10/05/2026
It's Banned Books Week!
You may be asking, "What's banned books week?" Well, Banned Books Week launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Every year libraries and other organizations, led by the ALA, highlight these bans and challenges, and invite us to fight against censorship, especially in libraries. 40% of the books challenged this past year represented the lives of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.
This year's theme, "Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read." was developed in collaboration with Little Jacket, the firm behind ALA's Libraries Transform Campaign. The illustration at the end of this post was created by award-winning illustrator Mikey Burton to embrace joy and creativity as acts of resilience.
In the images, we're highlighting to top 11 most challenged books of the last year. In order they are:
1) Sold by Patricia McCormick
2) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3) Gender Q***r by Maia Kobabe
4) Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
5 [TIE]) Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
5 [TIE]) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
7) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
8 [TIE]) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
8 [TIE]) Identical by Ellen Hopkins
8 [TIE]) Looking for Alaska by John Green
8 [TIE]) Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout
How can you help? READ BANNED BOOKS. Fight for your right to read under the First Amendment. And if possible, donate to organizations like the ALA or your local libraries.
