ShipLibrary Blog

National Library Week: Top Ten Banned Books 2018

Monday April 8 - National Library Week

• The State of America's Libraries Report 2018
• Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2018

Academic libraries empower learners with access to authoritative digital and print collections, as well as instructional sessions. A recent study reports that 6.2 million students participated in face-to-face and online instructional sessions. Libraries in doctoral degree-granting institutions were open an average of 109 hours per week, followed by comprehensive university libraries at 88 hours per week and baccalaureate libraries at 87 hours per week. Community colleges were open an average of 63 hours per week.

Top 11 Banned Books for 2018

Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the Top 11 Most Challenged Books are:

• George by Alex Gino
  Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character
• A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
  Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints
• Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
  Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references
• Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
  Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
  Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide
• This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
  Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations
• Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
  Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
  Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint
• This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
  Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content
• Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
  Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content