Frequently Challenged Books with Diverse Content

The ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) receives reports from libraries, schools, and the media on attempts to ban books in communities across the country. We compile lists of challenged books in order to inform the public about censorship efforts that affect libraries and schools. How do we define diversity?

A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines

A Hero Ain’t Nothin But a Sandwich by Alice Childress

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Always Running by Luis J Rodriguez

Am I Blue?: Coming Out from the Silence by Marion Dane Baue

America by E.R. Frank

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley

Baby Be-Bop by Francesca Lia Block

Ball Don’t Lie by Matt De La Pena

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

Black Boy by Richard Wright

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A Anaya

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa

Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Families: A Celebration of Diversity, Commitment and Love by Aylette Jenness

Full Spectrum by David Levithan

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

George by Alex Gino

Getting It by Alex Sanchez

God Box by Alex Sanchez

Habibi by Craig Thompson

Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman

Hold Me Closer by David Levithan

Hoops by Walter Dean Myers

I Am J by Cris Beam

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Ironman by Chris Crutcher

It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie H Harris

Jazmin’s Notebook by Nikki Grimes

Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane

King & King by Linda de Haan

Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Mexican Whiteboy by Matt De La Pena

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino

My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis

Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron

Nasreen’s Secret School by Jeanette Winter

Native Son by Richard Wright

Palestine: A Nation Occupied by Joe Sacco

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D Taylor

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers

So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Diary of a Girl by Anne Frank

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox

This Book is Gay by James Dawson

This Day in June by Gayle Pitman

This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki

Tintin in America by Hergé

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Tyrell by Coe Booth

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S Brannen

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Who’s in a Family? by Robert Skutch

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by Greg Neri