Banned Books Week 2026
Banned Books Week is an annual event that highlights the importance of intellectual freedom, which is a library user's right to read, seek information and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. This event was first held in 1982 as a response to the surge of book challenges in libraries, bookstores, and schools. The theme for this year is Let Books Be — Protect the Freedom to Read.
Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) reports the statistics of book challenges and bans across the country, including the top challenged books, as reported by the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country. Most of these challenges are justified by those submitting them with false claims of obscenity for minors, the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters, and topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice. You can see censorship by the numbers HERE on the ALA's website, including an interactive map of where censorship is occurring.
Below are the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025:
- Sold by Patricia McCormick
Why this book matters: bit.ly/soldBR - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Why this book matters: bit.ly/wallflowerBR - Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Why this book matters: bit.ly/genderBR - Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Why this book matters: bit.ly/empireofstormsBR - (TIE) Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Why this book matters: bit.ly/telegraphclubBR - (TIE) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Why this book matters: bit.ly/tricksBR - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Why this book matters: bit.ly/thornsBR - (TIE) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Why this book matters: bit.ly/clockworkorangeBR - (TIE) Identical by Ellen Hopkins
Why this book matters: bit.ly/identicalBR - (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green
Why this book matters: bit.ly/alaskaBR - (TIE) Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Why this book matters: bit.ly/stormBR
