15 Very Important Books That Were Once Banned in Schools

Animal Farm by George Orwell ($9) is a book so controversial, they didn't even want to publish it. Orwell's allegorical tale is meant to critique the Stalin era of the Soviet Union, but publishers were wary about releasing the book in 1945 out of fear of upsetting the alliance between the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union. The book uses farm animals rebelling against their farmer in an attempt to create a society in which all animals are equal to show the dangers of trusting leaders who only have their best interest in mind. If you like communism taught through piggies, this is for you.

Though it won a Pulitzer Prize for its groundbreaking writing about racism and slavery in 1800s America, schools often ban Beloved by Toni Morrison ($12) due to references to sex and graphic scenes of violence. The book is undoubtedly worth a read to understand Sethe's journey, one in which she is born a slave and experiences tragedy after tragedy in pursuit of freedom. The book is an especially honourable read given the recent passing of its author in 2019. Fans of poetry will find what they love between these pages.

One of the more recently published books on this list, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky ($7) follows introvert Charlie as he tries to make it through the trials of high school. Readers find themselves inside Charlie's mind, which, though just a freshman in high school, does not shy away from the tough questions about drugs, sexuality, masturbation, and mental health. This is precisely what got the book banned from school districts, particularly in 2009, when it was one of the most challenged of that year.

Do you hear that? It's yourself from 10 years ago gasping in shock that Twilight by Stephenie Meyer ($10) of all things is banned. The book that follows Bella Swan's journey through Forks, WA, and the vampire/werewolf company she seems to attract is often banned in schools due to its explicit sexual content and because it goes against certain religious beliefs. Though the book seemed to be on every shelf, t-shirt, and notebook back in the day, it's oddly hard for some to get their hands on.

Lois Lowry's young adult novel The Giver ($6) shows what happens when what appears to be a utopia is actually a dystopia. In an attempt to get rid of pain, 12-year-old Jonah's community has gotten rid of emotions and has chosen "sameness" as the rules in their world that is without colour, memory, or even climate. When he is chosen to be the holder of memories before this era of sameness, Jonah is confused by the lessons of emotion and the good/bad that comes from them. It is often banned because it's seen as unsuited for the young adult age group due to violence and sex.

Alice Walker's The Colour Purple ($14) is as iconic as a novel can be. It has won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Award for fiction, and it's also been made into both a movie and a Broadway musical. The novel is centreed on sisterhood and the trials of racism and poverty in 1930s Georgia, but it is often banned for being too sexually and socially explicit. Banned books often feature what is explicit because it's what's real, and that's why this one is worth a read.

Graphic-novel fans need not fret about being unable to find a banned book in their favourite genre. This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki ($16) follows two friends, Rose and Windy, navigating the transition out of childhood as they confront feelings about boys and more mature matters in the world around them. The book has been censored for including profanity and mature themes, making it one of the most challenged books of 2018.

Published in 1928, Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness ($5) seemed to set the world on fire for its plot about a lesbian relationship. Though the novel has no erotic moments, it was banned for obscenity upon being published. The book follows Stephen, a woman, and her life as a war hero and bestselling writer who just so happens to love women. If you're looking for a book that really rocked the world and challenged social norms during the time period, this novel is for you.

Jane Rule's Desert of the Heart ($16) follows a woman who, in the process of trying to divorce her husband, falls into a passionate love with another woman. Released in 1964, the book was met with fear from viewers, though it has evolved into one of the most iconic works of lesbian fiction.

Always Running: La Vida Loca Gang Days in LA by Luis J. Rodríguez ($8) describes the life of a young Chicano gang member who's trying to survive the often-dangerous East Los Angeles neighbourhoods. The autobiographical book was published in 1993, and it was often banned because of graphic content, but the book offers a truthful, first-hand account of the dangers of gang life.

Mary McCarthy's The Group ($14) follows eight young women in 1933 who have just graduated from Vassar College and are about to navigate the world postgraduation. The group face financial strife, sexism at work, childbirth, sexual relationships, and so on. For its attempt to remain honest on the lives of women, the book was banned for mention of content like birth control and socialism.

Forever . . . by Judy Blume ($10) shows an incredibly honest portrayal of teenagedom for its 1975 publishing year. Not only does main character Katherine lose her virginity, but she is also on birth control and is the granddaughter of a huge Planned Parenthood advocate. The book also follows a side story of discovering sexuality for Katherine's friend Artie, who is gay. For these reasons, the book was banned by many religious groups. The book is a quick read, but it captures young love in an honest way.

Angie Thomas's novel The Hate U Give ($19) is so wildly popular that it was published in 2017 and was already a feature film in 2018. The book follows Starr Carter after she witnesses an act of police brutality take the life of one of her best friends, Khalil. The incident sparks controversy in the city Starr lives in, as the black members of the community are outraged and the white members don't seem to understand what truly happened to the unarmed boy driving his friend home from a party. The plot is modern and relevant, but the book has been banned in Texas before for "inappropriate language."

If you were already hooked on the TV series, you ought to give this banned book a read. Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale ($8) follows narrator Kate, who exists only for sexual servitude and reproducing. Though one might think a dystopian world in which women are diminished to only being defined by their bodies and what they can do with them could be a positive read for schools to understand sexism, this book is often banned for explicitness about sex and being offencive to Christians. Nonetheless, it's a suspenseful read.