Banned Books: Freedom to Read

Update on Book Bans in the 2022-2023 School Year Shows Expanded Censorship of Themes Centered on Race, History, Sexual Orientation and Gender.

In the 2022–23 school year, from July 1, 2022, to June 31, 2023, PEN America recorded 3,362 instances of book bans in US public school classrooms and libraries. These bans removed student access to 1,557 unique book titles, the works of over 1,480 authors, illustrators, and translators. Authors whose books are targeted are most frequently female, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+ individuals.

Data documenting a continued uptick in attempts to censor books, materials, and services across public, school, and academic libraries in the United States during 2023. Data that challenges of unique titles surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022 numbers, reaching the highest level ever documented by ALA. Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time, drove this surge. Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% of those targeted in censorship attempts.

Data compiled by ALA represents a snapshot of book censorship throughout 2023.

This page lists the 10 most challenged books of 2023 and what each book was challenged for. ALA documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023—a 65% surge over 2022 numbers—as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources.