Group says it tracked more challenges in 2021 than any time in the 20 years prior

Facing what it says is a steep increase in the number of attempts to ban books from schools and public libraries, the American Library Association has unveiled a new campaign to push back against such efforts.

ALA released its annual list of most challenged books on Monday. The association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2021—the highest number of challenges since ALA started keeping track in 2000. Most of the books being challenged dealt with Black and LGBTQ themes.

"We support individual parents' choices concerning their child's reading and believe that parents should not have those choices dictated by others," ALA President Patty Wong said. "Young people need to have access to a variety of books from which they can learn about different perspectives. So, despite this organized effort to ban books, libraries remain ready to do what we always have: make knowledge and ideas available so people are free to choose what to read."

The association has also launched a new campaign titled Unite Against Book Bans. The goal is "to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship," according to the campaign's website.

Most challenges are coming from conservative parents and Republican lawmakers who object to children having access to materials dealing with LGBTQ themes and sexuality or allegedly teaching critical race theory. Florida and Texas are among the states that have called for reviews of such materials and passed laws to prevent "indoctrination" of children. Idaho lawmakers advanced a bill that called for jail time for librarians who loaned out such material, but the legislation was squashed by the president of the state Senate.

As for ALA's top 10 most challenged books in 2021, they are:

"Gender Queer," by Maia Kobabe
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images.

"Lawn Boy," by Jonathan Evison
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

"All Boys Aren't Blue," by George M. Johnson
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

"Out of Darkness," by Ashley Hope Perez
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

"The Hate U Give," by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda.

"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term.

"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women.

"The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit.

"This Book is Gay," by Juno Dawson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.

"Beyond Magenta," by Susan Kuklin
Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.