The American Library Association released its list of the 10 most challenged books of 2024.
The most challenged book of last year was George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue, a memoir of growing up Black and queer in New Jersey. The book is a perennial target of censors; it was No. 2 on the ALA’s list of the most challenged books of 2023.
Last year’s most challenged book, Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir, Gender Queer, was No. 2 on this year’s list. Like Johnson, Kobabe is nonbinary.
Tied for No. 3 were Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. At No. 5 was Ellen Hopkins’ Tricks.
Two young adult books tied for the No. 6 spot: John Green’s Looking for Alaska and Jesse Andrews’ Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Hopkins’ Crank came in at No. 8, tied with Patricia McCormick’s Sold. At No. 10 was Mike Curato’s Flamer.
Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, said in a statement, “The movement to ban books is not a movement of parents, but a movement of partisans who seek to limit our freedom to read and make different choices about things that matter. All who care about libraries and personal liberty must stand together and join the movement to halt this assault on the freedom to read.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
