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Freedom to Read: Home

Celebrate the Freedom to Read

Take a stand against censorship. Read one of 2023's most challenged books!

Link to Gender Queer: a Memoir by Maia Kobabe in the catalog

1: Gender Queer: a Memoir

Link to All Boys Aren't Blue by George M Johnson in the catalog

2: All Boys Aren't Blue

Link to This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson in the catalog

3: This Book is Gay

Link to The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky in the catalog

4: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Link to Flamer by Mike Curato in the catalog

5: Flamer

Link to The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison in the catalog

6: The Bluest Eye

Link to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews in the catalog

7/8 (tie): Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Link to Tricks by Ellen Hopkins in the catalog

7/8 (tie): Tricks

Link toLet's Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan in the catalog

9: Let's Talk About It

Link to Sold by Patricia McCormick in the catalog

10: Sold

What is Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. By focusing on efforts to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas. Continue reading from American Library Association.

History of the Freedom to Read

In May 1953, ALA delegates met with members of the American Book Publishers Council (a parent organization of the Association of American Publishers) in Rye, New York. From that conference emerged The Freedom to Read Statement that begins with the phrase, “The freedom to read is essential to our democracy,” and included seven propositions, the first being, “It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.” It was transmitted to ALA for consideration at its 1953 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, June 21–27. Continue reading from American Libraries.

Censorship Infographics

A line graph depicting the number of unique titles challenged by year. The graph displays a sharp spike after 2014 but before 2021. The number of unique titles challenged continues to climb between 2021 and 2022, and there is another sharp spike between 2022 and 2023. The graph notes the exact number of challenges in five years: in 2004, 390 unique titles were challenged. In 2014, 183 unique titles were challenged. In 2021, 1,858 unique titles were challenged. In 2022, 2,571 unique titles were challenged. In 2023, 4,240 unique titles were challenged. The graphic also notes: “The record-breaking number of unique titles targeted in 2023 marked a 65% increase over 2022. Prior to 2021, the average number of unique titles targeted per year was 273.”
Breakdown of the 1,247 censorship attempts tracked by the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom in 2023. 76% of censorship attempts were to books and graphic novels. 5% were to displays. 4% were to library access, via library closures, funding, or bomb threats. 4% were through hate crimes, such as vandalism or theft of materials representing marginalized groups. 3% were to programs. 2% were to films. 6% were to other library services.
A pie chart depicting who initiated attempts to censor books in 2023, based on 954 cases. 28% of attempts were initiated by library patrons, 24% by parents, 21% by pressure groups, 13% by boards/administration, 3% by librarians/teachers/staff, and 2% by elected officials/government. 9% of attempts had other or unknown initiators. The graphic also states: “In 2023, organized pressure groups used their power to try to empty library shelves of all books they deem inappropriate.”
A graphic depicting where censorship attempts took place in 2023, based on 1,247 cases with known locations. 54% of challenges took place in public libraries, 39% in school libraries, 5% in schools, and 2% in higher education or other locations. The graphic also states: “Public library collections came under increased scrutiny in 2023. A significant factor in the increase was that groups who had previously targeted materials in school libraries began bringing challenges to the same titles at their public library.”

Book Bans in the News

Browse other banned and challenged books

Link to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas in the catalog
Link to A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas in the catalog
Link to Melissa (previously published as George) by Alex Gino
Link to Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi in the catalog
Link to Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez in the catalog
Link to Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out in the catalog
Link to Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison in the catalog
Link to Of Mice and Men by John Stienbeck in the catalog
Link to All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely in the catalog
Link to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson in the catalog
Link to To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in the catalog
Link to The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey in the catalog
Link to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher in the catalog
Link to Drama by Raina Telgemeier in the catalog
Link to The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini in the catalog
Link to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in the catalog
Link to Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith in the catalog
Link to The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls in the catalog
Link to Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult in the catalog
Link to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz in the catalog
Link to The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in the catalog
Link to Fun Home by Alison Bechdel in the catalog
Link to The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien in the catalog
Link to Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich in the catalog
Link to Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi in the catalog