Challenging books is an attempt to ban or restrict access to a piece of literature. The American Library Association (ALA) disapproves of all book bans and stresses that reading should be accessible to everyone as per the first amendment.
Unfortunately, censorship in literature is not uncommon. According to the ALA, 72% of all attempts to ban books in 2024 came from government officials or organizations. Most political activists try to censor books waving false claims about obscenity and protecting minors. However, access to information should be uninterrupted, and definitely not regulated by the government.
In this article, we will go through some of the most frequently challenged books, see what the ALA says about the issue and talk about the importance of free access to information.
Why Do Books Get Banned?
The ALA has been collecting data on book bans since the 90s. Before 2024, most requests to challenge books came from parents or guardians. Now, most attempts are made by policymakers.
Restricting access to information is dictatorship 101. That is not to say that every politician that’s attempted to get a book banned is a dictator. However, challenging books is a common control tactic that has been employed by many totalitarian rulers over the years.
Book bans most often happen in public libraries and schools. The current political climate in America gives way to far-right activists to contest every book that has a homosexual character in it. The sentiment to ‘protect the children’ is definitely a noble one. Yet, the ALA policy stresses that parents are the only ones who have the right to prohibit their child (and only their child) from reading a certain book. Otherwise, access to information should be unencumbered by anyone.
Profanity, offensive language, content inappropriate for a certain age, religious viewpoint, racism, and LGBTQIA+ content are the most common reasons for book bans.
American Library Association vs. Book Bans
The ALA’s mission is to ensure access to information for all by supporting libraries and empowering library workers. They have been tracking book bans, collecting statistics and sharing the data publicly. Every year, they release a list of the most frequently challenged books, which you can find below.
In 2025, the Trump administration announced it wouldn’t investigate schools and public libraries for banning books. A tsunami wave of book bans followed shortly after. The Department of Defense Education Activity has banned hundreds of titles from schools on US military bases across the world. The administration has also attempted to cut funding to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
In response, the ALA has filed a lawsuit against the current administration. They demand to stop book bans, return funding to public libraries and the IMLS.
The ALA supports every individual’s right to free access to information and takes concrete steps to balance the bans. Raising awareness is the first step to protecting our libraries. ALA often releases statements updating the public on the current state of book challenges in the US. It is our job as readers and citizens to stand up for our libraries and safeguard our right to read.
Top 10 Frequently Challenged Books
Bans often have an opposite effect, spiking interest among the readers. If you’re one of those rebellious souls, the ALA has got you covered. Last year’s list of most challenged books is available at the association’s website. Dig your nose into these while you wait for next year’s edition of the list!
Book Bans by Decade
Book challenges can tell us a lot about the time they were instituted. Right now, many books on the frequently challenged list are there due to LGBTQIA+ themes and characters.
The 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990–2000 list features fewer books with depictions of LGBTQIA+ themes, but a lot more violence and sexual content.
As for the years 2000-2009, the list is headlined by the Harry Potter series. Steeped in controversy at the time, right now the book seems most innocent. This only goes to show that book bans are subjective and cannot stop people from reading.
Look at the list of challenged books of 2010-2019 and see if any spike your interest.
Challenged Books for Children
The list of frequently challenged children’s books is based on reports from schools, libraries and the news. Unfortunately, not all book bans are reported to the ALA, so the list only includes a part of all the challenged literature. It’s important to remember that parents are the ones responsible for their children’s education and they should be the ones deciding what their kids are allowed to read.
Book Censorship & Readers
Frequently challenged books is an important topic for educators, policymakers, students, and parents. Everyone advocating for a democratic society recognizes that equal access to information is crucial. The readers are not the only ones affected by book bans, though.
Authors and publishers incur huge financial losses if their book gets challenged. Writers miss public appearances and readings, lose sales and future work opportunities. In addition to that, many authors of banned books report receiving death threats and hate mail.
Library workers and school staff are under a lot of pressure as well. Some have even reported preemptively self-censoring books in order to avoid getting in trouble. A measure necessary for one to keep their job can hinder another’s access to information, which is directly against the ALA’s mission. That is not to blame the librarian, but rather the system that has put them in a position where they had to sacrifice their values for the sake of continued employment.
Still, students are the ones suffering the most from book censorship attempts. In an environment where information access is limited, children and adolescents are more likely to turn to unverified sources. It’s especially important to protect young minds from propaganda and misinformation. That’s why book bans need to go.
Conclusion
At a time when the entire world’s knowledge can be accessed with just a few clicks, it is bizarre to be discussing book bans. However, books are still being challenged and banned all the time, which is why it’s so important to raise awareness of this issue.
Frequently challenged books change with every year, but the problem remains. The American Library Association does everything in its power to ensure access to all the challenged books. But politicians, educators and activists still attempt to limit access to literature they deem inappropriate.
Most of the time, book challenges are accompanied by false claims and slogans rather than objective arguments, only proving the ludicrous nature of book bans. Unfortunately, though, these strategies often work on the general public, replacing curiosity with fear.
Parents, library workers and school staff must remember that students’ access to knowledge is in their hands. If we don’t push back on book bans now, we’re looking at more restrictions and even less access to information.