Categories of Common Reasons
Book challenges typically cite one or more of these categories as justification for removal. Understanding these categories reveals patterns in which books and whose stories face the most scrutiny.
Sexual Content
~38%Books are challenged for containing descriptions of sexual activity, sexual education content, or discussions of sexuality. This includes everything from explicit scenes to age-appropriate discussions of puberty.
Common examples:
- Young adult novels with romantic scenes
- Sex education and health books
- Books discussing consent and healthy relationships
- Memoirs addressing sexual assault or abuse
LGBTQ+ Themes
~37%Books featuring LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or identity exploration are among the most frequently challenged. Often labeled as containing 'sexual content' even when the content is no more explicit than heterosexual relationships in other books.
Common examples:
- Picture books with same-sex parent families
- YA novels with transgender protagonists
- Memoirs by LGBTQ+ authors
- Books explaining gender identity to young readers
Racial and Social Justice Themes
~22%Books addressing racism, discrimination, or social justice are increasingly challenged, often accused of being 'divisive' or promoting 'critical race theory.' These challenges frequently target books by and about people of color.
Common examples:
- Historical accounts of slavery and Jim Crow
- Books about the Civil Rights Movement
- Contemporary stories of racial discrimination
- Children's books celebrating cultural diversity
Violence and Dark Themes
~15%Books depicting violence, death, or difficult life circumstances are challenged for being too disturbing or inappropriate for young readers, even when addressing these themes serves educational or therapeutic purposes.
Common examples:
- Holocaust literature and memoirs
- Books addressing war and its consequences
- Stories involving suicide or self-harm
- Books dealing with domestic violence
Also Commonly Cited
- Religious viewpoint (pro or anti)
- Profanity and “offensive” language
- Drug and alcohol use
- “Anti-family” content
- Political viewpoint
Age-Appropriateness Arguments
“Age-appropriateness” is the most common umbrella justification, but it's often applied selectively. Books with diverse characters face stricter scrutiny than books with similar content featuring majority perspectives.
While challengers often cite specific content concerns, the pattern of which books face challenges reveals a deeper trend: books that center marginalized voices and perspectives are disproportionately targeted.
Who Initiates Book Challenges?
Understanding who files book challenges—and the recent shift toward organized campaigns—is essential for understanding the current wave of book bans.
Parents
~60%Individual parents remain the most common source of challenges, typically concerned about what their own children might encounter in school or library collections.
Organized Groups
~30%A growing percentage of challenges come from national or state-level organizations that coordinate campaigns, provide book lists, and supply template complaint forms.
Elected Officials
~5%Politicians and school board members increasingly initiate or support challenges, sometimes proposing legislation that bypasses traditional review processes.
Other
~5%Teachers, librarians (under pressure), community members without children in schools, and others occasionally file challenges.
The Rise of Organized Campaigns
A significant shift in recent years has been the professionalization of book challenging. Organizations like Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education, and others have created:
- Pre-compiled lists of books to challenge, sometimes hundreds of titles
- Template complaint forms that can be submitted with minimal effort
- Coordination networks that file identical challenges across multiple districts
- Training materials and playbooks for challenging books
- Legal support and legislative advocacy for policies that make banning easier
The American Library Association reports that a single organized group can now file challenges to hundreds of books in a single school year—a dramatic departure from the traditional model of individual parent concerns about specific titles.
Statistics on Ban Reasons
Data from the American Library Association and PEN America reveal clear patterns in why books are challenged and which books are most at risk.
Most Common Reasons Cited (2023-2024)
Note: Books often have multiple reasons cited; percentages do not sum to 100%.
47%
Of challenged books
feature LGBTQ+ characters or themes, though such books represent a small fraction of library collections
41%
Of challenged books
feature protagonists or prominent characters of color, significantly higher than their representation in publishing
Key Patterns
- •Disproportionate targeting: Books by and about marginalized groups are challenged at rates far exceeding their presence in library collections.
- •Award-winning works: Many of the most challenged books are critically acclaimed, award-winning literature recommended by educational experts.
- •Selective enforcement: Similar content in books featuring majority perspectives often escapes challenge while diverse books face scrutiny.
- •Geographic concentration: While challenges occur nationwide, they are heavily concentrated in certain states and districts.
Arguments From Both Sides
The debate over book access in schools and libraries involves deeply held beliefs about parental rights, child development, and the purpose of education. Understanding both perspectives helps foster more productive conversations.
Arguments for Book Removal
- •Parents have the right to decide what content is appropriate for their children and should be able to shield them from material they find objectionable.
- •Schools and libraries should be responsive to community standards and values, reflecting what local families consider acceptable.
- •Some content may be genuinely inappropriate for certain age groups, and educators have a responsibility to curate age-appropriate collections.
- •Exposure to certain topics too early may be harmful to child development or cause unnecessary distress.
- •Parents cannot monitor everything their children might encounter in school; removal provides a safeguard.
Arguments Against Book Bans
- •Individual parents can restrict what their own children read without limiting access for all students, whose families may have different values.
- •Students have First Amendment rights to access information; removing books infringes on intellectual freedom.
- •Books featuring diverse characters and experiences help all students develop empathy, understanding, and a broader worldview.
- •Students who see themselves reflected in banned books—particularly LGBTQ+ youth and students of color—receive the message that their existence is inappropriate.
- •Professional librarians and educators are trained to curate age-appropriate collections; book challenges often override this expertise.
Finding Common Ground
Most people agree that parents should be informed about what their children read and that age-appropriateness matters. The disagreement often centers on whether one parent's objection should limit access for all students, and who gets to define what's “appropriate.” Alternative approaches—like parental notification systems, opt-out options for specific assignments, or diverse collection policies—can sometimes address concerns without removing access entirely.
Research consistently shows that reading diverse literature—including books that deal with difficult topics—helps young people develop critical thinking skills, empathy, and resilience. The question isn't whether to protect children, but how to support their development while respecting both parental involvement and intellectual freedom.