15 Literary Works That Faced Extreme Censorship in the U.S.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

This novel holds the notorious distinction of being America’s most censored book. Between 1961 and 1982, The Catcher in the Rye was the most censored book in high schools and libraries in the United States. What’s shocking is how it continued to face challenges well into the 21st century. According to the American Library Association, The Catcher in the Rye was the 10th most frequently challenged book from 1990 to 1999. It was one of the ten most challenged books of 2005, and although it had been off the list for three years, it reappeared in the list of most challenged books of 2009. Parents and school boards attacked it for profanity, sexual references, and what they saw as an anti-establishment message. The book was briefly banned in the Issaquah, Washington, high schools in 1978 when three members of the School Board alleged the book was part of an “overall communist plot”. This ban did not last long, and the offending board members were immediately recalled and removed in a special election. The irony is that Holden Caulfield’s struggle with authenticity versus phoniness resonated with millions of readers who felt just as lost as he did.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece has become a battleground in American schools. To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than 40 languages, won a Pulitzer Prize, and was voted America’s Best-Loved Novel in PBS’s The Great American Read. Yet for all its calls for an end to injustice, the subject matter just makes some people too uncomfortable. 10th on the list of most banned books in America of all time, this book actually ranks 7th on the list of most frequently banned books in America today. The censorship reached extreme levels in 2020. After parent complaints about the use of racist epithets in To Kill a Mockingbird; Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; The Cay; Of Mice and Men; and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, the Burbank (CA) Unified School District superintendent removed these titles from required classroom reading lists. In 1966, school boards banned the novel for being “immoral,” a move which made author Harper Lee publicly compare the criticism to that faced by 1984. More recently, the book has been banned for touching on “racial issues” and its use of racial slurs. The bitter irony is that a book teaching tolerance and justice gets banned for the very racism it exposes.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison’s haunting masterpiece about slavery’s lingering trauma has faced relentless attacks from school boards across America. The novel’s unflinching portrayal of slavery’s horrors makes censors deeply uncomfortable. Challenged as appropriate reading for Oakland, CA High School honors class (1984) due to the work’s “sexual and social explicitness” and its “troubling ideas about race relations, man’s relationship to God, African history, and human sexuality.” After nine months of haggling and delays, a divided Oakland Board of Education gave formal approval for the book’s use. The censorship often focuses on the book’s graphic depictions of sexual violence and the psychological devastation of slavery. Rejected for purchase by the Hayward, CA school’s trustee (1985) because of “rough language” and “explicit sex scenes.” Removed from the open shelves of the Newport News, VA school library (1986) because of its “profanity and sexual references” and placed in a special section accessible only to students over the age of 18 or who have written permission from a parent. Critics argue that sanitizing Morrison’s powerful narrative undermines the essential historical truth she fought to preserve. The book forces America to confront its darkest chapter, which apparently terrifies those who prefer comfortable lies over painful truths.

Ulysses by James Joyce

James Joyce’s revolutionary stream-of-consciousness novel faced one of the most famous legal battles in American literary history. The book was banned in the United States for over a decade due to its perceived obscenity and sexual content. What made this censorship particularly absurd was that many of the objections came from people who hadn’t actually read the complex, experimental work. The legal turning point came in 1933 when a federal court finally ruled that the novel was not obscene, opening the floodgates for its American publication. The case set a crucial precedent for artistic freedom, though it took years of legal wrangling to get there. Joyce’s exploration of human consciousness and sexuality was simply too radical for American sensibilities of the early 20th century. The irony is that this “obscene” book is now considered one of the greatest literary achievements in the English language, taught in universities worldwide.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Steinbeck’s Depression-era epic faced burning and banning across America, particularly in California where the story was set. The novel’s sympathetic portrayal of migrant workers and its critique of capitalism struck a nerve with powerful agricultural interests. What’s particularly shocking is how violently some communities reacted – copies were literally burned in public. The book’s profanity and frank depiction of poverty made it an easy target for moral crusaders. California’s agricultural establishment saw the novel as a direct attack on their labor practices and worked to suppress it. School boards across the country removed it from libraries, claiming it was too graphic and politically dangerous for young minds. The bitter irony is that a book advocating for the dignity of working people was attacked by the very communities that claimed to support American values. Even today, some districts continue to challenge the book for its language and political themes.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut’s dark anti-war masterpiece has faced particularly extreme censorship, including actual book burning by school boards. The novel’s frank language, sexual content, and devastating critique of war made it a prime target for conservative groups. In some cases, school boards literally burned copies of the book, echoing the fascist tactics Vonnegut himself witnessed during World War II. The censorship often focused on the book’s profanity and its irreverent attitude toward traditional authority. What made the attacks particularly disturbing was how they missed the book’s profound humanistic message about the horrors of war. Critics attacked Vonnegut’s dark humor and non-linear narrative structure as confusing and inappropriate for students. The fact that a Holocaust survivor’s anti-war novel faced book burning in America reveals the depths of censorship hysteria. Many teachers who assigned the book faced harassment and even job threats from angry parents and school board members.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Nabokov’s controversial masterpiece about a middle-aged man’s obsession with a twelve-year-old girl faced extreme censorship from its very first publication attempts. Multiple American publishers rejected the manuscript before it was finally released in 1958, three years after its Paris publication. The book’s subject matter – pedophilia told from the perpetrator’s perspective – made it radioactive for American publishers and distributors. Even after publication, libraries refused to stock it and bookstores kept it behind counters. The novel’s literary brilliance couldn’t overcome the moral panic surrounding its content. What makes the censorship particularly complex is that Nabokov intended the book as a condemnation of Humbert Humbert’s actions, not a celebration. Many censors failed to understand the novel’s ironic structure and moral complexity. The book remains one of the most challenged works in American libraries, with parents and school boards continuing to demand its removal from reading lists and library shelves.

1984 by George Orwell

Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece faced a bizarre form of censorship during the Cold War, when some American groups actually branded it as “pro-Communist” propaganda. While this groundbreaking novel has a place of honor as a PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick, it also maintains its status as the most banned book of all time in America. Why was it banned? Its social and political themes were found to be too controversial, and its sexual content was deemed inappropriate. In 1981, Jackson County, Florida challenged the book for being pro-communism. The irony was staggering – a book warning against totalitarianism was censored by people who claimed to oppose totalitarianism. School boards across America removed it from reading lists, fearing its political themes would corrupt young minds. Some critics argued that the book’s depiction of government surveillance and thought control was too disturbing for students. The sexual content, particularly Winston and Julia’s relationship, provided another avenue for moral objections. Published in 1949, 1984 is another classic dystopian novel that imagines life under a totalitarian, surveillance state under the control of the Thought Police. The protagonist, Winston Smith, becomes a revolutionary. Banned for sexual content and anti-government themes. The book’s continued relevance in our digital age makes these historical censorship attempts seem particularly shortsighted.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Steinbeck’s novella about friendship and the American Dream has faced constant challenges for its racial language and depictions of violence. The book regularly appears on banned book lists across America, with school districts removing it from required reading lists year after year. The use of racial slurs, particularly the N-word, has made it a lightning rod for controversy in diverse school districts. Parents argue that exposing students to such language, even in a historical context, causes harm and perpetuates racism. What’s particularly frustrating for educators is that the book’s themes of loneliness, friendship, and social justice are incredibly relevant to young readers. School boards often cave to pressure from small but vocal groups of parents who object to the book’s content. Some districts have tried to find middle ground by keeping the book available but removing it from mandatory reading lists. The censorship debate often ignores the book’s powerful message about human dignity and the treatment of society’s most vulnerable members.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Ellison’s groundbreaking novel about African American identity in a hostile society has faced banning despite its status as a literary masterpiece. The book’s frank discussions of racism, violence, and sexuality have made it a target for censorship across America. School districts have removed it from curricula, often citing parental complaints about its graphic content and controversial themes. The novel’s exploration of Black identity and institutional racism makes some communities deeply uncomfortable. What’s particularly troubling is that a book celebrating the complexity of African American experience gets silenced by the very racism it exposes. The censorship often focuses on isolated scenes of violence or sexuality while ignoring the book’s profound insights into American society. Some school boards argue that the book’s themes are too mature or controversial for high school students. The irony is that Ellison’s invisible protagonist becomes literally invisible when censors remove his story from library shelves.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has faced intense censorship campaigns, particularly from religious groups who object to its depictions of incest, domestic violence, and sexuality. The book’s frank portrayal of abuse within African American families has made it controversial in multiple communities. Parents and religious organizations have targeted the novel for its graphic sexual content and what they see as negative portrayals of Black men. School boards across America have removed it from reading lists, often after heated public meetings where opponents quote the book’s most explicit passages. The censorship often ignores the novel’s ultimate message of healing, empowerment, and spiritual growth. Critics argue that the book’s lesbian relationship and criticism of patriarchal religion make it unsuitable for young readers. What’s particularly tragic is that a story about overcoming oppression gets oppressed by the very forces it challenges. The book’s exploration of female sexuality and independence threatens traditional power structures in ways that still provoke censorship attempts today.

Howl by Allen Ginsberg

Ginsberg’s revolutionary poem faced one of the most famous obscenity trials in American literary history when it was published in 1957. The poem’s explicit sexual content and drug references triggered immediate legal action from San Francisco authorities. Bookstore owners were arrested for selling the collection, and copies were seized as evidence in obscenity prosecutions. The trial became a landmark case for free speech and artistic expression in America. What made the censorship particularly significant was how it galvanized the Beat Generation and countercultural movements. Literary critics and fellow poets rallied to defend Ginsberg’s work as legitimate art rather than pornography. The poem’s raw exploration of homosexuality, drug use, and mental illness challenged every conventional standard of the 1950s. When the court finally ruled that the poem was protected speech, it opened doors for more experimental and controversial literature. The case established important precedents about the relationship between artistic merit and community standards.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Angelou’s powerful memoir has faced frequent challenges for its candid discussion of childhood sexual abuse and racism. The book’s unflinching portrayal of trauma has made it one of the most challenged autobiographies in American schools. Parents and school boards object to its graphic descriptions of rape and its frank discussions of sexuality. The memoir’s exploration of racism in the American South makes some communities uncomfortable with its historical truth-telling. What’s particularly troubling is that a book about overcoming trauma through literacy and self-expression gets censored by adults who claim to protect children. School districts often remove it from reading lists after complaints about its “inappropriate” content for young readers. The censorship ignores the book’s ultimate message of resilience, dignity, and the transformative power of education. Critics argue that Angelou’s explicit descriptions of abuse are too disturbing for teenagers to handle. The irony is that silencing Angelou’s voice perpetuates the very silencing she fought against throughout her life.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Huxley’s dystopian vision of a hedonistic future society has faced banning for its depictions of drug use, sexuality, and challenges to traditional authority. The novel’s portrayal of casual sex, mood-altering drugs, and the rejection of family structures horrifies conservative communities. School boards have removed it from curricula, arguing that its themes promote immoral behavior among impressionable students. The book’s critique of religion and traditional values makes it particularly threatening to religious communities. What’s especially ironic is that a book warning about the dangers of a pleasure-obsessed society gets banned by people who miss its cautionary message entirely. The censorship often focuses on isolated scenes of sexual content while ignoring the novel’s broader philosophical concerns. Some districts keep the book but require parental permission for students to read it. The novel’s exploration of genetic engineering and social control remains deeply relevant, making its censorship particularly shortsighted in our technological age.

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Bechdel’s groundbreaking graphic memoir about growing up with a closeted gay father has faced intense censorship campaigns targeting its LGBTQ+ themes and sexual content. The book’s honest exploration of sexuality and family dysfunction has made it a lightning rod for controversy in schools and public libraries. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members, and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. Conservative groups have organized systematic campaigns to remove it from library shelves and college reading lists. The graphic novel format makes it particularly vulnerable to attacks, as opponents can easily point to explicit visual content. What’s especially troubling is how the censorship targets the book’s compassionate portrayal of LGBTQ+ identity and family relationships. College campuses have faced protests when assigning the book to incoming students, with some schools backing down under pressure. The censorship often reveals deep-seated homophobia disguised as concerns about “age-appropriate” content. Recent censorship data are evidence of a well-organized movement, the goals of which include removing books about race, history, gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health from America’s public and school libraries. Nearly 72% of censorship attempts in 2024 were initiated by pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them.

Did you realize that some of America’s most beloved books have been under attack for decades, with censorship efforts actually increasing rather than decreasing in our supposedly enlightened age?