Read on Twitter
Countdown Thread: Top 10 banned book list in American (USA) schools. The @ALALibrary Intellectual Freedom Office tracked 377 challenges to school materials in 2019. Of the 566 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring 1/
Coming in at Number 10: "And Tango Makes Three" by Peter Parnell & Justin Richardson illustrated by Henry Cole
Reason: Challenged & relocated for LGBTQIA+ content. I own this, it is a lovely, based-on-truth story about gay penguins raising a chick at Central Park Zoo. Shocking 2/
Reason: Challenged & relocated for LGBTQIA+ content. I own this, it is a lovely, based-on-truth story about gay penguins raising a chick at Central Park Zoo. Shocking 2/
Number 9: Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Reasons: Banned & forbidden from discussion for referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals. JKR has backwards views so this pic instead 3/
Reasons: Banned & forbidden from discussion for referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals. JKR has backwards views so this pic instead 3/
Number 8: "Drama" written & illustrated by Raina Telgemeier. Reasons: Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and for concerns that it goes against “family values/morals”. I didn't know about this amazing graphic novel. Ordered! Thanks Baroness Book-Banner 4/
Number 7: "The Handmaid’s Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Reasons: Banned & challenged for profanity & for “vulgarity & sexual overtones”. Irony, a book including book banning as a theme is itself banned. I read aged 10-it blew my mind. Danger! May encourage support for body autonomy 5/
Reasons: Banned & challenged for profanity & for “vulgarity & sexual overtones”. Irony, a book including book banning as a theme is itself banned. I read aged 10-it blew my mind. Danger! May encourage support for body autonomy 5/
Number 6: "I Am Jazz" by Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas. Reasons: Challenged & relocated for a trans character, & for a “sensitive, controversial, & politically charged” topic. The first Trans book on the list, I own it, & its pretty great! 6/
In at Number 5: "Prince & Knight" by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis. Reasons: Challenged & restricted for featuring a gay marriage “a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children with the potential to cause confusion, curiosity, & gender dysphoria;". Insta-Buy!
Number 4: "Sex is a Funny Word" by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth. Reasons: Challenged, banned, & relocated for LGBTQIA+ content; discussing gender identity, sex education; & concerns title & illustrations were “inappropriate”. I own this one too, Highly recommend!
Number 3: "A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo" by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: Challenged & vandalized for LGBTQIA+ content, political viewpoints, & concerns it is “designed to pollute the morals of its readers,”. Love this book, about Mike Pence's gay rabbit!
Reasons: Challenged & vandalized for LGBTQIA+ content, political viewpoints, & concerns it is “designed to pollute the morals of its readers,”. Love this book, about Mike Pence's gay rabbit!
