Banned Books Week is an annual event affirming the right to read and spotlighting attempts to censor books in schools and libraries. In 2024, the American Library Association (ALA) documented 821 attempts to censor library materials - the third-highest number since ALA began tracking library censorship in 1990. The most common reasons for challenges: false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and themes of race, racism, equity, and social justice.
Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024 — These are the top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2024, a majority of which are YA books, published by the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom. Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the 2024 data compiled by ALA represents only a snapshot of book censorship throughout the year.
Holding Ideas Hostage: Resisting Book Bans and Literary Censorship — Learn more about how a book gets banned or restricted, which subjects are often targeted, and what you can do to help protect your community's right to read in this resource guide from the California Librarians Black Caucus president Carolyn F. Norman and Oakland Public Library librarian Nichole Brown.
Students Fighting Book Bans Are the Focus of the New Documentary Banned Together — Elizabeth Foster, one of three student activists highlighted in the new documentary Banned Together, tells the story of how she fought the removal of 97 books from her school district's libraries – and won. You can watch Banned Together on Kanopy for free with your library card.
Dear Banned Author — Let your favorite authors of challenged and banned books know that you support them by writing, tweeting, or emailing what their stories mean to you with these printable and digital postcards from ALA.
13 Books That Were Banned for Ridiculous Reasons — You might be surprised what gets a book banned...
Teen Read-a-thon @ Oakland Public Library — Celebrate your freedom to read at the Banned Books Read-a-thon on Tuesday, October 7th. From opening to closing, drop in to the Main Library TeenZone and curl up with a banned book. We'll have a large selection of challenged and banned books to choose from, as well as snacks for you to enjoy while you read. Check out more events for Banned Books Week at the Oakland Public Library here.
Want to read more? Check out these middle grade and young adult books about fighting censorship, finding yourself on the page, and taking a stand for the right to read:
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