[6] | Jaycee Dugard | Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group[6] | 2011 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Story of Little Black Sambo | Helen Bannerman | Racism | 1899 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 90 |
| The Stupids (series) | Harry Allard, James Marshall | Promoting negative behavior, references to death, and obscene language | 1974–1989 | 62 | 27 |
| Summer of My German Soldier | Bette Greene | Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit[6] | 1973 | 55 | 88 |
| The Sun Also Rises[7] | Ernest Hemingway | Sexual content | 1926 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Taming the Star Runner[6] | S. E. Hinton | Offensive language[6] | 1988 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Terrorist | Caroline B. Cooney | Portrays Muslims in a negative light | 1997 | 63 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| That Was Then, This Is Now | S. E. Hinton | Violence, drug use, obscene language | 1971 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 97 |
| Their Eyes Were Watching God[7] | Zora Neale Hurston | Author's political views | 1937 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Things They Carried | Tim O'Brien | Violence, animal abuse, obscene language, and criticism of the Vietnam War | 1990 | 65 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Thirteen Reasons Why[6] | Jay Asher | Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group[6] | 2007 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Tiger Eyes | Judy Blume | Sexual content, drug use, and language | 1981 | 87 | 89 |
| A Time to Kill | John Grisham | References to slavery, rape, and the text includes racial slurs | 1989 | 67 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee | Offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group[6] | 1960 | 21 | 40 |
| Tropic of Cancer[7] | Henry Miller | Sexual content | 1934 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series) | Lauren Myracle | Offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 2004–2007 | 9 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Twilight (series)[6] | Stephenie Meyer | Religious viewpoint, violence, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group[6] | 2005–2008 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Two Boys Kissing | David Levithan | Homosexuality and other ("condones public displays of affection"). Also considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content[6] | 2013 |
| Ulysses[7] | James Joyce | References to masturbation | 1922 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Uncle Bobby's Wedding[6] | Sarah S. Brannen | LGBT themes | 2008 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| The Upstairs Room | Johanna Reiss | Obscene language and references to the Holocaust | 1972 | 79 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| We All Fall Down | Robert Cormier | Offensive language, sexual content[6] | 1991 | 30 | 41 |
| Whale Talk | Chris Crutcher | Racism, offensive language[6] | 2001 | 41 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| What My Mother Doesn't Know | Sonya Sones | Nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, sexism, unsuited to age group[6] | 2001 | 31 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| What's Happening to My Body? Book for Boys | Lynda Madaras | Sex education | 1987/2007 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 58 |
| What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls | Lynda Madaras | Sex education | 1987/2007 | 73 | 35 |
| When Dad Killed Mom | Julius Lester | Violence, sexual content | 2001 | 56 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Where Did I Come From? | Peter Mayle | Sex education | 1973 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 79 |
| Where's Waldo? | Martin Handford | Nudity | 1987 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 87 |
| The Wish Giver | Bill Brittain | Supernatural themes | 1983 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 99 |
| The Witches | Roald Dahl | Misogyny, encouraging disobedience, violence, animal cruelty, obscene language, and supernatural themes | 1983 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 22 |
| Women in Love[7] | D. H. Lawrence | Sexual content and misogyny | 1920 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
| Women on Top | Nancy Friday | Sexual content | 1991 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} | 70 |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | Supernatural themes, and religious themes | 1963 | 90 | 23 |
| You Hear Me? | Betsy Franco | Obscene language and topics | 2000 | 53 | data-sort-value="101" {{n/a}} |
Note: The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) does not claim comprehensiveness in recording challenges. Research suggests that for each challenge reported there are as many as four or five which go unreported.[8]
1. ^{{cite web|title=Banned & Challenged Books|url=http://www.ala.org/bbooks/|publisher=American Library Association|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}
2. ^{{cite web|title=About Banned & Challenged Books|url=http://www.ala.org/bbooks/about|publisher=American Library Association|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}
3. ^1 {{cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/statistics|title=Top Ten Challenged Books: Resources & Graphics|publisher=American Library Association|accessdate=2017-10-18}}
4. ^{{cite web|title=Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009|url=http://www.ala.org/bbooks/top-100-bannedchallenged-books-2000-2009|publisher=American Library Association|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}
5. ^{{cite web|title=100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999|url=http://www.ala.org/bbooks/100-most-frequently-challenged-books-1990%E2%80%931999|publisher=American Library Association|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}
6. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 {{cite web|title=Top ten frequently challenged books lists of the 21st century|url=http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10|publisher=American Library Association|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}
7. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 {{cite web|title=Banned & Challenged Classics|url=http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics|publisher=American Library Association|accessdate=January 26, 2016}}
8. ^{{Cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top100|title=100 most frequently challenged books by decade {{!}} Banned & Challenged Books|website=www.ala.org|access-date=2016-05-10}}