'Gender Queer' Tops List of Most Challenged Books for Third Year in a Row

The Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 has seven repeat titles from the 2022 list, including Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe at No. 1 and All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson at No. 2.

A grid showing details from the covers on the ALA list of the 10 Most Challenged books

 

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe is the most challenged book in America for the third year in a row. In the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023, released by ALA today, All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson is No. 2 for the second straight year. Many of the titles are the same as in 2022, with seven from last year's list among the most targeted again. In the third spot, This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson replaces Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, which dropped to No. 6.

The LGBTQIA+ community continues to come under attack with seven of the titles challenged for having LGBTQIA+ content. The other three books were challenged for, among other things, sexually explicit content, including rape in two.

The full list:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity

5. Flamer by Mike Curato

Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Reasons: Rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content

7. (TIE) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content, and

7. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity

9. Let's Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan

Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content

10. Sold by Patricia McCormick

Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, rape

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?