It is Banned Books Week! While this is not something to "celebrate," per se, it IS a week to recognize the continued problems with censorship of books. According to the American Library Association, "ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom ALA documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, most were by or about LGBTQIA+ persons and Black, Indigenous, and people of color." (note: these are only the censorship attempts which have been reported, there are many more which go unreported)
The theme for Banned Books Week 2023 is "Let Freedom Read." As the ALA puts it, "When we ban books, we're closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives. But when we stand up for stories, we unleash the power that lies inside every book. We liberate the array of voices that need to be heard and the scenes that need to be seen. Let freedom read!"
So what books were the most frequently challenged or banned in 2022? Amazingly, the top ten list contains thirteen books this year because several books tied for spots on the top ten list! Here they are:
For those interested in statistics, here's more information about the censorship attempts (note: again, these are only the censorship attempts which have been reported).
This year there is a very interesting youtube playlist full of people reading selections from books which have been banned or challenged in recent years. Take a look!
Happy Reading, and Let Freedom Read!
-Ms. Gilana
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