2021: Most challenged books? Those about black and lgbtq lives. (CNN)
Books about LGBTQ and Black people were among the most challenged books in 2021
Books that tell the stories of Black and LGBTQ people or by authors in those communities were among the 10 most challenged titles in 2021, the American Library Association said
The majority of books were called inappropriate because some people considered them to be sexually explicit, have sexually explicit images or include sexual references. Some books dealt with the LGBTQ experience, and one was challenged for allegedly promoting an anti-police message, the ALA said
Parents went from taking issue with books that mostly dealt with racism and racial justice in 2020 to a greater focus on books that discuss gender identity and sexual orientation
The most-challenged book of 2021 was Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, which discusses the non-binary authors journey with her own identity. Kobabes book has been banned or challenged from school libraries in at least a dozen states.