Banned Books Week: Most Targeted Titles and Publisher Responses
The concept of freedom is a cornerstone of American culture and often features prominently in our advertising. Patriotism is expressed through messages and symbols related to liberty and the rights that are inviolable.
However, just how far does this freedom extend? Banned Books Week raises this important question as various groups—including parents’ rights advocates, politicians, librarians, and publishers—clash over what literature is appropriate for young readers.
Polls indicate that a majority of Americans do not support book bans. An American Library Association survey showed that 71% of voters and parents of public school children are against the removal of books from libraries, with support spanning across political lines, including Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
Yet, book bans persist. Keep reading to discover more about Banned Books Week:
When is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week takes place from Sunday, September 23 to Saturday, September 28, culminating in “Freedom to Read Day.”
This year’s theme is “Freed Between the Lines.” Cindy Holh, president of the American Library Association (ALA), described the theme as a celebration of the liberty found in books and the ongoing need to safeguard that freedom against censorship.
What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is a time to contemplate the significance of free expression.
Established in 1982, this initiative was created in response to an increasing number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and classrooms. Over the past forty years, book bans have surged once more. Although preliminary data from the ALA shows a slight decline in overall challenges for 2024, the numbers still surpass what was recorded before 2020.
“Censorship is not a new phenomenon; it has been documented globally since the 1600s,” Hohl noted, emphasizing that it is a practice that should not align with American values.
She expressed concern over the disconnect between community book challenges and the actual materials available within libraries. Some books are being targeted even if they are not in a library’s collection but are instead drawn from curated online lists.
A 2023 YSL News investigation uncovered that BookLooks.org was behind a significant number of book challenges across the country. Founded in 2022, this site advocates for a rating system for books and is frequently referenced by the conservative group Moms for Liberty.
What are the most banned books?
The American Library Association reports that the ten most challenged books of 2023 are:
- “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe
- “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson
- “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson
- “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
- “Flamer” by Mike Curato
- “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
- “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews *
- “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins *
- “Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human” by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
- “Sold” by Patricia McCormick
*Books seven and eight are tied in this list.
PEN America, an organization dedicated to monitoring book bans, indicates that Florida has experienced the highest number of book bans from July 2021 through December 2023, with Texas following closely.
As several communities deliberate on the removal of certain books, Hohl hopes this prompts readers to become more engaged. “I encourage people to explore any book that appears on the banned list and understand the reasoning behind its designation as unnecessary for your community. Make a well-informed decision,” she advises.
Why are books being banned?
A book ban restricts access to a title, beginning with a challenge before often leading to removal from educational settings, sometimes indefinitely.
The group Moms For Liberty has emerged as a significant force within the parents’ rights movement, particularly focused on content that relates to sexuality.
“Ensuring age-appropriate material is NOT the same as banning,” Moms for Liberty asserted on Twitter this week. “Schools must prevent obscene and pornographic material from reaching children. Our organization is actively ensuring that materials in public schools are suitable for all ages.”
Authors of books targeted for such reasons have told YSL News Network that describing their work as “pornographic” is misleading and lacks context.
In Florida, recent laws stipulate that any titles containing sexual content, irrespective of whether they are pornographic, may be removed. This has resulted in works like the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “The Color Purple,” and “Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation” being taken off shelves for review. Some works by Shakespeare are also at risk.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly countered what he terms the “Book Ban Hoax,” asserting that the state Department of Education “does not ban books.” However, under the laws in Florida, educators can face felony charges for possessing and distributing “inappropriate” books, a term that is open to interpretation.
Discussions about racial and LGBTQ+ issues, as well as relationship and sexual violence, have increasingly fallen under the umbrella of book censorship.
According to Hohl, the dialogue regarding what is deemed “appropriate” isn’t involving the right stakeholders: “Library professionals are equipped with a wealth of knowledge,” she explains. “Most of us hold advanced degrees in library and information science, and we are extensively trained in literacy initiatives for our communities. It’s peculiar that certain community groups choose not to consult us directly for these important conversations.”
In a recent analysis by The Washington Post, published from 2021 to 2022, they studied 986 books that were challenged in school libraries. They discovered that almost 42% of these challenged titles featured LGBTQ+ themes or characters, while 28% included characters of color or tackled issues of race.
Jennie Pu, the director of the Hoboken Public Library in New Jersey—recognized as the state’s first “book sanctuary” in 2023—questions, “Who has the authority to make these decisions? It’s a dangerous precedent. Once censorship starts with one book, it opens the door for everything to be questioned.”
Fight Against Book Censorship by Publishers and Authors
Book banning has brought together major publishing houses in the United States. In August, a coalition including Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks, along with the Authors Guild, well-known authors, students, and parents, filed a lawsuit against the Florida State Board of Education. This lawsuit challenges HB 1069, a law that allows any parent or county resident to raise objections to educational materials, which must be pulled from shelves within five days until the matter is resolved.
Penguin Random House is also actively engaging in lawsuits against school districts in Iowa, Arkansas, and Texas.
“We have a responsibility in this battle,” asserts Daniel Novack, Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Penguin Random House. “We don’t just publish books and hope for the best; we must advocate for the authors and ensure readers can access these crucial works.”
This week, Penguin Random House is showcasing their “Banned Wagon” as it travels to communities facing numerous book bans and challenges. They are also distributing “banned book action boxes” to influencers and bookstores, providing guidance on how to inform their audiences and customers about this issue.
“As our nation becomes increasingly diverse, it’s vital for every student to see themselves represented in the literature available to them. Without this, they may not develop a passion for reading,” Novack emphasizes. “Reading is crucial for personal development, career advancement, and overall well-being. If we allow the right to read to be compromised, we risk losing a significant part of our future.”
