In honor of National Library Week, April 19–25, the American Library Association has released its annual report on nationwide library trends, statistics, and issues. Notably, the State of America’s Libraries 2020 summary included the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom’s list of Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019.
Last year, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services, many of which included or addressed LGBTQ+ content. There was a 17% increase in the number of books targeted, challenged, or banned. Among the 566 books targeted for removal or restriction in 2019, these were the top 10 most challenged titles:
1. George by Alex Gino (Scholastic Press, 2015)
2. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin (Candlewick, 2014)
3. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illus. by EG Keller (Chronicle, 2018)
4. Sex Is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, illus. by Fiona Smyth (Triangle Square, 2015)
5. Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illus. by Stevie Lewis (Little Bee Books, 2018)
6. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illus. by Shelagh McNicholas (Dial, 2014)
7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (HMH, 1985)
8. Drama by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic/Graphix, 2012)
9. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic, 1997–2007)
10. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illus. by Henry Cole (Simon & Schuster, 2005)
