Banned Books 2023

The Bible is among the books most often challenged in US libraries and schools, on grounds of “the sex and violence it contains, and mostly for the legal issues it raises” particularly around the question of separation of church & state.

Most challenges revolve around "sexually explicit" passages. In 1983, members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee wanted to reject it as a "real downer".

It seems almost poignantly ironic that a book about banning books would itself be banned. The book was removed from school reading lists in 1998 in Foxworth, Mississippi because it contained the words “god damn.” Apparently, no one on the board that allowed the banning got the irony of the situation.

Challenged for: promoting the occult and mysticism; promoting Wicca religion; anti-Christian; violence. C.S. Lewis was a Christian theologian who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia to help children understand Christian ideas.

1989 - challenged in California for "criminalizing the foresting industry."

Vonnegut’s semi-science fiction account of WWII has been one of the most banned or challenged books since its publication. Some state that violence is the reason (since violence is unexpected in a book about war?) while others go as far as to say it promotes an unpatriotic view of warfare. As a veteran of one of the bloodiest wars in history, it’s unlikely that Vonnegut is the only one who shares a less than positive view of war.

Wild Rose, Wisc. district administer removed it in 1974 because it was "slanted" and "if there's a possibility that something might be controversial, then why not eliminate it."

Reasons this book/the trilogy has been challenged: anti-ethnic, anti-family, insensitivity, offensive language, occult/satanic, violence, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group

A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return. Challenged because considered sexist.

Challenges go back to 1976 and continue. Reason: objectionable language included.

Contains words that may be offensive to the reader.

U.S. Army banned publication during WWII on the grounds that weather forecasts aided the enemy.