Number of book challenges nationwide doubled from 2021 as book ban movement gathers speed in Republican-led states
Last year, there were 1,269 documented censorship attempts to restrict 2,571 unique titles – the highest number ever recorded by ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom and double the 729 book challenges made in 2021.
Texas made 93 attempts to restrict access to over 2,300 books.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison was the most challenged book in the state, on grounds it contained sexually explicit content. Other challenged booksinclude Gender Queer, All Boys Aren’t Blue, and other books with LGBTQ+ or anti-racism themes.
n total, 30% of all book censorship attempts were made by parents. Seventeen percent of attempts were made by political or religious groups.