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1. “1984” by George Orwell: The Ban That Fueled Curiosity
When George Orwell’s “1984” was published, it sent shockwaves through the reading world with its unsettling vision of a dystopian future. Various governments, including the Soviet Union and even some U.S. school districts, banned this book for its political content and supposed subversiveness. Surprisingly, every time “1984” made headlines for being banned or challenged, its sales spiked. For example, after the book was temporarily removed from Amazon’s Kindle store in 2009, it shot to the top of bestseller lists. In 2017, following political events in the U.S., “1984” sales spiked 9,500% according to NPD BookScan data. The attempts to silence Orwell’s message only made people more eager to discover what was so dangerous within its pages.
2. “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger: The Rebel’s Badge
J.D. Salinger’s coming-of-age classic, “The Catcher in the Rye,” has been a lightning rod for controversy since its 1951 release. Challenged for profanity, sexual references, and rebellious themes, it’s been banned in hundreds of U.S. schools. Ironically, these bans made Holden Caulfield’s story even more of a rite of passage for young readers. According to the American Library Association, it was the most censored book in the U.S. between 1961 and 1982. The book’s forbidden status gave it an allure it might never have had otherwise, cementing its place as a must-read for generations.
3. “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley: Outlawed, Then Overwhelmingly Read
“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley has faced bans in places like Ireland and Australia, and in more recent years, some U.S. school districts have tried to remove it from reading lists. The book’s depiction of a chemically-controlled society and open discussions of sexuality made it controversial. Yet, after every censorship attempt, more readers flocked to discover Huxley’s prescient warnings about technology and conformity. In 2022, sales of “Brave New World” rose significantly in the U.S. after renewed debates over book bannings, according to reports from major booksellers. Every attempt to silence Huxley’s warnings only magnified his voice.
4. “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury: Irony Ignites Interest
It’s almost comical that Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451″—a story about banning and burning books—was itself censored. Schools and libraries have challenged it over offensive language and themes. In 1998, Texas high schools made headlines for removing it from syllabi. The resulting uproar sparked a surge in sales and classroom discussions. According to Penguin Random House, following each censorship attempt, the book’s sales saw noticeable bumps, especially during national conversations about free speech. Bradbury himself commented that every attempt to ban his book only spread its message further, and the numbers back it up.
5. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee: The Book That Refused to Stay Quiet
Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-winning novel has been repeatedly challenged for its racial language and depictions of sexual assault. In 2017, a Mississippi school district removed “To Kill a Mockingbird” from its curriculum, citing complaints. Almost immediately, the book soared to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list, with a 110% sales increase reported by NPD BookScan in the following weeks. Bookstores held special readings and discussions, and students organized protests demanding its return. The effort to silence Atticus Finch and Scout only made their story more urgent and widely read.
6. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain: Controversy Keeps It Alive
Since its publication in 1884, Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” has been attacked for its language and treatment of race. It’s one of the most banned books in U.S. history, with notable challenges in the 1990s and 2000s. Each new wave of controversy has sparked renewed interest, with sales climbing during high-profile censorship debates. In 2011, when a censored edition was released, the original version’s sales doubled, according to Publisher’s Weekly. The controversy has kept Twain’s classic in the public eye and in classrooms, often as a symbol of the debate over censorship and history.
7. “Harry Potter” Series by J.K. Rowling: Banned, Yet Unstoppable
The “Harry Potter” books have faced bans and burnings in various countries and U.S. school districts, often for promoting “witchcraft” or “occultism.” Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the series became the best-selling book saga of all time, with over 600 million copies sold as of 2024. When a Tennessee school district banned the series in 2019, local bookstores reported a 35% increase in sales the following month. Banning the boy wizard only made him more magical in the eyes of young and old readers alike.
8. “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov: Scandal Drives Demand
Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita” was banned in France, England, and New Zealand for its controversial subject matter. When the ban was lifted in the UK in 1959, all 5,000 copies of the first legal printing sold out within days. In the U.S., the book has been challenged repeatedly, but every controversy seems to bring new readers. The Wall Street Journal reported a 20% sales increase in 2008 after a school district in Virginia tried to remove it from libraries. Readers’ curiosity about what could be so “unreadable” turned Nabokov’s novel into a cult classic.
9. “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker: A Banned Book That Brought Change
Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” has faced frequent bans for its explicit content and portrayal of abuse, particularly in U.S. high schools. In 2013, it was temporarily removed from schools in North Carolina. The ensuing debate led to a surge in public readings and a 30% sales increase, according to local booksellers. The controversy also inspired a new generation to engage with its themes of resilience and hope, and the book’s popularity soared, eventually becoming a staple of American literature and winning the Pulitzer Prize.
10. “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi: Censorship Inspires Youth
“Persepolis” is a graphic memoir about growing up during the Iranian Revolution. In 2013, Chicago Public Schools pulled it from classrooms, citing concerns about its “graphic language and images.” The move sparked outrage, prompting student protests and a surge in demand. Within a month, indie bookstores reported a 42% increase in “Persepolis” sales. Satrapi herself noted in interviews that “banning my book only made more people want to read it.” The attempt to suppress her story only amplified her voice.
11. “Animal Farm” by George Orwell: Rebels Seek the Forbidden
Orwell’s “Animal Farm” was banned in the USSR for obvious reasons and has faced censorship in schools worldwide for its political allegory. In 2022, following renewed debates about censorship in Russia, sales of “Animal Farm” in Europe and the U.S. increased by 28%, according to Nielsen BookScan. Students and adults alike sought out the book to understand why it was considered so dangerous by those in power. The effort to muzzle Orwell’s satire only made it more appealing to those hungry for truth.
12. “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood: Silenced, Then Spotlighted
Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel has been banned for its sexual content and criticism of religion. In 2021, a Texas school district’s decision to remove “The Handmaid’s Tale” from libraries caused a sensation, and sales tripled the following week, according to BookScan. Hulu’s adaptation further fueled interest, but the real spikes have always come after censorship attempts. Atwood herself has said, “Banning books is the best advertisement.” Readers flocked to Gilead to see what was so controversial.
13. “Beloved” by Toni Morrison: A Banned Book Becomes Essential
Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” has been regularly challenged for its graphic depictions of slavery’s brutality. In 2021, a Virginia school board proposed removing it from required reading lists. The news drove a 40% increase in sales that quarter, as reported by The New York Times. Book clubs and classrooms across the country responded by organizing public readings and discussions. The attempt to erase Morrison’s award-winning novel from education only made it more central to conversations about history and race.
14. “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck: From Censored to Celebrated
When “The Grapes of Wrath” was published in 1939, it was banned and even burned in California for its portrayal of migrant workers and criticism of big business. Despite the backlash, the book won the Pulitzer Prize and became a bestseller. In 2020, during renewed debates over economic inequality, sales of the novel saw a 20% uptick, according to Penguin Books. Steinbeck’s banned book became a symbol of the fight for justice—and every attempt to suppress it only made it more vital.
15. “Looking for Alaska” by John Green: Modern Censorship Backfires
John Green’s “Looking for Alaska” has faced bans in several U.S. states for its depiction of teenage sexuality and substance use. In 2016, after a school in Kentucky removed it from shelves, the book shot to #1 on Amazon’s teen bestseller list. Green himself tweeted that he was “honored” by the attention, noting that sales had doubled within a week. Far from fading away, “Looking for Alaska” became a must-read for students—proving once again that censorship can be the best publicity a book could ever get.
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.
