Remember those books we couldn’t put down as kids? The ones that whisked us away to far-off lands, taught us life lessons, or just let us escape into wild adventures? Well, guess what? Many of those beloved classics are banned, and apparently, it’s for our own good. Are they shielding us from harm or just afraid of the uncomfortable ideas these books bring to the table?
Books and censorship have a long, tumultuous relationship, with some of the most iconic literary works being repeatedly banned or challenged for their “offensive” content. From the 1950s to 2024, certain titles have stirred up outrage, sparked protests, and caused quite a public uproar. Let’s take a chronological look at some of these infamous banned books and why they made the list.
1950s: The Wizard of Oz
Ah, the classic tale of a girl in ruby slippers, a cowardly lion, and a wicked witch. What could be offensive about The Wizard of Oz? It turns out quite a lot! Complaints centered on its portrayal of strong female characters and, most notably, the existence of a good witch. In Michigan and Florida, libraries banned the book in the 1950s, with critics arguing that a “good witch” violated theological beliefs. Apparently, they weren’t a fan of the fact that good witches could exist.
1960s: The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger didn’t just make waves for its raw depiction of adolescence but also for its use of profanity and sexual themes. In 1960, a high school teacher in Indiana was fired for assigning it to 11th graders, though he was later reinstated. The book’s use of language and Holden Caulfield’s disaffected teen voice stirred up trouble, prompting constant challenges throughout the 60s. But hey, every teenager needs a voice, even if it’s dripping with sarcasm and existential despair.
1960s: Rabbit, Run
John Updike’s debut novel Rabbit, Run made its own waves in Ireland in 1962 for its unapologetic exploration of sexuality and marital infidelity. Censors deemed it obscene, labeling its descriptions of Rabbit’s extramarital affair and sexual encounters as offensive because some people didn’t want to admit that sex exists outside of marriage.
1970s: The Lord of the Flies
William Golding wrote one of those rare novels that gets under your skin. A group of boys stranded on an island descends into chaos, embracing violence and anarchy. Naturally, that violence and the book’s darker themes made it a target in the 1970s, as it was banned in places like Texas for violence, profanity, and its portrayal of defamation toward women and disabled people. Perhaps the most upsetting thing for censors was that the kids didn’t even try to get along. The horror!
1970s: To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece To Kill a Mockingbird has been a frequent target of censorship, even though it is widely regarded as an important work in understanding racism. First banned in 1977 for its use of racial slurs, it continued to be challenged throughout the decades. Some critics claim that the novel’s portrayal of racism indirectly supports white supremacy, while others argue the themes of injustice and racism are far too harsh for young readers.
1980s: The Great Gatsby
- Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby tells the sorry tale of Jay Gatsby’s doomed obsession with Daisy Buchanan. The book unfolds during the glittering chaos of the Roaring Twenties. However, in 1987, it faced a challenge in Charleston, South Carolina, primarily for “language and sexual references.” No one really seems to care about the rags-to-riches tragedy or the critique of the American Dream—people just couldn’t get past a little naughty language and suggestive content.
1980s: The Color Purple
Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, a powerful novel about the struggles of African American women in the early 20th century, found itself frequently banned throughout the 1980s. School districts raised concerns about profanity, sexual content, and violence. Walker herself attributed the bans to people who hadn’t actually read the book but still wanted to silence its voice, especially that of the young, black girl at the novel’s core.
1990s: The Handmaid’s Tale
Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a nightmarish world where women are reduced to nothing more than breeding machines. Published in 1985, the book became a favorite target of censors in the ‘90s, mostly because of its “explicit language” and “graphic sexuality.” Those who cried foul were probably more freaked out by the book’s chilling take on authoritarianism and patriarchy than the actual sex scenes. You know, can’t have people questioning the system, right?
1990s: American Psycho
Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho takes a satirical, gruesome look at the excesses of 1980s capitalism through the lens of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy New York banker and serial killer. It was banned in several countries and caused uproar due to its graphic violence, particularly against women. Critics decried it as gratuitous, though others saw it as a biting critique of the toxic, materialistic culture of the 1980s. Still, not a book for the faint of heart—or anyone who has an aversion to blood.
2000s: The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code hit the literary world in 2003 with a thriller centered around the secretive world of religious conspiracies. The Catholic Church wasn’t exactly thrilled with The Da Vinci Code. Apparently, they had a problem with Dan Brown’s little fantasy about Jesus being married with kids—never mind that it’s, you know, a work of fiction. The book got banned in several countries and earned a whole lot of eye-rolls from religious bigwigs, including one Cardinal who called it “a potpourri of nonsense.” However, many readers thought it was one hell of a page-turner.
2000s: The Harry Potter Series
It’s almost impossible to picture a world without Harry Potter, but believe it or not, this magical saga wasn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea in the 2000s. The series was slammed for “promoting witchcraft” because, apparently, magic in fiction is a gateway drug to the dark arts. Some parents clearly couldn’t tell the difference between reality and a fictional wizarding world and feared their kids would start casting spells in their spare time. So, naturally, the series was banned from libraries and schools. But don’t worry; it still went on to become one of the most successful book franchises ever. Go figure.
2010s: Fifty Shades of Grey
E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey gave the world a steamy BDSM romance between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Despite being an international bestseller, the book was banned in some libraries for its explicit sexual content. In 2012, a library in Florida even banned it because they “don’t collect porn.” Critics also mocked its writing quality, which only added fuel to the fire.
2010s: The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games trilogy served up a dystopian future where young adults were tossed into a brutal, televised death match for society’s entertainment. The books have been repeatedly banned for their violence, and in 2010, a New Hampshire parent even objected to the first book, claiming it gave their child nightmares. It’s clear that people were more concerned with the children being pitted against each other than with the fact that they couldn’t stop reading it.
2010s: Thirteen Reasons Why
Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why has been stirring the pot for a while now, and the Netflix adaptation only cranked the drama up. The book, which tackles suicide and bullying, rubbed some parents and educators the wrong way with its rather graphic portrayal of suicide. As a result, it was yanked from several school libraries. But hey, it did manage to spark some much-needed conversations about mental health and the trials of adolescence—though you’d think those were already on the agenda.
2020s: The Hate U Give
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, a multiple award-winning YA novel and the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, hasn’t escaped controversy. It’s been challenged and banned from school libraries and curriculums, criticized as “pervasively vulgar” for its depictions of drug use, profanity, and offensive language.
2020s: This Book Is Gay
This book was first banned in 2022. By 2023, it became the third most banned book in the U.S. It faced 71 challenges, mainly due to its LGBTQIA+ themes, sexual education content, and what critics labeled as sexually explicit material.
2020s: Let’s Talk About It
Let’s Talk About It is labeled as a teen guide to sex, relationship and being human. The book has faced challenges for its LGBTQIA+ themes and what critics have labeled as pornographic or obscene content. The book earned a spot on the American Library Association’s “Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023.”
Many books continue to be banned and challenged, but the one thing that remains consistent is their power to provoke thought.
