CEO DATELINE - American Library Association releases list of most challenged books
CEO DATELINE - American Library Association releases list of most challenged books
- April 21, 2020 |
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Walt Williams
Children's books and novels with LGBTQIA+ content were among the books most often targeted for removal from public and school libraries in 2019, according to the American Library Association.
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ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom released its list of the "Top 10 Most Challenged Books in 2019" on Monday. Topping the list was "George" by Alex Gino, whose main character is a transgender girl in fourth grade.
ALA tracked 377 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2019. A total of 566 books were targeted for removal from easy access at libraries, representing a 17% increase from the year before. The list is based on media reports and voluntary reports sent to the association.
ALA noted that eight of the 10 most challenged books were targeted for featuring LGBTQIA+ content. In addition to "George," other books making the list were:
2. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
3. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints.
4. Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
5. Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
6. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
7. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Challenged for profanity and for "vulgarity and sexual overtones,"
8. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
9. Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Challenges for referring to magic and witchcraft.
10. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole. Challenged for LGBTQIA+ content.
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