The Fault in our Stars, The Hunger Games, The hate you give, and Looking for Alaska, All banned books in one country or another.  Pay a visit during homeroom to the McAuliffe School Library and check out a few banned books!

When you walk into the library here in Colorado and check out a book like Call of the Wild by Jack London or The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton everything seems fine but when you try to do that very same thing in a state like Missouri you may not even find those books on the shelves, not because someone else has checked them out but because it is illegal to even have those books in a library, these books are called banned books. 

What is a banned book?  

A banned book is a book that state officials have deemed unsuitable for readers because of inappropriate content or subjects. Almost half of the states in the U.S. have banned books. Depending on the state the punishment for reading or possessing a banned book can vary from a fine to jail.

What is a challenged book?

Challenged material is a book someone has attempted to ban or restrict from libraries or curriculum. Whereas banning material means fully removing it. 

What are some banned books and why are they banned?

1. Looking for Alaska 

Looking For Alaska by John Green was written in 2005 and was banned in  Tennessee, upstate New York, and Idaho and has been formerly considered to be removed from school libraries and curriculum. Looking For Alaska was banned because people thought the book contained vulgar language and was sexually explicit.

2. The Hunger Games trilogy

The Hunger Games trilogy By Suzanne Collins was written in 2008 and was first challenged in New Hampshire when a parent pulled her child out of classes reading the Hunger Games because the book she called “filth” gave her daughter nightmares.  Against her better judgments, The Hunger Games remained unbanned.“In 2010 independently, there were 348 cases concerning the banning of the trilogy. Since then the Hunger Games has been banned in certain states in the U.S., Korea, Thailand, and many more countries. 

3. Are You There God It’s Me, Margaret?

   Are You There God It’s Me, Margaret? by Judy Blume was written in 1970 and is one of the most banned books of the decade. Are You There God It’s Me, Margaret? Was banned because it discusses girl’s going through puberty and teen sexuality. This book has been banned all across the country and in some schools, students require parental permission to read Are You There God It’s Me Margaret?

4. Harry Potter 

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has been banned because it promotes Witchcraft, and sets a bad example, also it’s too dark. Even though Harry Potter is one of the most purchased books in the world, it is also challenged/banned in every country that sells the Harry Potter series. Many teachers believe that Harry Potter sets a bad example for kids because throughout the 7 books Harry disobeys the staff at Hogwarts but always ends up being rewarded for his actions. 

Which States Have The Most Banned Books?

751-1000 Banned Books

1. Texas

501-750 Banned Books

1.  Florida

251-500 Banned Books

1. Pennsylvania
2. Tennessee

51-250 Banned Books*

There are no states with 51-250 banned books

26-50 Banned Books

1. Idaho 
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan 
4. Kansas 
5. Oklahoma
6.  Missouri

11-25 Banned Books

1. Utah
2. Mississippi
3. Indiana
4. Georgia
5. North Carolina 
6. Virginia 
7. New York

1-10 Banned Books 

1. Washington 
2. Oregon
3. Alaska 
4. South Dakota
5. Arkansas
6. Iowa 
7. Minnesota
8. Illinois
9. South Carolina
10. Ohio
11. New Jersey 
12. Vermont
13. Maine
14. Rhode Island
15. Deleware
16. Maryland

0 Banned Books 

1. Arizona 
2. Nevada
3. Hawaii
4. New Mexico 
5. Arizona
6. Colorado 
7. Wyoming
8. Montana 
9. North Dakota 
10. Nebraska 
11. Louisianna 
12. Alabama 
13. Kentucky
14. West Virginia
15. New Hampshire 
16. Connecticut
17. Massachusetts