Banned Books Week
21 September 2018

Last year for Banned Books Week (24-30 September) we brought you some of our top banned YA books, and this year we’re back for more!
These books have been banned or challenged for reasons such as offensive language, sexual content and violence. Have you read any of them?
ttyl by Lauren Myracle
A novel written entirely in instant messages that follows the friendship of three teenaged girls as they experience the pitfalls of adolescence. It has been challenged and/or banned from schools and libraries for its explicit language and sex, and its religious viewpoints.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Set in a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show with 12 boys and 12 girls and there is only one rule: kill or be killed. It has been challenged for being violent and sexually explicit.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
When Miles starts at Culver Creek Boarding School he meet Alaska and his life completely changes. This was one of the most challenged books of the year in 2015 for many reasons, in particular its sexual content and excessive smoking.
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Based on true events, Two Boys Kissing follows two seventeen-year-olds taking art in a 32-hour marathon of kissing or set a new Guinness World Record. The book was challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT+ content.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
The story of two teenaged misfits finding love in the most unexpected of places. It has been challenged for its use of offensive language, with parents calling it ‘vile profanity’.
Get involved
Have you read any of the books on the list? Do you agree with the decisions of schools and libraries to ban them? Let us know using @readingagency