During National Library Week, the American Library Association released its annual Top Ten List of Frequently Challenged Books . American libraries continue to face challenges—including the potential for censorship—to a variety of books, programs and periodicals. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2017. Some individual challenges resulted in requests to restrict or remove multiple titles or collections. It’s estimated that 82%-97% of challenges remain unreported. In 2017, 416 books were targeted–direct attacks on the fundamental freedom to read. The most frequently challenged titles last year were:
- Thirteen Reasons Whyby Jay Asher
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indianby Sherman Alexie
- Dramaby Raina Telgemeier
- The Kite Runnerby Khaled Hosseini
- Georgeby Alex Gino
- Sex Is a Funny Wordby Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
- To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee
- The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas
- And Tango Makes Threeby Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole
- I Am Jazzby Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas