Our Favorite Banned Books
- List of the Month
- September 2024 (see all)
- Talk
- September 2024 List of the Month: Our Favorite Banned Books
- Description
- Banned Books Week is coming up, from September 22-28, and in honor of that occasion our list this month is devoted to Our Favorite Banned Books. The books can have been banned in any jurisdiction worldwide, and in any specific institution (a school, a library, etc). Each participant may vote on ten titles (and add other, non-weighted titles). Please feel free to add notes, explaining any history of controversy, challenges and banning, especially if the case is not well known. For some other lists which provide ideas and examples, please see our Talk thread!
1
by Harper Lee
89,908 members
1,559 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 157.05
Added 2024-09-12, 03:01 PM
- 45 Members
- tardis, ablachly, TeresaInTexas, ReshiBec, lahochstetler, knerd.knitter, oregonobsessionz, kleo, lizzy50usa, saskia17, sallylou61, DonQuijote, cbl_tn, PaperbackPirate, YavorD, janflora, sturlington, eronn, perennialreader, MissMerritt, TheLOFT, TKnapp, BonnieJune54, katemcangus, gypsysmom, AbigailAdams26, awwolfe1, SLVLIB, msjudy, Kyler_Marie, OurLittleLibrary, DonnaGriffin, Momgoth, Onilyn, Thelamon1, rdpellerin, RickyOnsman, MaureenONeill, GirlBlogZone, 2665Lover, Lakshita_Dokku, cre8tivemaxx, jayMoKc, NesiLeon, JChance
- Explanations
- jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
2
94,170 members
1,451 reviews
4.2
Score 118.23
Added 2024-09-12, 03:17 PM
- 38 Members
- timspalding, kaixo, ReshiBec, knerd.knitter, oregonobsessionz, charl08, kleo, DonQuijote, konallis, atozgrl, YavorD, sturlington, MissMerritt, RhondaReed, vwinsloe, Brian.Gunderson, thalassa_thalassa, al.vick, BookHavenAZ, awwolfe1, SF_fan_mae, Kyler_Marie, Andrew_Orange, Onilyn, jnsp13, Charon07, skid0612, Gabi_Oliveira, Thelamon1, rdpellerin, RickyOnsman, 2665Lover, pstrombo, cre8tivemaxx, jayMoKc, littleknicky, NesiLeon, JChance
- Explanations
- BookHavenAZ: I've always had a keen ear for language and a deep respect for the power of words. Orwell's chilling dystopia emphasizes how language can be "defanged" and turned against its users. Big Brother isn't only watching you - he's taken away the words you should be able to scream.jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
3
- 35 Members
- TeresaInTexas, kaixo, oregonobsessionz, kleo, saskia17, DonQuijote, cbl_tn, atozgrl, YavorD, sturlington, eronn, perennialreader, MissMerritt, RhondaReed, vwinsloe, al.vick, Bookwomble, BookHavenAZ, SF_fan_mae, msemmag, Momgoth, Onilyn, steller0707, jnsp13, skid0612, slimikin, Thelamon1, rdpellerin, RickyOnsman, 2665Lover, plymouthpalibrary, Lakshita_Dokku, BigPappy, jayMoKc, NesiLeon
- Explanations
- vwinsloe: The banned book about book burning.BookHavenAZ: As a bookseller, I find "Fahrenheit 451" is the definitive work on the future we do not want. It terrifies me that some people find it objectionable.jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
4
48,431 members
1,236 reviews
4.1
Score 93.93
Added 2024-09-12, 04:51 PM
- 30 Members
- karenb, kaixo, lahochstetler, charl08, kleo, konallis, YavorD, janflora, sturlington, perennialreader, MissMerritt, RhondaReed, vwinsloe, gypsysmom, PriscillaKing, al.vick, BookHavenAZ, msjudy, Momgoth, pnppl, Onilyn, steller0707, jnsp13, Charon07, Thelamon1, SealedArchive, 2665Lover, plymouthpalibrary, cre8tivemaxx, natalie.young
- Explanations
- RhondaReed: If someone tell me a book is banned and not to read it that's the first book I'll read. Most books are banned for stupid or petty reasons. I'm not reading them I'm re-reading them. Had to read them back in high school!PriscillaKing: Definitely not for children--but a must-read for adults.BookHavenAZ: This incredible work issues a powerful warning about the dangers of concentrated power, propaganda and fanaticism - while emphasizing the boundless value of books and reading.
5
56,889 members
496 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 91.11
Added 2024-09-12, 03:47 PM
- 29 Members
- tardis, oregonobsessionz, lizzy50usa, DonQuijote, atozgrl, eronn, EMS_24, perennialreader, MissMerritt, TKnapp, RhondaReed, gypsysmom, al.vick, Bookwomble, SF_fan_mae, DonnaGriffin, Momgoth, Andrew_Orange, Onilyn, Charon07, slimikin, Gabi_Oliveira, SealedArchive, erinrob, RickyOnsman, marjact, plymouthpalibrary, jayMoKc, littleknicky
- Explanations
- jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
6
45,487 members
1,039 reviews
4
Score 82.9
Added 2024-09-12, 03:48 PM
- 27 Members
- tardis, charlenemartel, TeresaInTexas, knerd.knitter, terran, lizzy50usa, DonQuijote, sturlington, perennialreader, MissMerritt, katemcangus, al.vick, elorin, OurLittleLibrary, DonnaGriffin, Momgoth, Andrew_Orange, Onilyn, skid0612, slimikin, SealedArchive, erinrob, marjact, Red-Hawk, natalie.young, littleknicky, JChance
- Explanations
- marjact: I met Madeleine twice. It was a privilege to tell her how much A Wrinkle Time Meant to Me. Meg is so brave. I love stories about brave women and girls.
7
by Mark Twain
49,359 members
584 reviews
3.9
Score 78.77
Added 2024-09-12, 03:00 PM
- 27 Members
- timspalding, tardis, hipdeep, oregonobsessionz, cbl_tn, atozgrl, YavorD, eronn, MissMerritt, TKnapp, rhbouchard, BonnieJune54, AbigailAdams26, Kyler_Marie, DonnaGriffin, Momgoth, Onilyn, Charon07, Thelamon1, RickyOnsman, marjact, GirlBlogZone, 2665Lover, pstrombo, jayMoKc, littleknicky, JChance
- Explanations
- jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
8
- 26 Members
- charlenemartel, kaixo, ReshiBec, sallylou61, DonQuijote, cbl_tn, eronn, MissMerritt, Bookwomble, BookHavenAZ, awwolfe1, SF_fan_mae, msemmag, Andrew_Orange, Onilyn, Charon07, skid0612, Gabi_Oliveira, Thelamon1, rdpellerin, RickyOnsman, Red-Hawk, pstrombo, cre8tivemaxx, jayMoKc, littleknicky
- Explanations
- BookHavenAZ: Orwell's focus on the power of words and language again packs a punch in this wonderful but horrific "fable." As we lurch into a future where "All animals are created equal... but some are more equal than others" and the power of misinformation and propaganda grows exponentially, the fact that some banners mistake this work for a support of socialism is appalling.jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
9
58,028 members
1,374 reviews
4.2
Score 70.98
Added 2024-09-12, 08:46 PM
- 24 Members
- charlenemartel, dara85, charl08, kleo, sallylou61, perennialreader, RhondaReed, gypsysmom, awwolfe1, stephanieann1983, msjudy, OurLittleLibrary, ManWithAnAgenda, jnsp13, Gabi_Oliveira, Thelamon1, AndreaLP, marjact, Red-Hawk, 2665Lover, pstrombo, jayMoKc, NesiLeon, roneill0
- Explanations
- jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
10
153,806 members
2,215 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 70.53
Added 2024-09-12, 03:01 PM
- 25 Members
- timspalding, tardis, charlenemartel, ReshiBec, oregonobsessionz, lizzy50usa, PaperbackPirate, janflora, eronn, MissMerritt, RhondaReed, al.vick, AbigailAdams26, SF_fan_mae, msjudy, jnsp13, Tosta, Gabi_Oliveira, erinrob, marjact, MaureenONeill, KatrinaGrote71, Lakshita_Dokku, jayMoKc, littleknicky
- Explanations
11
13
12,196 members
281 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 62.45
Added 2024-09-12, 03:14 PM
14
22,290 members
385 reviews
4
Score 55.57
Added 2024-09-12, 03:21 PM
- 19 Members
- timspalding, hipdeep, saskia17, sallylou61, sturlington, TheLOFT, RhondaReed, BonnieJune54, katemcangus, awwolfe1, stephanieann1983, beehappy, Momgoth, steller0707, eddysfo, MaureenONeill, 2665Lover, ZephCraven, littleknicky
- Explanations
- RhondaReed: Already read it. Fabulous book.
15
by Judy Blume
8,884 members
260 reviews
3.8
Score 50.84
Added 2024-09-13, 12:13 AM
- 18 Members
- dara85, lahochstetler, charl08, Phoenix44, lizzy50usa, cbl_tn, janflora, sturlington, katemcangus, beehappy, elorin, OurLittleLibrary, Tosta, erinrob, marjact, MadelineLikeTheBook, KatrinaGrote71, cre8tivemaxx
16
49,161 members
778 reviews
4.1
Score 47.55
Added 2024-09-12, 05:00 PM
- 17 Members
- hipdeep, baaic, oregonobsessionz, eronn, RhondaReed, vwinsloe, msemmag, pnppl, Tosta, Charon07, skid0612, Thelamon1, rdpellerin, RickyOnsman, pstrombo, jayMoKc, natalie.young
- Explanations
- jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
17
- 15 Members
- ReshiBec, knerd.knitter, DonQuijote, EMS_24, TKnapp, rhbouchard, BonnieJune54, gypsysmom, awwolfe1, beehappy, DonnaGriffin, RickyOnsman, MaureenONeill, jayMoKc, JChance
- Explanations
- jayMoKc: What book ever locked down an entire school?
18
77,120 members
1,197 reviews
3.8
Score 39.15
Added 2024-09-12, 03:10 PM
- 15 Members
- kaixo, knerd.knitter, DonQuijote, YavorD, eronn, vwinsloe, beehappy, msemmag, Kyler_Marie, DonnaGriffin, Red-Hawk, cre8tivemaxx, natalie.young, littleknicky, NesiLeon
19
by Tim O'Brien
16,460 members
413 reviews
4.2
Score 35.29
Added 2024-09-12, 03:16 PM
- 13 Members
- knerd.knitter, charl08, eronn, awwolfe1, stephanieann1983, msjudy, msemmag, steller0707, slimikin, KatrinaGrote71, 2665Lover, pstrombo, natalie.young
20
by Maia Kobabe
2,199 members
127 reviews
4.2
Score 32.83
Added 2024-09-12, 03:20 PM
- 10 Members
- ablachly, Ennas, EerierIdyllMeme, TheLOFT, eclbates, Bookwomble, OurLittleLibrary, pnppl, plymouthpalibrary, cre8tivemaxx
21
- 12 Members
- paradoxosalpha, kleo, DonQuijote, konallis, Bookwomble, Kyler_Marie, ManWithAnAgenda, jnsp13, skid0612, rdpellerin, littleknicky, NesiLeon
- Explanations
- paradoxosalpha: Not my favorite book by Huxley, but a good one. Despite opponents' frequent charges of "sexually explicit" and even "pornographic" content, I don't consider it especially sexy.
22
- 9 Members
- dara85, knerd.knitter, Brian.Gunderson, jeanie0510, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, SealedArchive, erinrob, marjact
23
39,086 members
518 reviews
4.1
Score 26.22
Added 2024-09-14, 10:01 PM
- 10 Members
- sallylou61, DonQuijote, PaperbackPirate, YavorD, BonnieJune54, Brian.Gunderson, jeanie0510, DonnaGriffin, jnsp13, 2665Lover
- Explanations
- PaperbackPirate: "Obscene to the extreme."
24
3,002 members
323 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 25.73
Added 2024-09-12, 03:21 PM
- 8 Members
- karenb, ablachly, dara85, EerierIdyllMeme, al.vick, OurLittleLibrary, pnppl, MadelineLikeTheBook
25
11,759 members
231 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 24.81
Added 2024-09-12, 04:54 PM
- 9 Members
- baaic, lahochstetler, LolaWalser, airgid, OurLittleLibrary, Tosta, Charon07, SealedArchive, plymouthpalibrary
26
by Munro Leaf
11,308 members
184 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 24.73
Added 2024-09-12, 03:24 PM
- 10 Members
- hipdeep, TeresaInTexas, saskia17, sallylou61, sturlington, SF_fan_mae, OurLittleLibrary, DonnaGriffin, KatrinaGrote71, cre8tivemaxx
- Explanations
- hipdeep: Banned in Francoist Spain and Nazi Germany for alleged anti-Franco sentiments and pacifism.
27
by Oscar Wilde
47,109 members
750 reviews
4
Score 23.66
Added 2024-09-16, 08:54 PM
- 9 Members
- kleo, saskia17, MissMerritt, BonnieJune54, awwolfe1, SF_fan_mae, Gabi_Oliveira, MaureenONeill, littleknicky
28
23,816 members
514 reviews
4.2
Score 23.15
Added 2024-09-13, 05:35 PM
- 8 Members
- baaic, kaixo, EerierIdyllMeme, kleo, Bookwomble, msemmag, ManWithAnAgenda, skid0612
29
26,318 members
652 reviews
4
Score 23.05
Added 2024-09-12, 03:15 PM
30
- 8 Members
- ReshiBec, lahochstetler, sallylou61, konallis, TheLOFT, RhondaReed, katemcangus, vwinsloe
31
9,312 members
392 reviews
4.2
Score 20.86
Added 2024-09-13, 08:44 AM
- 8 Members
- charl08, TheLOFT, vwinsloe, eclbates, Bookwomble, pnppl, ManWithAnAgenda, Tosta
32
by C. S. Lewis
40,274 members
333 reviews
4.2
Score 20.71
Added 2024-09-16, 07:18 PM
- 8 Members
- TeresaInTexas, atozgrl, YavorD, janflora, Andrew_Orange, Gabi_Oliveira, marjact, natalie.young
- Explanations
- marjact: I have read and reread The Chronicles of Narnia.
33
35
by Mark Haddon
47,892 members
1,395 reviews
3.9
Score 18.07
Added 2024-09-16, 08:52 PM
- 7 Members
- dara85, terran, BonnieJune54, jeanie0510, jnsp13, Tosta, MaureenONeill
36
- 7 Members
- ReshiBec, PaperbackPirate, stephanieann1983, Charon07, MaureenONeill, plymouthpalibrary, JChance
37
by Ken Kesey
26,692 members
319 reviews
4.1
Score 16.91
Added 2024-09-13, 09:38 AM
- 7 Members
- hipdeep, oregonobsessionz, terran, sturlington, vwinsloe, RickyOnsman, JChance
38
76,650 members
3,641 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 16.72
Added 2024-09-23, 08:21 AM
- 6 Members
- cbl_tn, TheLOFT, erinrob, KatrinaGrote71, sfbibliofile95, plymouthpalibrary
39
by Jill Twiss
1,515 members
56 reviews
½ 4.5
Score 16.71
Added 2024-09-12, 03:16 PM
- 6 Members
- knerd.knitter, al.vick, stephanieann1983, Kyler_Marie, Tosta, MadelineLikeTheBook
40
by Dr. Seuss
5,692 members
90 reviews
4
Score 15.1
Added 2024-09-12, 03:17 PM
- 5 Members
- timspalding, sallylou61, AbigailAdams26, msjudy, elorin
42
by Maya Angelou
17,523 members
259 reviews
4
Score 14.28
Added 2024-09-15, 08:53 PM
- 6 Members
- lahochstetler, lizzy50usa, gypsysmom, msjudy, steller0707, KatrinaGrote71
44
576 members
5 reviews
4
Score 13.18
Added 2024-09-13, 06:48 AM
- 5 Members
- lizzy50usa, perennialreader, vwinsloe, gypsysmom, plymouthpalibrary
- Explanations
- vwinsloe: A groundbreaking book that honestly discussed taboo subjects concerning women's health.
46
- 4 Members
- paradoxosalpha, konallis, YavorD, thalassa_thalassa
- Explanations
- paradoxosalpha: This Renaissance Humanist romp was banned in the US under the Comstock Act in 1873. It could be again!
47
11,109 members
87 reviews
4.1
Score 11.6
Added 2024-09-23, 01:47 PM
- 4 Members
- TeresaInTexas, PriscillaKing, stephanieann1983, rachelhex22
- Explanations
- PriscillaKing: The classic series is being banned from schools, ostensibly because it's realistic about race relations at the time, more likely because of its intention to promote self-reliance and self-discipline.
50
5,587 members
117 reviews
4.2
Score 11
Added 2024-09-13, 01:57 AM
- 4 Members
- karenb, charl08, Kyler_Marie, natalie.young
52
57,301 members
817 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 10.68
Added 2024-10-01, 10:00 PM
- 3 Members
- rhbouchard, TomasDariusDavainis, slopdog
53
24,209 members
812 reviews
4
Score 10.64
Added 2024-09-23, 07:55 PM
- 4 Members
- ManWithAnAgenda, erinrob, MaureenONeill, sfbibliofile95
54
28,630 members
416 reviews
4
Score 10.52
Added 2024-09-12, 03:17 PM
- 4 Members
- knerd.knitter, Bookwomble, slimikin, RickyOnsman
56
3,169 members
121 reviews
3.9
Score 9.7
Added 2024-09-15, 08:54 PM
- 4 Members
- baaic, lizzy50usa, sallylou61, msjudy
57
- 3 Members
- TheLOFT, slimikin, SealedArchive
- Explanations
- slimikin: Book bans prompted by Missouri's Senate Bill 775
59
15,570 members
282 reviews
4.1
Score 7.69
Added 2024-09-12, 03:22 PM
- 3 Members
- hipdeep, stephanieann1983, steller0707
- Explanations
- hipdeep: Banned in Pinochet's Chile. Challenged multiple times in the US for depictions of sexuality and violence.
60
by Karl Marx
18,067 members
163 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 7.36
Added 2024-09-14, 04:11 PM
- 2 Members
- LolaWalser, Brian.Gunderson
- Explanations
- LolaWalser: "Richest 1% bag nearly twice as much wealth as the rest of the world put together over the past two years"-Oxfam "Workers lost $3.7 trillion in earnings during the pandemic. Women and Gen Z saw the biggest losses." -- Business Insider India "Working Women Have Cumulatively Lost $61 Trillion in Wages Since 1967, New CAP Analysis Finds" --Center for American Progress
61
13,894 members
198 reviews
3.8
Score 7.18
Added 2024-09-16, 08:55 PM
- 3 Members
- baaic, BonnieJune54, steller0707
62
by C. S. Lewis
12,530 members
186 reviews
3.8
Score 7.12
Added 2024-09-16, 07:26 PM
- 3 Members
- SF_fan_mae, Andrew_Orange, plymouthpalibrary
63
12,202 members
219 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 7.07
Added 2024-09-22, 11:25 PM
64
- 3 Members
- lahochstetler, kleo, perennialreader
- Explanations
- perennialreader: Banned in the Soviet Union until 1988 for criticizing life in Russia after the Russian Revolution. When Boris Pasternak won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958, he was forced to reject it under government pressure.
65
29 members
1 review
4.2
Score 6.68
Added 2024-09-12, 07:32 PM
- 2 Members
- jeanh12, themulhern
- Explanations
- themulhern: Mayor in British Columbia attacked because his wife read this book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWFrOtyVAc4. Yeah, this story was amazing but it also didn't fit into the "Cancelled People" list because nobody involved is an author.
67
13,217 members
823 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 6.04
Added 2024-09-13, 01:59 AM
68
- 2 Members
- paradoxosalpha, GirlBlogZone
- Explanations
- paradoxosalpha: This cautionary novel was banned for decades in Germany because of an injunction obtained by the family of Nazi stage actor Gustaf Gründgens, who was the too-obvious basis for the central character.
69
13,516 members
153 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 5.61
Added 2024-09-22, 11:06 PM
- 2 Members
- hipdeep, ManWithAnAgenda
71
13,996 members
395 reviews
4
Score 5.5
Added 2024-09-12, 08:47 PM
72
- 2 Members
- thalassa_thalassa, MaureenONeill
- Explanations
- thalassa_thalassa: Banned in the UK from 1915 until 1926 (Wikipedia).
75
by Malcolm X
11,401 members
144 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 5.23
Added 2024-09-12, 03:30 PM
- 2 Members
- hipdeep, Brian.Gunderson
- Explanations
- hipdeep: Banned in apartheid South Africa for its critique of white supremacy.
76
77
23,080 members
846 reviews
4.2
Score 5.14
Added 2024-09-23, 05:25 PM
78
15,315 members
242 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 5.08
Added 2024-09-12, 08:02 PM
- 2 Members
- thalassa_thalassa, MaureenONeill
- Explanations
- thalassa_thalassa: Banned in the US until 1959 (Wikipedia).
80
81
82
3,156 members
57 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 4.5
Added 2024-09-22, 11:35 PM
- 2 Members
- lahochstetler, saskia17
- Explanations
- saskia17: 1928 lesbian novel that doesn't treat sexuality as a disease: "You're neither unnatural, nor abominable, nor mad; you're as much a part of what people call nature as anyone else; only you're unexplained as yet."
86
- Member
- aspirit
- Explanations
- aspirit: A charming children's book; one of my favorites that's by Eric Carle, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969). I was at a loss as to why this would be banned when I saw it on a list. Reportedly, Texas schools in the 1990s considered the abstract nudity illustrated a fantastical origin-of-life story obscene. It was also believed to have LGBT themes, possibly for Carle's use of colors that hint at rainbows made of paper and paint.
87
89
1,090 members
24 reviews
½ 3.7
Score 4
Added 2024-09-12, 03:37 PM
- Member
- paradoxosalpha
- Explanations
- paradoxosalpha: The New York Society for the Suppression of Vice brought an obscenity case against this satirical fantasy. After two years of highly-publicized trial, the court found in favor of the author and publisher.
90
439 members
19 reviews
4
Score 4
Added 2024-10-07, 08:28 AM
91
33 members
3 reviews
5
Score 4
Added 2024-09-13, 12:24 PM
92
- Member
- themulhern
- Explanations
- themulhern: Unavailable on Amazon, entirely. One expensive copy on Abebooks. No regular publisher would pick it up, so it was eventually published by transgendertrend, a UK organization. https://unherd.com/2021/12/inside-the-trans-publishing-purge/.
96
- Member
- paradoxosalpha
- Explanations
- paradoxosalpha: Paine's Deist critique of Christianity was suppressed in Britain with prosecutions for seditious libel and blasphemous libel for decades, even after the author had died.
97
by Ann Coulter
198 members
5 reviews
4
Score 3.36
Added 2024-10-01, 09:53 PM
- Member
- rhbouchard
- Explanations
- rhbouchard: Tennessee librarian took Coulter books off the shelf and burned them.
99
by Linda Blade
17 members
1 review
½ 4.4
Score 3.36
Added 2024-09-12, 07:23 PM
- Member
- themulhern
- Explanations
- themulhern: The book couldn't find a publisher until Epoch Times agreed to pick it up. It has a website, though: https://www.unsporting.com
