As part of its annual report, the American Library Association (ALA) has unveiled its list of the ten most “challenged books” for 2024, most of which have LGBTQ+ themes, continuing an ongoing trend highlighted in reports from the past several years.
The ALA defines a challenge as a “formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.” The association, which compiles yearly censorship data using media accounts and reports from librarians, also believes that the true number of challenges, therefore, is likely far higher than the numbers cited in its annual studies.
George M. Johnson’s ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue’, a YA memoir about the duality of being Black and Queer, tops the ALA list in 2024 as the most challenged book, after being the second most challenged book in 2023. Second on the list, is ‘Gender Queer’, a graphic novel autobiography by Maia Kobabe, which was the most challenged book the previous year.
Tied for third place on the list of most challenged books of 2024 is Toni Morrison’s ‘The Bluest Eye’ and Stephen Chbosky’s ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’. Fifth on the list in Ellen Hopkin’s ‘Tricks’, while tied for sixth is John Green’s ‘Looking for Alaska’ and ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’ by Jesse Andrews.
Tied for eighth on the list is another title by Ellen Hopkins, ‘Crank’, which received objections due to reference to drug addiction, alongside ‘Sold’ by Patricia McCormick which received objections due to slavery and sexual abuse references. Finally, Mike Curato’s ‘Flamer‘, a story about dealing with bullies and self-acceptance that draws on the author’s own experiences, was the tenth most challenged book in the ALA’s data report.
According to the ALA, challenges to books are no longer just from local communities or individuals. In fact, their data found that more than 70% of attempted bans of a given title or titles come from organised groups – such as Mom’s for Liberty – and elected officials, and just 16% originated with a parent.
“We can trace many of the challenges to lists of books that have been distributed by Moms for Liberty and other groups,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.
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