[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "What%20are%20the%20top%20twenty%20most%20banned%20books%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s a current look at some of the *most banned, challenged, or restricted* books\u2014especially in U.S. schools and libraries\u2014based on recent data (2024\u20132025), combined with perennial offenders over past decades. These are books that show up most often on the lists reporting censorship attempts. The Top 20 below reflects a mix of practical bans (removals) and frequent challenges.\n\n---\n\n## Top 20 Most Banned/Challenged Books\n\n1. *Sold* \u2014 Patricia McCormick \u2014 topped ALA\u2019s Most Challenged Books of 2025. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n2. *The Perks of Being a Wallflower* \u2014 Stephen Chbosky \u2014 consistently in Top 10, No. 2 in 2025. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n3. *Gender Queer: A Memoir* \u2014 Maia Kobabe \u2014 No. 3 most challenged in 2025; frequent target. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n4. *Empire of Storms* \u2014 Sarah J. Maas \u2014 No. 4 in 2025. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n5. *Last Night at the Telegraph Club* \u2014 Malinda Lo \u2014 tied for No. 5 in 2025. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n6. *Tricks* \u2014 Ellen Hopkins \u2014 another No. 5 tie in 2025. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n7. *A Court of Thorns and Roses* \u2014 Sarah J. Maas \u2014 ranked 7th in 2025. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n8. *A Clockwork Orange* \u2014 Anthony Burgess \u2014 tied for No. 8. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n9. *Identical* \u2014 Ellen Hopkins \u2014 also tied at No. 8. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n10. *Looking for Alaska* \u2014 John Green \u2014 tied at No. 8 for 2025. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n11. *Storm and Fury* \u2014 Jennifer L. Armentrout \u2014 joint No. 8. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-the-11-most-challenged-books-of-2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n12. *All Boys Aren\u2019t Blue* \u2014 George M. Johnson \u2014 #1 most challenged in 2024. ([ala.org](https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10?utm_source=openai))  \n13. *The Bluest Eye* \u2014 Toni Morrison \u2014 frequently challenged for sexual content and racial themes. ([ala.org](https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10?utm_source=openai))  \n14. *Thirteen Reasons Why* \u2014 Jay Asher \u2014 frequent challenges in 2024. ([wgbh.org](https://www.wgbh.org/culture/books/2025-03-07/looking-for-a-new-read-try-one-of-these-frequently-banned-books?utm_source=openai))  \n15. *Crank* \u2014 Ellen Hopkins \u2014 also among most banned in 2024. ([wgbh.org](https://www.wgbh.org/culture/books/2025-03-07/looking-for-a-new-read-try-one-of-these-frequently-banned-books?utm_source=openai))  \n16. *The Kite Runner* \u2014 Khaled Hosseini \u2014 often banned for sexual content and religious objections. ([banned-books.org](https://www.banned-books.org/scope/school?utm_source=openai))  \n17. *The Handmaid\u2019s Tale* \u2014 Margaret Atwood \u2014 long-contested classic. ([banned-books.org](https://www.banned-books.org/scope/school?utm_source=openai))  \n18. *Water for Elephants* \u2014 Sara Gruen \u2014 among the top in 2024. ([wgbh.org](https://www.wgbh.org/culture/books/2025-03-07/looking-for-a-new-read-try-one-of-these-frequently-banned-books?utm_source=openai))  \n19. *Nineteen Minutes* \u2014 Jodi Picoult \u2014 most banned in some recent tallies (2024). ([wgbh.org](https://www.wgbh.org/culture/books/2025-03-07/looking-for-a-new-read-try-one-of-these-frequently-banned-books?utm_source=openai))  \n20. *The Catcher in the Rye* \u2014 J. D. Salinger \u2014 a classic work that\u2019s been challenged repeatedly over decades. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_commonly_challenged_books_in_the_United_States?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## What \u201cBanned/Challenged\u201d Means (and Limitations)\n\n- **Challenged**: A formal request to remove or restrict a book from public access (libraries, classrooms). Doesn\u2019t always succeed. ([ala.org](https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Banned** or **Removed**: Book is pulled entirely or access seriously limited. ([ap.org](https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2026/book-bans-and-attempted-bans-remain-at-record-highs-with-sold-topping-the-list/?utm_source=openai))  \n- Sources like the American Library Association (ALA) and PEN America catalog these incidents. ALA focuses on challenges; PEN America tends to report more on actual bans or removals. ([pen.org](https://pen.org/book-bans/pen-america-book-ban-index-data/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can pull together a similar list for a specific year (e.g. 2026) or focus by age group (kids/teens/adults) to see what\u2019s trending most now."
    }
]