Found a stat about banned books that caught me off guard

I was flipping through an old library newsletter from 2018 and saw a fact that stuck with me. It said over 300 books were challenged that year alone in US schools and libraries. I always figured book banning was mostly a thing from the 80s or 90s. But apparently it's been climbing every year since I was in high school. The top reasons listed were sexual content and offensive language, which surprised me less than the sheer number. Makes me wonder how many I've missed reading just because of where I live. Anyone else notice this trend in their local book club picks?

3 comments

3 Comments

riverreed4d ago

My local library had to put a kids book on reserve because three parents complained about a character having two dads, which is wild since that same book won an award in 2017.

lee723d ago

Three parents in my town tried the same thing and the library director just ignored them.

rowan7253d ago

Three parents in my town tried the same thing and the library director just ignored them" - that's exactly what happened at my friend's library. A couple of moms complained about a graphic novel with a nonbinary kid, but the librarian just said "thanks for your input" and kept the book on the shelf.