"Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us." is the theme of this year’s Banned Books Week, running September 18-24, 2022. This year marks the 40th anniversary since the start of Banned Books Week. This annual event was launched in response to a sudden surge of book challenges in schools, libraries and bookstores in 1982. This week is meant to highlight the value of free and open access to information while celebrating the freedom to read. Check out a small sample of titles below, all of which have been challenged at some point over the past 40 years.
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracks challenges across the country and you can find their yearly lists of top challenged books here. Learn more about Banned Books Week here.