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The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Few books have rattled the nerves of parents and teachers quite like The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield’s raw honesty and teenage rebellion made adults nervous, and it’s easy to see why. The book was banned for profanity, sexual references, and its relentless calling out of adult “phoniness.” Holden’s struggle with grief and alienation resonated with teens, but that very relatability sparked fear among authority figures, who worried it would “corrupt” young minds. According to the American Library Association, it consistently lands on lists of most challenged books in U.S. schools and libraries. The very things that made it so real—its messy feelings and blunt language—were exactly what got it banned over and over again.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Harper Lee’s masterpiece didn’t just shock the South; it unsettled the entire country. Its unflinching look at race, injustice, and moral ambiguity forced readers to confront ugly truths about America. School districts across the U.S. have repeatedly tried to remove it from reading lists, citing its use of racial slurs and depictions of violence. But the real reason? The book dares to ask: what if justice doesn’t always win? According to PEN America’s 2023 report, To Kill a Mockingbird remains one of the most banned books in the past decade, especially in Southern states. Its enduring controversy is proof that sometimes, fiction is just too close to reality for comfort.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s first novel is a gut punch—there’s no other way to put it. The Bluest Eye dives into racism, trauma, and impossible beauty standards through the eyes of Pecola, a young Black girl. The graphic depictions of abuse and harsh societal judgment have led to bans in multiple school districts. In 2022 alone, the book appeared on the American Library Association’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books list. Morrison’s refusal to sugarcoat the pain of her characters is what makes the novel both vital and controversial. For some, the truth was simply too much to handle.
1984 by George Orwell
Big Brother is watching, and that’s exactly what made 1984 so dangerous for censors. Governments—both authoritarian and democratic—have tried to suppress Orwell’s chilling vision of constant surveillance, propaganda, and thought control. Russia and China have both restricted access to the novel at various times, fearing it would inspire dissent. Even in the U.S., parents have challenged it for “pro-communist” themes and sexual content. With global conversations on privacy reaching new heights, the novel’s relevance keeps it in the crosshairs of those who wish to control the narrative.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Beloved doesn’t flinch. Morrison’s exploration of the trauma of slavery is so vivid, so haunting, that some schools and parents have demanded it be taken off shelves. The novel’s graphic depictions of violence, sexuality, and psychological distress regularly spark heated debates at school board meetings. In 2023, Virginia lawmakers debated legislation nicknamed the “Beloved Bill,” which would give parents more power to remove books with “sexually explicit content.” For many, Beloved remains a mirror they’d rather not face.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s autobiography broke new ground with its frank discussion of sexual abuse, racism, and trauma. These themes—drawn from Angelou’s own life—were considered so explicit that the book was banned or challenged in dozens of school districts, especially throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In Florida and Texas, parents have recently renewed efforts to pull the book from shelves, claiming it’s “inappropriate.” Angelou’s insistence on telling her truth, no matter how painful, is exactly what makes her story resonate—and what gets it silenced.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is a story drenched in pain, hope, and transformation. Its depiction of Black female identity, incest, and abuse in the early 20th-century American South has often been labeled as too explicit for students. In 2022, the book was removed from several school libraries in Texas and Missouri. The rawness of Celie’s journey—from silence to empowerment—shows readers all the wounds that words can leave. Yet it’s precisely the book’s uncompromising honesty that continues to draw both praise and outrage.
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Go Ask Alice is one of those books that parents love to hate. Written in the form of a teenage girl’s diary, it chronicles her spiral into drug addiction with brutal candor. The book was first published in 1971 and has faced bans ever since, with critics citing its graphic language, sexual content, and depictions of drug use. In 2023, it was again targeted by school boards in Utah and Alabama for “glorifying” dangerous behavior. But for many teens, it was a lifeline—a warning wrapped in heartbreak, too real to ignore.
A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer
This memoir is not an easy read. Dave Pelzer’s firsthand account of horrific child abuse shocked readers when it was released in 1995. It has since been banned and challenged for its graphic depictions of violence and neglect. In 2020, several school districts in California and New York removed the book after complaints about its “disturbing content.” Yet Pelzer’s story is a testament to survival, and for many, it’s a necessary reminder that such horrors don’t only exist in fiction.
Night by Elie Wiesel
Night is a book that demands you bear witness. Elie Wiesel’s account of surviving the Holocaust has been banned in some schools and libraries for being “too graphic” or “emotionally traumatic.” In 2022, school districts in Tennessee and Texas challenged its place on reading lists, though many Holocaust education advocates fought to keep it. Wiesel’s willingness to confront trauma head-on is what makes Night unforgettable—and, for some, too much to bear.
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir Fun Home explores her journey of self-discovery as a queer woman in a conservative family. Its illustrations and frank discussions of sexuality have led to bans in several states, including South Carolina and Utah, particularly after 2020. The book is frequently accused of containing “pornographic” material, though supporters argue it simply presents life as it is. Fun Home’s honest storytelling and creative format make it both groundbreaking and controversial.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis uses striking black-and-white art to tell her story of growing up during the Iranian Revolution. The book has been banned or challenged in Iran and in U.S. schools for its political critique and depictions of violence. In 2023, a Chicago high school removed it from its curriculum after parent complaints about its “graphic content.” Persepolis stands out for its courage in telling a story that’s both deeply personal and politically charged.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give is as current as today’s headlines. Angie Thomas’s novel about police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement has faced bans in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. Critics say the book is “anti-police” or “too mature” for teenagers. Yet the novel’s popularity—over a million copies sold and a major film adaptation—shows young people are hungry for stories that reflect their reality, no matter how uncomfortable it makes adults.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak tells the story of a teenage girl who is silenced after being raped. The book’s honest portrayal of trauma, depression, and recovery has led to challenges in dozens of school districts, including recent attempts to remove it in Florida. Parents argue that its content is too “explicit,” but Anderson’s work has empowered countless survivors to speak up. The book’s refusal to look away from pain is what makes it so powerful—and so controversial.
Push by Sapphire
Push is a novel that refuses to stay quiet about the realities of poverty, incest, and illiteracy in Harlem. Its unfiltered language and shocking events have led schools in several states to ban it, especially after the release of its film adaptation, Precious. In 2023, it was among the top 100 most challenged books, according to the American Library Association. For many, Push is a wake-up call about the struggles that exist just out of sight.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Sherman Alexie’s semi-autobiographical novel is celebrated for its humor and heart, but its depiction of poverty, alcoholism, and racism on Native American reservations has made it a frequent target for bans. In Idaho, the book was removed from a high school curriculum in 2022 after parents complained about “sexual references” and “profanity.” Alexie’s willingness to show the world as it is, not as we wish it to be, is what makes the book both beloved and controversial.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner pulls no punches in its depiction of war, class struggle, and sexual violence in Afghanistan. Since its publication in 2003, it has faced bans in countries like Iran and Afghanistan, and in U.S. schools for “offensive language” and “graphic content.” The book’s exploration of guilt, redemption, and the long shadow of trauma continues to provoke strong reactions from readers and censors alike.
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
This Book is Gay was written as a guide for LGBTQ+ teens, but it’s been banned in multiple states, including Florida and Texas, for “promoting homosexuality” and “adult content.” In 2023, the book landed in the top 10 most challenged books in the U.S. according to the ALA. Dawson’s honest, humorous, and informative approach helps young people navigate their identities, but for some adults, that honesty is still too much.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi & Jason Reynolds
Stamped is a bold re-examination of American history through the lens of race. Its straightforward discussions of racism, privilege, and antiracism have led to bans in Texas, Florida, and Missouri. Legislators and parents often call it “divisive” or “political,” yet the book’s popularity among students suggests that there’s a real hunger for these conversations. Its bluntness in naming uncomfortable truths is what keeps it in the crosshairs.
Sold by Patricia McCormick
Sold is a fictionalized account of child trafficking in South Asia, and its harrowing subject matter has led to bans in numerous U.S. school districts, including recent controversies in Virginia and Georgia. Critics argue that its content is too mature, but advocates insist that raising awareness is essential. The book’s stark, poetic prose and refusal to look away from suffering make it an unforgettable—and often censored—read.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
