Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2020
#1 George
By Alex Gino
Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”
#2 Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
By Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of author’s public statements, and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people
#3 All American Boys
By Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now”
#4 Speak
By Laurie Halse Anderson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity
#5 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
By SSherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author
#6 Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice
By Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
#7 To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience
#8 Of Mice and Men
By John Steinbeck
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
#9 The Bluest Eye
By Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
#10 The Hate U Give
By Angie Thomas
Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message
(http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10, accessed April 6, 2021)
