/collections/ala-frequently-challenged
Type: /type/page
title: ALA's Most Challenged Books
m: edit
body: value: ![Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024](https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/250328-oif-bbw25-TOPTEN-wCOVERS-Bsky%20banner.png)
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[Top 10 in 2024](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL317354L)
ALA documented 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials in 2024 across all library types, a decrease from 2023, when a record high 1,247 attempts were reported. ALA recorded attempts to remove 2,452 unique titles in 2024, which significantly exceeds the average of 273 unique titles that were challenged annually during 2001–2020.

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL317354L", limit=10, has_fulltext_only=False)}}

[Top 10 for 2023](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL251835L)
ALA documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023—a 65% surge over 2022 numbers—as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources. 

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL251835L", limit=10, has_fulltext_only=False)}}

[Top 13 for 2022](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL226313L)
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.

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL226313L", limit=20, has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL226313L')}}

[Top 10 for 2021](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206931L)
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1597 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206930L", limit=20, has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206930L')}}

[Top 10 for 2020](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206840L)
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. Of the 273 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged:

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206839L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206839L')}}

[Top 10 for 2019](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206838L)
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2019. Of the 566 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged:

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206837L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206837L')}}

[Top 11 for 2018](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206833L)
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2018. Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, the Top 11 Most Challenged Books are:

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206832L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206832L')}}

[Top 10 for 2017](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206831L)
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2017. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206830L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206830L')}}

[Top 10 for 2016](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206813L)
Out of 323 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206813L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL206813L')}}

[Top 10 for 2015](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205955L)
Out of 275 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205954L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205954L')}}

[Top 10 for 2014](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205949L)
Out of 311 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205948L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205948L')}}

[Top 10 for 2013](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205855L)
Out of 307 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205854L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205854L')}}

[Top 10 for 2012](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205845L)
Out of 464 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205844L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205844L')}}

[Top 10 for 2011](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205831L)
Out of 326 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205830L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205830L')}}

[Top 10 for 2010](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205776L)
Out of 348 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205775L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205775L')}}

[Top 10 for 2009](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205735L)
Out of 460 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205734L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205734L')}}

[Top 10 for 2008](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205729L)
Out of 513 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205728L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205728L')}}

[Top 10 for 2007](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205666L)
Out of 420 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205665L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205665L')}}

[Top 10 for 2006](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205576L)
Out of 546 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205575L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205575L')}}

[Top 10 for 2005](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205538L)
Out of 405 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205537L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205537L')}}

[Top 10 for 2004](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205533L)
Out of 547 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205532L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205532L')}}

[Top 10 for 2003](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205527L)
Out of 458 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205526L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205526L')}}

[Top 10 for 2002](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205407L)
Out of 515 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205406L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205406L')}}

[Top 10 for 2001](https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205307L)
Out of 448 challenges recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

{{ListCarousel("/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205306L", limit=20,has_fulltext_only=False, url='https://openlibrary.org/people/agent-lisa/lists/OL205306L')}}

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Source: <a href="https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10">ala.org</a>