A majority of titles in the American Library Association’s (ALA’s) latest annual list of the Top 11 Most Challenged Books were challenged or banned because of their LGBTQ content. Two of the books were also burned.
The Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2018 list was released as part of the ALA’s annual State of America’s Libraries Report during National Library Week. “Challenges” are documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries, calculated from censorship reports submitted through the ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) as well as from media mentions.
Overall, 483 books were challenged or banned in 2018. The top 11 are below—usually, the list only includes 10 titles, but two tied for 10th place this year. The ALA’s report also notes that both of those books, This Day in June, by Gail Pitman, and Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan, “were burned by a religious activist in Orange City, Iowa, in October to protest the city’s OC Pride event. OIF expanded the list to include both, in order to spotlight the repressive intolerance exemplified by the act of book burning.” Overall, six of the top 11 books were challenged or banned this year because of LGBTQ content; one additional title (This One Summer) was challenged and banned this year for other reasons, but had been challenged in 2016 for its LGBTQ content as well.
In many ways, this is not a surprise. Queer-inclusive children’s and young adult books have long populated much of the Top 10 Most Challenged list. Heather Has Two Mommies
The ALA observes this year, though, that it wasn’t just books that were challenged, but also programming:
Most challenges to library resources in 2018 focused on materials and programs associated with issues of concern to those in the gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer communities, most notably drag queen story hours and books affirming transgender youth, like Alex Gino’s George. Also challenged were materials that candidly portrayed the injustices and inequality experienced by persons of color, such as Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give.
Closely allied to challenges to LGBTQIA+ materials were challenges to books, programs, and resources containing profanity or sexual themes and images.
Additionally, “A new, worrisome trend is the use of extreme tactics by would-be censors and pressure groups.” These include the abovementioned book burnings as well as “lawsuits filed to halt libraries’ drag queen story hours and to end community access to curated and authoritative research databases.” Soberingly, the ALA states, “While these tactics have been given short shrift by the public and the courts, these strategies have often proven successful in chilling the willingness of schools and libraries to provide access to diverse information and ideas.”
Perhaps it’s good, though, that some of this was sparked because “2018 saw a surge of interest in drag queen story hours, all-ages storytime programs where performance artists read stories with messages of love and acceptance.” Just as Heather Has Two Mommies was challenged because it was widely visible (in a way that the first English-language LGBTQ-inclusive children’s book, Jane Severance’s When Megan Went Away
Libraries remain key places for early learning, family engagement, community conversation, and access to informational resources. “In many areas,” the ALA says, “the library is the only place that is truly accessible and inclusive for all. In 2018, libraries of all types worked diligently to offer programming that would ensure that people of all types felt welcome and recognized.” The ALA report asserts, too, that “Homeless people rely on the public library for books, computer and internet access, and warmth. Staff at public libraries interact with almost as many homeless individuals as those at shelters do.” Some of these people may be LGBTQ youth, who are disproportionately likely to be homeless. The need for inclusive books and programming across all aspects of identity remains crucial.
Yes, I’m a big fan of libraries and against censorship. No, not every book is right for every child. But that’s each parent’s decision to make for their own children, not for anyone else’s. Here’s the ALA’s full list, followed by a short video if you prefer your lists in animated form. Keep in mind, too, that these are but a fraction of the many wonderful LGBTQ-inclusive children’s books published in 2018. Thanks to all of the librarians and others who are fighting to keep them available for all those who need them.
- George
by Alex Gino
Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character - A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints - Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lotwas challenged for including a same-sex couple
- The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references - Drama
written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes - Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide - This One Summer
by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations. [It was also challenged in 2016 because it includes LGBTQIA+ characters] - Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint - This Day in June
by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content - Two Boys Kissing
by David Levithan
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content
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