The 25 Most Controversial Books Ever Banned in U.S. History

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – When Classic Literature Faces Modern Scrutiny

Mark Twain’s 1885 masterpiece has found itself in a decades-long battle that would’ve shocked even its rebellious protagonist. Most of these complaints target books that have characters of color or those that identify as LGBT, and deal with issues of race or discrimination. In the 2021-22 school year, over 2,500 book bans were enacted. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn first faced serious challenges in the 1950s, but the reasons have evolved over time. Originally banned for Huck’s irreverent attitude toward authority, modern critics focus on the book’s use of racial slurs and whether it actually promotes or condemns racism. What’s particularly fascinating is how this novel about breaking free from society’s chains now finds itself chained by society’s evolving standards. The irony runs deeper than the Mississippi River Twain so lovingly described.

To Kill a Mockingbird – The White Savior Debate That Won’t Die

Harper Lee’s 1960 Pulitzer Prize winner has become a lightning rod in America’s ongoing conversation about race and representation. In 2023, the ALA recorded 4,240 unique titles that have been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. It’s a record-breaking 65% increase from 2022, the highest totals recorded by the ALA since it began collecting data more than 20 years ago. The novel faces criticism not just for its use of the N-word, but for what scholars call the “white savior” narrative – the idea that Black characters need white heroes to rescue them. Many school districts have removed it from required reading lists, though it remains available in libraries. The debate reveals something fascinating about how we read literature: are we supposed to judge books by the standards of their time or ours? Teachers struggle with this question daily, and honestly, there’s no easy answer.

1984 – The Book About Censorship That Gets Censored

George Orwell’s dystopian nightmare from 1949 has lived through its own version of doublethink. During the Cold War, some American schools actually banned this anti-totalitarian masterpiece for allegedly promoting communist themes. The absurdity would make even Big Brother chuckle – banning a book about the dangers of banning books. Conservative-led legislative efforts to restrict what discussions and content could be had in classrooms regarding race, gender, sex, and sexual orientation has ignited a debate about the materials students and their families have access to. Advocates of such legislation say these policies ensure that “inappropriate” content is weeded out of classrooms to protect children from “indoctrination.” Some critics also objected to the book’s sexual content and “depressing” themes. Today, the irony has come full circle as some schools ban books about surveillance while implementing digital monitoring systems that would make Winston Smith weep.

The Catcher in the Rye – America’s Most Rebellious Teenager

J.D. Salinger’s 1951 coming-of-age story has been giving adults headaches for over seven decades. Holden Caulfield’s profanity-laced observations about phoniness struck a nerve with parents who saw their own teenagers in his rebellious character. The book has been pulled from countless school libraries for “promoting rebellion” and using explicit language. What’s wild is that the very qualities that make adults uncomfortable – Holden’s authenticity, his rejection of hypocrisy, his struggle with mental health – are exactly what make teenagers connect with him so deeply. PEN America has documented nearly 16,000 book bans in public schools nationwide since 2021, a number not seen since the Red Scare McCarthy era of the 1950s. This censorship is being mobilized by conservative groups— and has spread to nearly every state— and predominantly targets books about race and racism or individuals of color and also books on LGBTQ+ topics as well those for older readers that have sexual references or discuss sexual violence. Maybe that’s exactly why some adults want it gone – because Holden sees through the BS that many grown-ups would prefer to keep hidden.

The Color Purple – When Art Meets Activism

Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has faced consistent challenges for its explicit depictions of sexual violence and LGBTQ+ themes. The book doesn’t sugarcoat the brutal realities faced by Black women in the early 20th century South, which makes some readers deeply uncomfortable. Multiple states have removed it from school libraries, often citing parental complaints about inappropriate content. But here’s the thing: Walker wasn’t writing a feel-good story – she was exposing harsh truths about abuse, racism, and survival. The list of more than 30 titles included The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Dear Martin by Nic Stone, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, Pink Is for Boys by Robb Pearlman, and Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson. The controversy raises a crucial question: should literature protect us from difficult truths or force us to confront them?

Beloved – The Nobel Prize Winner That Haunts Virginia

Toni Morrison’s 1987 masterpiece has become the poster child for contemporary book banning debates. The work of Nobel laureate Toni Morrison is at the center of the latest skirmish over education in the Virginia’s governor’s race, after an ad by Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin featured a parent upset that Morrison’s 1987 novel “Beloved” was being taught to her son, a high school senior. “Beloved,” Morrison’s best-known work, is set in the Reconstruction and vividly portrays the horrors of slavery and its legacy. The book has been banned in Virginia schools as recently as 2022, with one parent claiming it gave her son nightmares. Beloved, which was released in 1987 and later made into a 1998 film starring Oprah Winfrey, is about a post-civil war Black family haunted by a spirit. The book has explicit themes and depicts sexual violence. Critics argue that Morrison’s unflinching portrayal of slavery’s psychological trauma is too disturbing for teenagers. But supporters counter that sanitizing this history does a disservice to both education and the memory of those who suffered. The ghost in Morrison’s novel isn’t the only thing that haunts us – our inability to face historical truth does too.

The Bluest Eye – Morrison’s First and Most Challenged

Toni Morrison’s 1970 debut novel has earned the unfortunate distinction of being one of America’s most frequently banned books. But Morrison’s The Bluest Eye is No. 8 on ALA’s list of the top 10 most challenged books, which has been banned because it depicts child sexual abuse and considered sexually explicit. The Bluest Eye, published in 1970, was Morrison’s first novel. It tells the story of an 11-year-old Black girl named Pecola Breedlove who yearns for lighter skin and blue eyes, believing that her dark complexion isn’t beautiful. Less than a week earlier, a school board in Wentzville, Missouri had voted 4-3 to remove The Bluest Eye from the district’s high school libraries at a board meeting on Jan. 20. The decisions are just two examples of a wave of book bans and challenges to school libraries’ content currently occurring across the U.S. The novel’s graphic depiction of child sexual abuse and incest makes many parents and school boards uncomfortable. Florida banned it in 2023, joining a growing list of states that have pulled Morrison’s work from shelves. Yet educators argue that the book’s difficult subject matter serves a purpose – showing how racism and colorism damage young minds and bodies.

Brave New World – Future Shock in the Present Day

Aldous Huxley’s 1932 dystopian vision has been challenging readers and censors for nearly a century. The novel’s casual depiction of recreational drug use, sexual promiscuity, and anti-religious themes has kept it on banned book lists for decades. What’s particularly striking is how Huxley’s predictions about a pleasure-obsessed, technology-dependent society seem more relevant than ever. Schools have banned it for promoting drug use through the fictional “soma,” while religious groups object to its critique of organized religion. The big picture: More than 4,200 books were targeted for censorship last year, marking a 65% increase over the previous year, according to the American Library Association (ALA). The book-banning movement often targets books written by or about members of the LGBTQ community and people of color, with organized attempts led by conservatives in a culture war centered on what children should be exposed to. There were more than 150 bills in 35 states last year aimed at restricting access to library materials and punishing staff who don’t comply, per the New York Times. The irony is that Huxley wrote the book as a warning, not a manual – but apparently, some people missed that memo.

Slaughterhouse-Five – When Anti-War Becomes Anti-American

Kurt Vonnegut’s 1969 semi-autobiographical novel about the Dresden bombing has faced challenges since its publication. The book was banned in Michigan schools in 1972 and has continued to face opposition for its anti-war themes, profanity, and what critics call “obscene” content. Vonnegut’s dark humor and graphic depictions of war’s absurdity don’t sit well with those who prefer sanitized versions of conflict. The novel’s famous refrain “So it goes” follows each mention of death, highlighting the randomness and meaninglessness of violence. Some communities see this as unpatriotic or disrespectful to veterans. But Vonnegut was a veteran – he lived through the Dresden bombing as a prisoner of war. His anti-war stance comes from experience, not ideology. The fact that a veteran’s honest account of war’s horrors gets banned while recruitment propaganda remains unchallenged says something troubling about how we handle difficult truths.

Of Mice and Men – The Burden of Compassion

John Steinbeck’s 1937 novella has been pulled from reading lists across America for its use of racial slurs, depictions of violence, and themes some interpret as “promoting euthanasia.” The story of George and Lennie’s tragic friendship forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about disability, mercy, and the American Dream’s failures. Critics particularly object to the ending, where George kills Lennie to save him from a lynch mob. They argue this promotes the idea that some lives aren’t worth living. Without a doubt, Texas is the state that has banned the most books. In total, Texas has banned more than 800 books in 22 school districts. This does not mean that someone is not allowed to read those books in the state; however, it does mean that those books are going to be removed from all public school libraries. But Steinbeck wasn’t advocating for euthanasia – he was showing how society fails its most vulnerable members. The book’s power lies in its ability to generate discussion about difficult moral choices, which is exactly why some people want it silenced.

The Handmaid’s Tale – Dystopia or Prophecy?

Margaret Atwood’s 1985 feminist dystopia has become increasingly controversial as some of its fictional elements edge closer to reality. Texas schools banned it in 2021, citing sexual violence and anti-Christian themes. The novel’s depiction of a theocratic regime that strips women of their rights hits different when real-world reproductive rights are under attack. Atwood based her fictional Republic of Gilead on historical examples of oppression, making it feel less like fantasy and more like warning. Critics argue the book is biased against Christianity and promotes fear of conservative politics. But since 2021 a movement to ban books has put students’ freedom to read in jeopardy, advancing extreme conservative viewpoints about what is appropriate and allowable in schools. Through local campaigns and state laws, this movement has placed tremendous pressures on school districts, administrators, librarians, and educators, and impacted an astonishing array of books and subjects, from new picture books or young adult novels to literary classics — from Captain Underpants to Roots, from The Handmaid’s Tale to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. But Atwood has repeatedly stated that everything in her novel has happened somewhere in history – she didn’t invent any of the horrors, just combined them. Maybe that’s what makes people so uncomfortable.

Gender Queer – The Most Banned Book in America

Maia Kobabe’s 2019 graphic memoir has achieved the dubious honor of being America’s most challenged book for three consecutive years. Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir Gender Queer continues its troubled run as the country’s most controversial book, topping the American Library Association’s “challenged books” list for a third straight year. Kobabe’s coming-of-age story was published in 2019 and received the library association’s Alex Award for best young adult literature. But it has since been at the heart of debates over library content, with conservative organizations such as Moms for Liberty contending that parents should have more power to determine what books are available. Politicians have condemned Gender Queer and school systems in Florida, Texas, and elsewhere have banned it. From July 2021 to Dec. 2022, the book was banned in 56 school districts, the most of any book, according to PEN America’s documentation. From July 2021 to Dec. 2022, the book was banned in 56 school districts, the most of any book, according to PEN America’s documentation. The memoir explores Kobabe’s journey discovering their nonbinary identity and includes explicit illustrations that critics call pornographic. Supporters argue it provides crucial representation for LGBTQ+ youth who rarely see themselves in literature. The intense polarization around this book reflects broader cultural battles over gender identity and what kids should learn about sex and sexuality.

All Boys Aren’t Blue – Breaking Barriers and Building Walls

George M. Johnson’s 2020 memoir has been banned in multiple states, including Florida and Texas, for its frank discussions of LGBTQ+ experiences and sexual content. The book combines personal essays about growing up Black and queer with broader commentary on identity and belonging. Johnson writes about everything from bullying to first sexual experiences, presenting a nuanced portrait of Black queer youth that many readers had never encountered. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe was one of five LGBTQIA+ titles challenged by a parent at the North Hunterdon-Voorhees (NJ) Regional High School District. The other titles were Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, and All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. The parent read some snippets, called for audits, and threatened criminal charges for those responsible for providing “evil, wicked” content in the school. Critics focus on sexual content they deem inappropriate for young readers, while supporters emphasize the book’s importance for LGBTQ+ youth of color who rarely see their experiences reflected in literature. The controversy highlights how books about marginalized identities face extra scrutiny compared to similar content involving straight, white characters.

Maus – Even Holocaust Education Gets Banned

Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust was banned in Tennessee in 2022 for “inappropriate language” and nudity. Yes, you read that right – a school district banned a book about the Holocaust because it contained a few curse words and brief nudity in the context of depicting Nazi atrocities. The decision sparked international outrage and highlighted the absurdity of applying blanket content policies to serious works of art and historical documentation. Through local campaigns and state laws, this movement has placed tremendous pressures on school districts, administrators, librarians, and educators, and impacted an astonishing array of books and subjects, from new picture books or young adult novels to literary classics — from Captain Underpants to Roots, from The Handmaid’s Tale to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Spiegelman uses the graphic novel format to make Holocaust history accessible to younger readers, depicting Jews as mice and Nazis as cats. The Tennessee school board’s concerns about “inappropriate language” in a book about genocide reveals a profound misunderstanding of both art and history. Sometimes the real world contains inappropriate content – that doesn’t mean we should pretend it didn’t happen.

Fahrenheit 451 – The Ultimate Irony

Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel about book burning has itself been banned in some schools, creating perhaps the most perfect example of irony in literary history. The book that warns against censorship gets censored for “anti-censorship themes” and “offensive language.” Bradbury must be spinning in his grave. His protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman whose job is to burn books in a society that has decided literature is too dangerous for citizens to read. The parallels to contemporary book banning campaigns are so obvious that banning Fahrenheit 451 feels like performance art. The data shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. 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.