NEWS

There's a Book for That: Banned Books Week

“Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.”
― Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

Celebrate the freedom to read! It’s Banned Books Week (September 26-October 3^rd) and the theme for 2021 is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” The American Library Association’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books list and the Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books of the past decade include the following Penguin Random House titles that address racism, racial justice and present LGBTQ+ content:

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint, it was claimed to be biased against male students, and it included rape and profanity.

OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck

Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes and their negative effect on students.

THE BLUEST EYE by Toni Morrison

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

BEYOND MAGENTA: TRANSGENDER TEENS SPEAK OUT by Susan Kuklin

Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, for “its effect on any young people who would read it,” and for concerns that it was sexually explicit and biased.

SEX IS A FUNNY WORD by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth

Challenged, banned, and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content; for discussing gender identity and sex education; and for concerns that the title and illustrations were “inappropriate.”

I AM JAZZ by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas

Challenged and relocated for LGBTQIA+ content, for a transgender character, and for confronting a topic that is “sensitive, controversial, and politically charged”

THE HANDMAID’S TALE by Margaret Atwood

Banned and challenged for profanity and for “vulgarity and sexual overtones”

TWO BOYS KISSING by David Levithan

Challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

Banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide

Please visit bannedbooksweek.org for events, free downloads and more resources

Visit the collection to learn more about these and other challenged/banned books: Banned Books Week 2021

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