Banned Books Exposed: Discover the 20 Controversial Titles They Hid from You!

One might assume that the practice of banning books belongs to a bygone era. In the mid-20th century, figures like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir were blacklisted by the Catholic Church, culminating in the discontinuation of its centuries-old Index of Forbidden Books in 1966.

Yet, even in modern times, where free speech is highly protected, such as in the United States, the suppression of books persists. In 2019, students at Georgia Southern University incinerated copies of Jennine Capó Crucet’s novel during a protest. More recently, in 2022, a Nashville pastor orchestrated the burning of books he deemed “demonic,” including popular series like Harry Potter and Twilight.

Historically, censorship was predominantly enacted by governments or significant authorities and remains so in places like Iran and China. However, a more subtle form of censorship continues within the American educational framework. Here, books face challenges from parents and are sometimes removed from libraries if deemed inappropriate, effectively enacting a ban within schools.

In recent years, the trend of challenging books in schools has not only grown but has become more organized. According to data analyzed by the American Library Association in 2024, organized groups, including government officials, were responsible for 72% of all book censorship attempts in that year. These figures have surged from an average of 46 title challenges per year between 2001 and 2020, to 4,190 challenges in just one year.

Political figures like Donald Trump have also influenced book removals, with some districts in Texas and Florida preemptively pulling books they suspect might be controversial. Shockingly, a man in Ohio recently burned books on Jewish, Black, and LGBTQ+ histories, claiming a cleansing of “degenerate filth,” reminiscent of actions praised by historical dictators like Joseph Goebbels.

Below is a review of other notable books that have faced bans and challenges over the years:

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood’s 2003 novel, set in a dystopian future, is frequently challenged in American schools. In Utah, students are prohibited from bringing the book onto school premises, even for personal reading. The novel has also been banned for promoting “gender fluidity” by a Texas school district in 2024.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling

JK Rowling’s renowned series about a young wizard has been targeted for promoting the occult, leading to its removal from some schools in the US, despite its fictional premise.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

This poetry collection by Rupi Kaur, which discusses themes including sexual assault, was one of the top banned books in the 2022-23 US school year, restricted in several states.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Hosseini’s tale of friendship and redemption in Afghanistan has been frequently banned for its raw depictions of societal issues, and is currently under review by the US Department of Defense’s educational branch.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Orwell’s critique of totalitarianism has been banned in several regimes over the decades and remains a sensitive subject in nations with strict censorship laws like China.

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Rushdie’s novel sparked global controversy and led to a fatwa calling for his assassination. It has been banned in multiple countries for its provocative content.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Despite its critical acclaim, Morrison’s narrative of a young Black girl’s struggles with racial identity and beauty standards has been frequently challenged in schools.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

This graphic memoir about growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran has faced bans in various states for its graphic content and political sensitivity.

China Dream by Ma Jian

Ma Jian’s critical take on Chinese nationalism using a satirical narrative has been banned not only in China but also faced publication issues in Hong Kong.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Nabokov’s controversial novel about a man’s obsession with a young girl has faced legal challenges and bans due to its provocative content.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Picoult’s novel about a school shooting is the most challenged in the US, with debates over its appropriateness for young readers.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by DH Lawrence

This novel, once subject to a landmark obscenity trial, challenges societal and sexual norms, leading to its historical and ongoing censorship.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Following its adaptation into a Netflix series, this novel dealing with teen suicide has been banned in multiple states, with concerns about its impact on vulnerable readers.

Lysistrata by Aristophanes

Aristophanes’s ancient play, advocating for peace through a comedic narrative of a women-led sex strike, has been banned historically for its explicit content and political undertones.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Thomas’s novel, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, has been challenged for its frank discussion of race and police violence.

Fanny Hill by John Cleland

Cleland’s erotic novel, written in the 18th century, faced bans and legal challenges for its explicit sexual content, often circulated in underground editions.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

Dahl’s children’s book has been criticized for its portrayal of women as witches and accused of promoting harmful stereotypes.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Ellis’s graphic depiction of violence and consumerism in the 1980s has been restricted in various countries and is often sold with age restrictions due to its explicit content.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Atwood’s dystopian novel about a totalitarian society has been frequently banned for its political and sexual content, particularly in contexts where it is felt to be too critical of religious or political ideologies.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut’s anti-war novel has faced bans for its irreverent take on war, religion, and society, often challenged for its language and depictions of violence.