The highest honor in American literature has been announced: The American Library Association's most banned books of the year! The books that some fundie parent was worked up enough about to demand that since he didn't want to read the book, therefore no one else should be allowed too, so you know they're good!
11)Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content
Self-explanatory, a young adult novel about seven gay couples coming to terms with their sexuality. Been nominated for some other lesser awards like the national book award, think I might give it a look.
10) This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
Reason: challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content
Picture book for young children about gay pride.
9)The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: banned and challenged for sexual references, profanity, violence, gambling, and underage drinking, and for its religious viewpoint
Man I've really got to read this one, it shows up every year and I've heard great things about it.
8)Skippyjon Jones series written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
Reason: challenged for depicting stereotypes of Mexican culture
Okay this might be more legitimate, haven't read it but looking it up the mock spanish does seem cringey.
7)This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Reasons: banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and certain illustrations
Ah, here's a return to form, an award winning graphic novel about teenaged girls dealing with puberty, boys, adults not being as great as they think and learning to grow up. KILL IT KILL IT!
6)Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reasons: banned, challenged, and restricted for addressing teen suicide
Again the issue here seems more legitimate, since what I've heard about the book/show is that it's not a very good depiction of suicide.
5)Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ characters and themes
Again if graphic novels for teens stopped mentioning that gay people exist, teenagers would stop being gay, and if we don't admit teens get horny they won't get horny anymore...
4)The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: banned and challenged because it was deemed “anti-cop,” and for profanity, drug use, and sexual references
...And if we don't mention police brutality it would stop happening. Reality is caused by admitting it. If we don't admit it it doesn't exist anymore.
3)Captain Underpants series written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: series was challenged because it was perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior, while Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was challenged for including a same-sex couple
Ah man I loved those books when I was a kid, glad they're still around. Because the only thing more dangerous then underpants is gay underpants!
2)A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
Reasons: banned and challenged for including LGBTQIA+ content, and for political and religious viewpoints
This is the John Oliver book! It's about Mike Pence's bunny finding true love and battling homophobia. It's fucking great, deserves all it's gotten. (Oddly the pro-trump picture book alex jones made this is satirizing wasn't challenged by the free speech hating liberals, funny that.)
1)George by Alex Gino
Reasons: banned, challenged, and relocated because it was believed to encourage children to clear browser history and change their bodies using hormones, and for mentioning “dirty magazines,” describing male anatomy, “creating confusion,” and including a transgender character
OUR BIG WINNER! A young adult novel on the only thing worse then gay people existing: Trans people existing. George has placed highly in the past two years but this is her first win. Congratulations to Alex, hope to see you again next year.
Something to add is that for all the talk about how the left is against free speech, only one book was challenged for progressive reasons, while six were because GAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! and two because WHITE PEOPLE DID NOTHING WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on SJWs we got to pick up the slack if we expect to outlaw free speech.