Uncensored: Banned Booklist

✦ The Girl Who Fell from the Sky (2010) by Heidi W. Durrow

This award winning young adult novel centers around a biracial girl who examines her reality and struggles with her identity. Durrow sought to showcase the idea of Black identity and womanhood. The novel has garnered several awards including the Bellwether Prize for Literature of Social Change and has joined The Authors Guild Banned Books Club in 2022. Durrow’s book is banned by the Alpine School District in Utah for its sexual content and depictions of rape. Durrow stated, “She says banning books that address race impedes students' freedom and their opportunity to see themselves reflected.”

✦ Push (1996) by Sapphire

This novel was adapted into the 2009 film Precious which garnered critical acclaim, however it has also been banned and currently challenged in 11 school districts in Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, and Utah. The book is a narrative from the lens of Precious, a teenage Black girl who struggles to continue with school amidst battles with her mother at home - the book features instances of violence and sexual assault. The novel is uniquely written in Precious voice, displaying her struggles with illiteracy.

✦ Black Brother, Black Brother (2021) by Jewell Parker Rhodes

From an award-winning author, this novel follows the story of two brothers, one who identifies as Black and the other who identifies as white. It’s a coming of age story that is a careful examination of the school-to-prison pipeline and follows one boy’s fight against racism and his empowering path to find his voice. It’s currently under a pending investigation from the Escambia County Public Schools in Florida; the complaint that caused the book to be challenged for a potential ban states that its purpose is to “brainwash kids with lies and hate”. Rhodes has been quoted as saying that young people enjoy the book “They love it as a sports book, as a triumphant tale of the underdog, a call for social equity in schools and as a celebration of everyone's unique ethnic heritage. Biracial children especially love the representation.”

✦ Ordinary Hazards (2022) by Nikki Grimes

This award-winning memoir from acclaimed author and poet Nikki Grimes explores her childhood and the trauma she faced while growing up in the foster care system. Rebecca Davis, editor of the book explained why the book is important to young people and should not be censored from schools. “It’s vitally important that books like this be available to young readers, because they can bring validation and hope to teens who may be facing similar situations in their own lives and they can nurture empathy in all readers.” The book is currently banned in the School District of Manatee County and pending investigation at another school district in Florida.

✦ Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation (2018) written by Octavia E. Butler, Secondary Author Duffy, Damian; Illustrated by Jennings, John

This graphic novel is an adaptation of the novel Kindred written by award winning science fiction author Octavia E. Butler (recipient of the PEN Lifetime Achievement Award). The book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and uses time travel to address how race and gender have determined the distribution of power in various social systems throughout America’s history. The graphic novel is currently pending investigation as there will be legislative action taken to ban the book in the Wentzville School District in Missouri as a result of a new state law to remove certain reading materials in school. As part of S.B. 775, books deemed to contain ‘explicit sexual material’ are now illegal in public and private schools. Butler’s other works such as Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents.

✦ Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (2020) by Isabel Wilkerson

Caste systems can be confusing. And we get that. But it doesn’t mean we should stray away from learning about them and the inevitable impact they’ve had on our history. Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer-Prize winning author, uses her book to examine the underlying ways the caste system has shaped America throughout history. While completely nonfiction, the book was pulled from shelves in Texas in 2022, causing an uproar among citizens who felt that city officials had censorship in violation of the First Amendment. The book was banned in tandem with a larger group, citing graphic content not suitable for young children.

✦ Beloved (1987) by Toni Morrison

As much as it breaks our heart, Toni Morrison books are no strangers to bans or challenges. Beloved, a novel inspired by the true story of Margaret Garner, an enslaved woman who killed her own daughter to spare her from slavery, examines the destructive legacy of slavery on American culture. Another one of her works, The Bluest Eye, has appeared on the American Library Association’s (ALA’s) banned book list in 2006, 2013, 2014, and 2020. And back in the 1990s, Song of Solomon was continually challenged for “inappropriate” and “explicit” material. Beloved is specifically targeted for its inappropriate depiction of slavery and the way it addresses some of the darkest moments in American history.

✦ Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot (2020) by Mikki Kendall

Hood Feminism is a modern critique on mainstream feminism and we love that Mikki Kendall writes what she is really thinking: mainstream feminism in the United States is anything but inclusive. We love Hood Feminism because it offers perspective on how feminism, a theme often celebrated, usually leaves behind people like Kendall, and those from other marginalized communities. Kendall writes that the movement is neglecting issues like food insecurity, quality education and public safety, all of which are feminist issues that primarily impact women of color.

✦ The Hate U Give (2017) by Angie Thomas

In recent years, it was nearly impossible to miss conversations surrounding Angie Thomas’ undeniably popular novel, The Hate U Give. The book, written for and targeted to a young audience explores racial justice and police violence in a powerful and honest way–one that has proven to make many in positions of power weary of its intended impact. Not only did the book sit atop the New York Times YA Bestsellers list for over 100 weeks, but it debuted to rave reviews and a number of awards. The Hate U Give has been challenged for years since its release due to its depictions of violence, drug use, and perceived “anti-police” message.

✦ All Boys Aren’t Blue (2020) by George M. Johnson

We love books that tell honest depictions of life stories, and that’s why we can’t get enough of George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue. A collection of personal essays, All Boys Aren’t Blue is the story of growing up Black and queer, and feeling like you haven’t found your place in the world. Over the past few years, at least 29 school districts have banned the book because of its LGBTQIA+ content and being sexually explicit. However, Johnson’s stories fuse together a beautiful narrative of the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys in America. The essays create space for students who may be struggling to find their own identity, comfort and familiarity with a story similar to their own.

✦ The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (2019) by Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones won the Pulitzer Prize for The 1619 Project, an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine, which reframes American history and places slavery and its legacy at the center of our national narrative. The project has sparked conversation surrounding the importance–and accuracy–of how race is discussed and taught in schools. The project, and subsequent lesson plans, has faced bans and attempted bans in at least 14 states since its publication in 2019.

✦ Assata: An Autobiography (1987) by Assata Shakur

While not banned from schools or curriculums, Assata Shakur personal biography is banned from a handful of prisons in the United States. The autobiography recounts Shakur’s experiences that led to her life of activism–and ultimate arrest and conviction in 1977. Many promote the work as a strong depiction of growing up Black in America and consider it a revolutionary book alongside works like The Autobiography of Malcolm X and Maya Angelou.

✦ New Kid (2019) by Jerry Craft

New Kid–an engaging graphic novel about being Black and the “new kid” at a predominately white school–is a continuation of Craft’s work to help students see themselves in stories and give a voice to diverse perspectives and backgrounds. The book has been challenged in states like Texas and Pennsylvania, as part of efforts to stamp our critical race theory in schools. However, the book, which has received countless positive reviews and inspired by Craft’s own life, has invited students who may not be super into reading, to finish a book!

✦ Tupac: Resurrection, 1971-1996 (2003) by Tupac Shakur

Another book banned in US prisons is Tupac: Resurrection, the companion book to the Oscar winning film. The book is a poetic telling of the life and work of Tupac Shakur, a cultural icon to many, and a disputed force in the music industry. The book has been banned after Tupac’s war with government officials and police, but many claim this book as the “autobiography he never got to write.”

✦ I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings (1969) by Maya Angelou

Did you know that Maya Angelou is the most banned author in the U.S? No. Seriously. Her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, has been frequently challenged and banned, ostensibly for vulgarity and sexually explicit material. The book covers many topics deemed inappropriate for young readers, including violence, racism, sexuality, sexual violence, and teen pregnancy. And yet, despite being banned in over thirty states, Maya Angelou and her work remain one of the most celebrated and decorated authors of our time!

✦ My Story of Standing Up for Girls’ Rights (2018) by Malala Yousafzai

2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai wrote this memoir which describes the story of her family uprooted by terrorism, and Malala’s journey in championing and fighting for girls’ education. As an education activist Malala advocates for the education of girls in Pakistan and has written numerous books that have been challenged in school districts. This memoir is currently banned in private schools in Pakistan.

✦ I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (2017) by Erika L. Sánchez

This coming-of-age fiction about the main character, Julia, shows her rebelling against stereotypes and expectations of her roles within her family after the death of her mother. Sánchez is a poet and writer focusing on Latinx culture and history. As a daughter of undocumented and immigrant parents, her works reflect her upbringing. This work is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and a 2017 Finalist for Young People’s Literature. This book has 11 instances of being banned or challenged in states like Florida, North Carolina, and Oregon.

For Florida residents: Get this book for FREE at Banned Books USA

✦ You Should See Me in a Crown (2020) by Leah Johnson

The debut novel of Leah Johnson, the story is about Liz Lighty, a black transgender teen, who’s always felt out of place living in a small midwestern town. She plans to move out of her town, to go to Pennington. The book follows through ambitions to win a scholarship awarded to prom queens and kings. Johnson has received critical acclaim for her work in representing Queer identities, and has been awarded a Stonewall Book Award Honor. The book has been challenged in Oklahoma for containing “obscene material”.

✦ The Hate You Give (2017) by Angie Thomas

The Hate You Give, is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and in reaction to the shooting of Oscar Grant. It depicts a 16-year-old African-American girl from a poor neighborhood attending a private school in a predominantly white, affluent part of the city, and becomes entangled in a national news story after she witnesses a white police officer shoot and kill her childhood friend, Khalil. Thomas is an author who depicts political issues within her work, she focuses on making the political issues and events she depicts in her work personal, and her books have garnered popularity and have been recognized for encouraging young readers to find and use their voice. In response to the passage of Missouri S.B. 775, the St. Clair R-XIII School District has officially removed the book from school libraries - fearing that school staff may face potential criminal penalties.

✦ I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings (1969) by Maya Angelou

Author, poet, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou wrote one of the first of seven autobiographical works, published in 1969. The book chronicles her life from age 3 through age 16, recounting an unsettled and sometimes traumatic childhood. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. According to Pen America, Angelou’s autobiography has been banned in Pennsylvania’s Penncrest School District. The book has also been banned and challenged due to concern about the controversial sexual content and alleged “anti-white” message.

✦ The Bluest Eye (1970) by Toni Morrison

This novel explores the damaging effects of societal standards on a young black girl's sense of self-worth. It exposes the brutal realities of racism and the importance of self-acceptance in the face of adversity. Morrison built her work deeply rooted in activism, where she addressed themes of race, gender, and power in America. Her critically acclaimed Song of Solomon brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. According to the American Library Association (ALA) it is on the list of the most challenged for it’s depiction of sexual abuse and being sexual explicit - there are 73 instances of Morrison’s books being banned and challenged across the U.S.

✦ Juliet Takes a Breath (2016) by Gabby Rivera

The story follows a young queer Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx who spends a summer in Portland as an intern to her feminist idol. Rivera is a Bronx-born queer Puerto Rican. She's the first Latina to write for Marvel comics, penning the solo series AMERICA about America Chavez, a portal-punching queer Latina powerhouse. Her focus is on representing queer Latinx identities in her work. The book has five instances in which it is being banned or challenged in school districts in states like Florida and Missouri. In Georgia, the Forsyth County School District included it on its list of banned books; they have stated removing books that contain sexually explicit content.

✦ Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (2000) by Marjane Satrapi

In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. Satrapi is a French-Iranian graphic novelist, with her work based on her experiences growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution - the book has also been adapted into a 2007 animated film receiving critical acclaim. There are several instances of the book being challenged in Florida and Missouri with it also being banned in Iran and has been banned in Lebanon (which has been lifted in recent years).

✦ The House on Mango Street (1984) by Sandra Cisneros

The House on Mango Street is about finding identity and a sense of belonging. Esperanza is a female coming of age in a man's world, and not only does she have to deal with men's advances in her community, but she also has to face prejudice from the outside as a Mexican American. Cisneros is a short-story writer and poet from Chicago, she also supports emerging writers through the two non-profit organizations she founded: the Macondo Foundation and the Alfredo Cisneros del Moral Foundation, a grant-giving institution serving Texas writers. Most recently she’s been awarded the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. The book has been banned in some school districts for being “inappropriate” and for “profanity, obscenity, or sexual material.” The book is a great example of the experience of many Hispanic girls, the rich culture and the struggles they face in urban settings.

✦ The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (2021) by Nikole Hannah-Jones

The 1619 Project is a long-form journalism endeavor developed by Nikole Hannah-Jones, writers from The New York Times, and The New York Times Magazine. It focused on subjects of slavery and the founding of the United States. The first publication of the project was in The New York Times Magazine in August 2019. Nikole Hannah-Jones is a journalist who is known for her coverage of civil rights in the United States. She works as staff at The New York Times. “The 1619 Project was banned from being taught in Florida under the Stop W.O.K.E. Act.”

✦ Felix Ever After (2020) by Kacen Callender

Award-winning author Kacen Callender’s Felix Ever After tells the story of transgender teen Felix Love who longs to be in love, but struggles with the fear that he may never find it as a Black, queer, transgender young person.

Callender’s story has faced challenges from people arguing that the book should be restricted to minors and not available in schools. Despite its thoughtful exploration of self-discovery, a school board in Hanover County, Virginia sought to ban it, along with 90 other titles, for its sexually explicit content.

✦ Gender Queer: A Memoir (2019) by Maia Kobabe

Maia Kobabe (who uses e/em/eir pronouns) takes the reader through eir autobiography, Gender Queer detailing a journey of self-identity. Maia shows vulnerability while depicting eir experiences with adolescent crushes and coming out to family and society.

This personal story started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual and it became something more!

Suggested for readers 18+ due to its depictions of some sexually explicit situations.

Gender Queer has won a Stonewall Honor and an Alex Award from the American Library Association in 2020. Although it is highly praised, it was the most banned book in the U.S. in 2021 with at least 26 instances of the work being banned or challenged. Some bans have even labeled it as pornographic, according to this New York Times piece. The author said in an interview with PEN America, "I think if I had been able to find a book like Gender Queer as a teenager, it would have meant the world to me. Because I was just so desperate to figure out who I was.”

✦ Lawn Boy (2018) by Jonathan Evison

Young Chicano, Mike Muñoz lives in Washington State and begins a journey of discovery after being fired from his latest gig as a lawn boy on a landscaping crew. Mike is on a search to unlock the secret to achieving the American dream of happiness and prosperity.

Throughout the story, the reader will get to witness Mike’s attempt to climb the ladder of success while overcoming adversities such as social class distinctions and cultural discrimination, and navigating his sexuality.

Lawn Boy has been banned and challenged for containing sexually explicit content, with the initial challenge coming from a parent in Texas who took excerpts out of context and claimed it depicted pedophilia. According to the American Library Association, the novel was the second most challenged book of 2021. Despite its powerful themes, the novel is banned from libraries and classrooms in Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and more.

✦ Red, White, and Royal Blue (2019) by Casey McQuiston

Before it became a highly watched romantic comedy on Amazon Prime, this novel claimed a spot on The New York Times bestseller list during its debut in 2019. It follows America’s First Son, Alex Claremont-Diaz, as he develops a fake friendship with Henry, The Prince of England, as they work to resolve a confrontation that was captured by the tabloids.

We can all tell where this is going! The two work to keep their budding new romance a secret while Alex’s mom President Claremont kicks off her re-election bid. Can the pair continue to keep things hidden or will things explode?!

McQuiston’s novel has been banned and challenged for allegedly being inappropriate for students. In 2022, LGBTQ students organized and showed up at the Dearborn public school board to advocate that the title not be banned from libraries and schools. There are 12 instances of the book being banned with the most in the state of Florida.

✦ Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic (2006) by Alison Bechdel

This graphic memoir, which has been made into a Tony award-winning musical, takes the reader into the life of author Alison Bechdel’s childhood and youth in rural Pennsylvania.

It follows the complex relationship with her father, a funeral home owner and addresses themes of sexual orientation, gender roles, dysfunctional family life, and the role of literature in understanding oneself and one's family.

Bechdel’s memoir has been challenged over 9 times in states such as Florida, Michigan, and Texas with the claim that it contains sexually explicit illustrations and, drug use, graphic sexual violence, and anti-religious sentiments. In response to the bans, Bechdel has said during an interview for Carnegie Mellon University, "I think banning books is the wrong approach. If you don't want your kids to read it, make sure they don't get a hold of it."

✦ American Born Chinese (2006) by Gene Luen Yang

This graphic novel has three separate storylines that come together in an unexpected twist! It follows the stories of young Jin Wang struggling to fit in at school where he's the only Chinese American student, the Monkey King, the most powerful monkey on earth, and Danny a 16-year-old who is embarrassed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee.

Yang’s work has garnered a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature and a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award and Disney+ adapted the novel into a television series by the same name in 2023. It has been used in schools as a resource to help students with social-cognitive disabilities. American Born Chinese has been banned pending a formal investigation in the Clay County School District of Florida.

✦ milk and honey (2014) by Rupi Kaur

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rupi Kaur not only wrote and illustrated milk and honey, but he also self-published the book! Milk and honey is a collection of poems divided into four chapters each touching on themes of survival, feminism, relationships, abuse, love, and loss.

Unfortunately, Kaur’s book has been banned and challenged 19 times throughout eight states, including Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. According to PEN America, during the 2022-2023 school year, this book was among the top eleven most banned books.

Upon hearing about her work being banned, the Canadian-Indian poet shared in an interview, “It’s so unfortunate and it’s kind of disturbing just to see the ways that those poems about our experience, about the abuse that we endure… that’s the reason that this book is being banned.”

✦ This One Summer (2014) by Mariko Tamaki, Illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

A coming-of-age story that follows two teenage friends, Rose and Windy as they embark on a summer vacation in a small beach town. The two begin to discover more about themselves and their sexualities amidst struggling family dynamics and mental health challenges.

While the graphic novel was well received by literary critics for being visually stunning and skillfully portraying “the emotional ups and downs of a girl on the cusp of adolescence”, the book has been banned and challenged 13 times. It has been featured on the American Library Association’s 2018 Top Ten Most Challenged Books list.

✦ Private Label (2022) by Kelly Yang

This young adult novel from the mind of #1 New York Times Bestseller Kelly Yang, follows Serene, a Chinese American girl, and Lian, a newcomer in town. The two go looking for Serene’s father after her mother, a fashion designer, gets diagnosed with cancer - Serene’s father left before she was born and now she wants to know what might have happened to him in Beijing.

The two begin a budding romance as they navigate the challenges they each face. You will definitely want to ship these two in this compelling and genuine coming-of-age story.

Yang’s novel has been banned from libraries and classrooms including the Washington County School District in Utah. Based on a 2022 Utah state law (H.B. 374 Sensitive Materials in Schools), books or educational materials that contain “sensitive” topics and themes are prohibited from libraries and schools. After Yang’s book was banned, she went on to write another novel, Finally Seen, for young people to understand that censorship hides unique voices.

✦ The Prince and the Dressmaker (2018) by Jen Wang

This award-winning graphic novel offers up a twist on a fairy tale story. The main character, Prince Sebastian, struggles to hide his secret life from everyone while his parents struggle to find him a bride. With his friend, Frances, a brilliant dressmaker by his side, the pair try on fabulous fits in Paris, while Frances makes dresses for Sebastian to wear as his alter ego Lady Crystallia.

This book has faced three instances of bans in Florida under the state law CS/CS/HB 1069: Education which prohibits books containing details regarding human sexuality.

✦ Flamer (2020) by Mike Curato

This book has achieved many awards with one reviewer stating “an essential book that shows readers that they are never alone in their struggles." Flamer is a story about Aiden Navarro, a young boy who during summer, starts on a road of self-discovery and acceptance before he attends high school for the first time. Aidan not only struggles with his sexual identity, but faces bullying due to his Filipino heritage.
The graphic novel draws from Curato’s own experiences as a kid and amidst the banning of his comic had this to say in an interview, “It's sickening to watch some angry person holding my book up and saying these awful things, reading passages out of context and trying to paint me like some kind of deviant.”

According to PEN America’s banned books index, Curato’s graphic novel now has over 20 instances of being banned or challenged across nine states including Colorado, Florida, Missouri, and Texas.

✦ A Snake Falls to Earth (2021) by Darcie Little Badger (Lipan Apache)

A breathtaking work of Indigenous Futurism and fantasy, A Snake Falls to Earth combines tradition and technology. The novel follows Nina and a snake named Oli who are brought together as the land of spirits and the land of monsters come in contact with each other. Despite taking place in a fantasy setting, Little Badger tackles real world challenges with this novel.

Darcie told NPR that “young people are feeling climate anxiety acutely, so it was important to make it a part of this story”. The novel has been challenged in Virginia and submitted to be banned from the Samuels Library due to the "Normalization of asexuality and associating it with the LGBTQ+ agenda. This book presents a very confused view of human sexuality."

✦ Fry Bread (2019) by Kevin Noble Maillard (Seminole)

Through vibrant illustrations and poetic text, this book explores the diverse and rich cultural significance of fry bread in Native American communities across the United States. In 2022 this book was challenged in Northampton, PA as part of a donation of diverse books by The Conscious Kid – a non-profit organization focused on equity and promoting healthy racial identity development.

School board has put the book donations on hold due to parents claiming the organization to be “a Marxist organization that promotes critical Race Theory.”

✦ Kapaemahu (2022) by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (Kanaka Maoli), Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson

Kapaemahu tells the mo‘olelo (story) of the māhū, individuals of dual male and female spirit, who sailed from Tahiti to Hawai‘i, and the four boulders they imbued with sacred healing powers that reside in Waikīkī today. This beautifully illustrated picture book is perfect for families to read together while affording parents the opportunity to share an important Indigenous Hawaiian story with a queer and non-binary focus.

This book has been challenged by a conservative community group named Clean Up Samuels Library who intends to remove books that contain pornographic content due to discussions of same-sex romance and transgender topics found in the novel.

✦ An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States (2014) by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Discover the hidden history of the United States through the eyes of Indigenous peoples in An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States. This book sheds light on centuries of brutalities that displaced and eliminated the original inhabitants while also showing the resistance of Indigenous folks in the face of that tragedy. As calls for Indigenous Peoples' Day and protests like Standing Rock gain momentum, this essential resource provides a fresh perspective on American history and its impact on our present.

A 2015 PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award winner, this book is a must-read for young readers eager to explore a more inclusive and truthful narrative of their country's past. This book has been banned for teaching critical race theory.

✦ Ho’onani Hulu Warrior (2022) by Heather Gale

An empowering celebration of identity, acceptance and Hawaiian culture based on the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi exploring her identity who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe at her school. This book was challenged in St. Augustine, Florida for being a ‘controversial topic’ centering around gender identity.

✦ We Are Water Protectors (2020) by by Carole Lindstrom (Anishinaabekwe/Métis) and illustrated by Michaela Goade (Lingít & Norwegian)

Drawing inspiration from various Indigenous-led initiatives across North America, "We Are Water Protectors" serves as a compelling and urgent call to protect the Earth's water from harm and exploitation. The book has been criticized for being "divisive," "racist," and "socialist”.

Despite this, the book garnered acclaim for its emphasis on environmental justice, portrayal of diversity, and its watercolor illustrations, which earned Michaela Goade the prestigious 2021 Caldecott Medal, marking her as the first Indigenous artist to receive this honor. The book was also awarded the 2021 Jane Addams Children's Book Award winner in the Books for Younger Children category.

✦ Firekeeper’s Daughter (2021) by Angeline Boulley (Ojibwe)

A New York Times and IndieBound best seller, this novel follows a young indigenous woman as she becomes involved in a bizarre FBI investigation around her friend’s death and a new drug. These actions were criticized for hindering access to indigenous authors - it has been noted to contain a portrayal of complex issues which may have led to these reviews within school districts.

However this has not stopped the book from being read and appreciated. Named as one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine, Boulley’s debut novel tackles the very real circumstances which continue to plague indigenous reservations all across the country.

✦ Indian No More (2019) by Charlene Willing McManus (Umpqua) with Traci Sorell (Cherokee)

Indian No More is a novel set in the 1950s about an Umpqua family who are moved from their home on the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation in Oregon to Los Angeles, as directed by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 2021, this book was challenged and frozen for review in York, Pennsylvania where some parents feared the books would make white children feel guilty about their race or indoctrinate them.

In 2023 this book was a part of the Essential Voices curriculum from Perfection Learning, but was challenged, held for review and then banned in Duvall County, Florida after a committee deemed it to be ‘not age appropriate’.

✦ I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (2017) by Erika L. Sanchez

The book’s main character Julia must put her family back together after a tragic accident befell her sister Olga. As Julia mourns the death of her sister she also struggles to find out more about Olga’s life as she may not have been “the perfect Mexican daughter” her family thought she was. If you want to find out more about Olga’s story, and the secrets she kept from her family, add Sanchez’s book to your road trip or vacay!

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter has won many literary awards such as the 2017 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature. It has 11 instances of being banned across the U.S. in states such as Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, and Utah.

✦ Before We Were Free (2002) by Julia Alvarez

Set in the Dominican Republic during the 1960s, this historical novel tells the story of 12-year-old Anita, who comes of age during the final days of the Trujillo dictatorship. Alvarez explores themes of political repression, family loyalty, and the longing for freedom through Anita’s poignant narrative.

✦ Clap When You Land (2020) by Elizabeth Acevedo

This novel-in-verse tells the story of two sisters, Camino and Yahaira, who are unaware of each other’s existence until their father dies in a plane crash. Set in the Dominican Republic and New York City, the story explores grief, family secrets, and the complexities of sisterhood as the girls navigate their new realities.

✦ Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation (2014) by Duncan Tonatiuh

This picture book tells the true story of Sylvia Mendez and her family’s pivotal role in the fight for school desegregation in California, seven years before Brown v. Board of Education. With striking illustrations and accessible text, Tonatiuh highlights an important but often overlooked chapter in American civil rights history.

✦ Dreaming in Cuban (1992) by Cristina García

Cristina García’s debut novel tells the story of three generations of Cuban women divided by exile and differing political beliefs. Set against the backdrop of Cuba’s revolution, the novel interweaves the personal and political, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the enduring bonds of family.

✦ The House of the Spirits (1982) by Isabel Allende

A landmark of Latin American literature, this multigenerational novel chronicles the lives of the Trueba family, set against the backdrop of Chile’s social and political upheaval. Allende blends magical realism with historical fiction to explore themes of love, power, and the inescapable ties of family.

✦ More Happy Than Not (2015) by Adam Silvera

This YA novel centers on Aaron Soto, a teenager grappling with grief, identity, and the complexities of his sexual orientation. Set in a near-future Bronx where a memory-altering procedure is possible, Silvera weaves a poignant story about self-discovery, love, and the importance of memory.

✦ The Other Americans (2019) by Laila Lalami

Laila Lalami’s ever timely and sweeping novel The Other Americans is at once a mystery novel, a family saga, and a love story. The novel follows the aftermath of Driss Guerraoui, a Moroccan immigrant and patriarch of his family, and his untimely death after a suspicious hit and run. Told from the various perspectives of nine characters who are divided by class, race, and religion, the novel examines the limits and expectations of being “other” in America.

The Other Americans was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and the Kirkus Prize. It also won the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and the Arab American Book Award for Fiction. Despite the importance of this work, The Other Americans was banned by a school district in Ohio because it included “a sexual intimacy scene.”

✦ Mornings in Jenin (2006) by Susan Abulhawa

Susan Abulhawa’s heartbreaking novel Mornings In Jenin is considered one of the first mainstream novels in English to explore life in Palestine after the creation of Israel in 1948. Since its publication, it’s been translated into 27 languages, although the Arabic translation was banned in 2013 in Jordan for “political reasons.” The novel follows the Abulhejos, a Palestinian family living in a refugee camp in Jenin after 1948, over sixty years as they wait and hope to return to their village Ein Hod.

Readers are guided by Amal, the central character and granddaughter of the villages’ patriarch and it is through her eyes that we learn of her brother who was kidnapped by an Israeli soldier as a baby and raised by a Jewish family. Since its publication, this book has shaped public perspective and educated readers on the lived reality of the Palestinian people who, for decades, have been a footnote to their own history.

✦ How Does It Feel To Be a Problem? (2008) by Moustafa Bayoumi

Moustafa Bayoumi’s book, published in 2008 in the aftermath of 9/11, feels more relevant than ever. This nonfiction book recounts the real-life experiences of seven Arabs residing in Brooklyn and examines the often-ignored and yet unique version of racism they face daily. Amidst the backdrop of 9/11, ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and increasing political turmoil globally, Bayoumi addresses head on the widespread hate and aggression these Arab and Muslim Americans endure from discrimination in schools and workplaces to being arrested and thrown in jail without having committed a crime.

Through it all, Bayoumi paints a sweeping portrait of each of these young Arabs and how they persist in the purgatory between their “otherness” and their “Americanness” and what it means to continue to pursue hope and a better life.

✦ The Skin and Its Girl (2023) by Sarah Cypher

The Skin and Its Girl, follows a queer Palestinian American woman, Betty, as she unravels her great aunt’s past while confronting her own sexual identity, exile, and heritage. The narrative intertwines a mystical event—a stillborn baby's heart beats, turning her skin cobalt blue—with the destruction of the family’s soap factory in Palestine. Decades later, Betty grapples with choices rooted in family legacy and personal desire, uncovering her aunt's hidden truths about sexuality and emigration.

This searing debut explores how stories, familial and personal, shape our identities, unite or divide us, and hold the power to heal fractured bonds.

✦ The Kite Runner (2003) by Khaled Hosseini

The book follows 12 year old Amir as he and his friend Hassan try to win a local kite-fighting tournament. When tragedy unfolds, not only in Afghanistan, but to a childhood friend, Amir must flee to America with his family and look for redemption once he returns home as an adult. Hosseini’s book was created into a 2007 film of the same name and was a 2005 New York Times bestseller. It remains controversial, alongside other works due to its sexual content, “racially divisive” rhetoric, LGBTQIA+ themes, references to abortion, and criticism of Christianity. It was the most banned book in the 2021-2022 school year and there are 18 instances where this book has been banned or challenged in the U.S.

Hosseini wrote in a letter to the Brevard County School Board in Florida when it had experienced a ban:

“For many students, both those who write me and the many I have met at high schools across the country, The Kite Runner is their first window into Afghan culture. Most openly admit to once knowing little about the country outside its media depiction as a violent, unhappy land perpetually wracked by war and misery. But because they find in the story of Amir and Hassan resonant parallels to their own lives – around friendship, family, love, courage, cowardice — Afghanistan becomes a real place. They gain a more nuanced and compassionate perspective on the country and its people, and they express gratitude for it.”

✦ The Arabic Quilt (2020) by Aya Khalil

Kanzi, a young protagonist who takes pride in her Egyptian heritage, moves from Egypt to America with her family and experiences teasing at her new school. Her grandmother’s quilt comforts her and inspires her to write a poem. Khalil’s book has been banned in a school district in Pennsylvania. With other affected authors, Khalil joined a collective action to raise awareness and reverse the bans, advocating for a more inclusive literary landscape.

✦ Zahra's Paradise (2010) by Amir Illustrated by Khalil Bendib

The story is based on a real life historical election in Iran in 2009. It follows a fictional story of a young protester by the name of Mehdi who went missing after the election. Now a mother and her other son, a blogger, must search for her son during a time of turmoil as the votes have been strongly disputed to be fraudulent; Tehran is transformed as a result of this corruption. Amir’s graphic novel won the Booklist Editors' Choice: Adult Books for Young Adults in 2011.

It has been banned in five school districts and libraries in Florida and Missouri. Because of a new law in Missouri, the state prohibits “any visual depiction” of a range of listed sexual acts.

✦ Punching the Air (2020) by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Award-winning and bestselling author Ibi Zoboi alongside Dr. Yusef Salaam (member of the 9th district of the NYC council), creates a book about Salaam’s experience being wrongfully incarcerated as a minor (The Central Park Five). Written in verse, the book tells the story through the perspective of Amal, the protagonist as he faces racial profiling on the road to exoneration.

It’s one of the most critically-acclaimed young adult novels of 2021. This book has been challenged in a school district in Florida, and is among the 50 Banned Books Featuring Religious Minorities.

✦ Native Son (1940) by Richard Wright

Richard Wright’s Native Son isn’t about the environment in the traditional sense, but it powerfully reflects how systemic racism creates toxic living conditions.

Set in 1930s Chicago, the novel follows Bigger Thomas, a young Black man trapped by poverty, segregation, and limited choices. His cramped, rat-infested apartment and the violence of his surroundings mirror the social and environmental neglect faced by Black communities. The story underscores how environmental injustice—like poor housing, pollution, and disinvestment—intertwines with racial oppression, shaping the lives and futures of those forced to live in its shadows.

The novel was banned from Irvington High School in Fremont, California in 1998 after some parents objected to its graphic content. Ironically, the very issues they sought to shield students from are the realities many young people across the country continue to face.\

✦ The Grapes of Wrath (1939) by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath explores the devastating impact of environmental disaster on farming families during the Great Depression.

The Joad family, forced off their land in Oklahoma due to drought and dust storms, embarks on a desperate journey west in search of work. The novel highlights how environmental destruction—combined with economic hardship—displaces entire communities, forcing them into poverty and exploitation. Through the Joads’ story, Steinbeck underscores the profound intersection of environmental and social injustice, offering a poignant commentary on how ecological collapse can drive human suffering and displacement.

Almost 100 years ago, this book was banned in Kern County, California, due to its "obscene" language. The county also saw public book burnings after residents felt Steinbeck had unfairly depicted the area, failing to acknowledge Kern’s efforts to support migrants.

✦ The Jungle (1906) by Upton Sinclair

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle exposes the harsh realities of the meatpacking industry in early 20th-century Chicago, revealing not only the exploitation of immigrant labor but also the environmental degradation tied to industrial practices.

The novel describes filthy slaughterhouses, polluted rivers, and the unchecked dumping of animal waste, illustrating how corporate greed leads to both human and environmental harm. Through its vivid depictions, The Jungle highlights the consequences of unregulated industry on public health, food safety, and the natural world—making it an early call for environmental and labor reform.

The book was banned in multiple countries and even burned by Nazis decades after it was released because it supposedly promoted “dangerous” socialist ideals about working class empowerment. But this book went on to change the U.S. meat industry for consumers and for workers. Inspired by the book’s details, President Theodore Roosevelt signed two bills on food and drug regulation in 1906.

✦ An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States (2014) by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Discover the hidden history of the United States through the eyes of Indigenous peoples in An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States. This book sheds light on centuries of brutalities that displaced and eliminated the original inhabitants while also showing the resistance of Indigenous folks in the face of that tragedy.

As it relates to the environment, the book highlights how Indigenous peoples have long maintained sustainable relationships with the land, in contrast to the extractive practices brought by European colonizers. It details how colonization led to widespread environmental destruction—through deforestation, resource extraction, and forced displacement—that disrupted ecosystems and Indigenous lifeways. As calls for Indigenous Peoples' Day and protests like Standing Rock gain momentum, this essential resource provides a fresh perspective on American history and its impact on our present.

A 2015 PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award winner, this book is a must-read for young readers eager to explore a more inclusive and truthful narrative of their country's past. This book has been banned for teaching critical race theory.