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Staff-Created List

The Most Challenged Books of 2024

Efforts to restrict access to books continue to rise, making the issue of censorship a pressing concern for libraries, schools, and communities. In 2024, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 821 attempts to remove library materials, affecting 2,452 unique titles. Challenges came from a variety of sources, including organized groups and individual parents. The most common reasons cited included claims of sexually explicit content, LGBTQIA+ themes, and discussions of race, racism, equity, and social justice. Despite these challenges, the right to read and access information remains a fundamental principle of intellectual freedom. The books most frequently challenged offer a wide range of perspectives, encouraging empathy, reflection, and understanding. Supporting intellectual freedom ensures that individuals have the opportunity to explore diverse ideas, learn from multiple viewpoints, and engage thoughtfully with the world.

9 items

All Boys Aren't Blue
A Memoir-Manifesto
Johnson, George M. (George Matthew), 1985-
Johnson’s memoir-essay hybrid recounts growing up Black and queer in New Jersey and Virginia. Through personal stories, it explores identity, family, resilience, and the need for representation of Black queer youth.
Downloadable Audiobook, 2020New York : Macmillan Young Listeners, 2020 — eAudio
Gender Queer
a Memoir
Kobabe, Maia,
This graphic memoir details Kobabe’s journey of self-discovery as a nonbinary and asexual individual. Through illustrations and narrative, it addresses the complexities of gender identity and the challenges of expressing it.
Graphic Novel, 2019[St. Louis, Missouri] : Lion Forge, 2019 — GN 306.766 Koba
The Bluest Eye
Morrison, Toni
Morrison’s debut novel follows Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl in 1940s Ohio who longs for blue eyes, believing they will bring her beauty and acceptance. The novel explores racism, societal pressures, and self-perception.
Book, 1970New York : Knopf, [1970, 1993] — FIC Morr
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Chbosky, Stephen
Told through letters from high school freshman Charlie, this coming-of-age story explores friendship, love, trauma, and personal growth, resonating with readers navigating adolescence.
Book, 1999New York : Pocket Books, [1999] — FIC Chbo
Looking for Alaska
Green, John, 1977-
Miles “Pudge” Halter attends a boarding school seeking a “Great Perhaps.” There, he forms friendships and experiences love and loss, leading to personal growth.
Book, 2005New York : Dutton Books, [2005] — YF Gree
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Andrews, Jesse
Greg Gaines narrates his high school experiences, including a reluctant friendship with Rachel, a classmate diagnosed with leukemia. The story addresses humor, grief, and adolescent growth.
Book, 2012New York : Amulet Books, [2012] — YF Andr
Crank
Hopkins, Ellen
Written in verse, this novel follows Kristina’s descent into drug addiction and explores its impact on her life and relationships.
Book, 2004New York : Simon Pulse, [2004] — YF Hopk
Sold
McCormick, Patricia, 1956-
Lakshmi, a young girl from Nepal, is sold into sexual slavery in India. The novel portrays her experiences and the resilience required to survive exploitation.
Book, 2006New York : Hyperion, [2006] — YF McCo
Flamer
Curato, Mike
Set during a summer at a Catholic camp, Aiden navigates bullying, self-discovery, and adolescent sexuality in this graphic novel.
Graphic Novel, 2020New York : Henry Holt & Company, 2020 — YGN Cura

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