Library Guides: Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read: Home

Celebrate Banned Books!

Celebrate Banned Books Week 2019 (September 22-28, 2019) - Read a banned book!

Banned Books Trivia
Date: September 23, 2019 time TBD
Location: Spectators Bar and Grill, Bozeman, MT

Last year's event was so much fun we're doing it again! This event is part of Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Individuals and teams of up to four people may compete and prizes will be awarded.

Bozeman Public Library, Country Bookshelf and MSU Library partner for this event. Details coming this summer!

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2018. Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018.

Books have been challenged or banned through the ages for a variety of reasons including sexual content, religious content, and political content. According to the American Library Association, the books below were the 11 most challenged in 2018 (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/NLW-Top10). Celebrate your freedom to read - check out a banned or challenged book today!

Top 11 Challenged Books of 2018

Banned books map

Use the map to find out where book challenges have taken place across the country.

Banned Books Map
See where book challenges have taken place since 2007-2011.

Other banned books

Top 10 list

1. George by Álex Gino
Call Number: Fic Gin Juvenile collection
ISBN: 9780545812542
Publication Date: 2015-08-25
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
2. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twist; Marlon Bundo; E. G. Keller (Illustrator)
Call Number: PS3608.O832K58 *also available as e-book
ISBN: 9781452176369
Publication Date: 2018-03-18
HBO's Emmy-winning Last Week Tonight with John Oliver presents a children's picture book about a Very Special boy bunny who falls in love with another boy bunny.

Meet Marlon Bundo, a lonely bunny who lives with his Grampa, Mike Pence - the Vice President of the United States. But on this Very Special Day, Marlon's life is about to change forever...

With its message of tolerance and advocacy, this charming bunny book for kids explores issues of same sex marriage and democracy. Sweet, funny, and beautifully illustrated, this better Bundo book is dedicated to every bunny who has ever felt different.
3. The Adventures of Captain Underpants Series by Dav Pilkey (Illustrator)
Call Number: 613.9071 .Sil Juvenile collection
ISBN: 9780545628044
Publication Date: 2013-04-30
Fourth graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins are a couple of class clowns. The only thing they enjoy more than playing practical jokes is creating their own comic books. And together they've created the greatest superhero in the history of their elementary school: Captain Underpants! His true identity is SO secret, even HE doesn't know who he is!
4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Call Number: Fic Tho Juvenile collection
ISBN: 9780062498533
Publication Date: 2017-02-28
After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.
5. Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Call Number: Fic Tel Juvenile collection
ISBN: 9780545326988
Publication Date: 2012-09-01
Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi, she's a terrible singer. Instead she's the set designer for the stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen, and when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!
6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Call Number: Fic Ash Juvenile collection
ISBN: 9781595141712
Publication Date: 2007-10-18
When Clay Jenkins receives a box containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends the night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death.
7. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Call Number: PN6727.T363
ISBN: 9781554987061
Publication Date: 2010-05-11
Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. One of the local teens - just a couple of years older than Rose and Windy - is caught up in something bad... Something life threatening.

It's a summer of secrets, and sorrow, and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.
8. Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0142404039
Publication Date: 2005-04-07
Skippyjon Jones is no ordinary kitten. Oh, no. . . .He's actually El Skippito, a great sword-fighter ready to battle banditos the world over! With a little imagination and a whole lot of fun, this frisky cat dons a mask and cape and takes on a bad bumble-beeto to save the day. And along the way, he'll be sure to steal young reader's hearts, yes indeed-o!
9. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Call Number: Fic Lev *also available as e-book
ISBN: 9780316504041
Publication Date: 2017-09-19
Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
10. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman; Kristyna Litten (Illustrator)
Call Number: Fic Her Juvenile collection
ISBN: 9781433816581
Publication Date: 2013-10-01
A picture book illustrating a Pride parade. The endmatter serves as a primer on LGBT history and culture and explains the references made in the story.
11. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
ISBN: 9780307975645
Publication Date: 2013
A chorus of men who died of AIDS observes and yearns to help a cross-section of today's gay teens who navigate new love, long-term relationships, coming out, self-acceptance, and more in a society that has changed in many ways.