Read Banned Books

By Kat La Mantia | March 29 2023 | AdultsChildren'sGeneralAllBlog

Book challenges and censorship laws have exploded this year in parts of the US, wiping hundreds of titles off school library shelves. Overwhelmingly, books written by LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors and featuring characters with similar identities make up the most frequently challenged and banned titles. Hysteria and misinformation about transgender people and history standards which refuse to shy away from the role of racism in shaping the nation have been two of the major drivers in this latest wave of book bans.

This age-old pattern in book censorship is nothing new, but the blatantly partisan slant and legislative muscle behind the bans certainly is. “Combatting indoctrination” is often given as the motive, but restricting young readers’ access to materials and viewpoints so aggressively is itself a mechanism for indoctrination.

As publishers, we are dedicated to denouncing censorship and protecting freedom of expression. Below, you’ll find a list of some of our more commonly banned books. For more information and resources on tracking and combatting book bans, please visit Penguin Random House’s Banned Books Resources Hub or the Penguin Young Reader Censorship Resources Site.

Banned and Challenged Books

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water
978-0-593-30735-9
The 1619 Project’s lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renée Watson.
$18.99 US
Nov 16, 2021
9 x 9
Hardcover
48 Pages
Kokila
Age 7-10 years

Too Bright to See
978-0-593-11117-8
A National Book Award Finalist "A gentle, glowing wonder, full of love and understanding." –The New York Times Book Review
$8.99 US
Jun 07, 2022
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
224 Pages
Dial Books
Age 10 and up

The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person
978-1-5362-2304-0
“A hard-hitting resource for action and change.” —Booklist (starred review) “We don’t see color.” “I didn’t know Black people liked Star Wars!” “What hood are you from?” As a student in a largely white high school, Frederick Joseph often simply let wince-worthy moments go. When he grew older, he saw them as missed opportunities to stand up for himself and bring awareness to those who didn’t see the hurt they caused. Here, Joseph speaks to the reader as he wishes he’d spoken to his friends, unpacking hurtful race-related anecdotes from his past and sharing how he might handle things differently now. Each chapter also features the voice and experience of an artist or activist, including Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give; April Reign, creator of #OscarsSoWhite; and Jemele Hill, sports journalist and podcast host. From cultural appropriation to power dynamics, “reverse racism” to white privilege, this book is a conversation starter, tool kit, and window into the life of a former “token Black kid.” Back matter includes an encyclopedia of racism, including details on historical events and terminology.
$12.00 US
Jan 03, 2023
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
288 Pages
Candlewick
Age 12 and up

It's Perfectly Normal
Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender, and Sexual Health
978-1-5362-0720-0
Fully and fearlessly updated, this vital new edition of the acclaimed book on sex, sexuality, bodies, and puberty deserves a spot in every family’s library.With more than 1.5 million copies in print, It’s Perfectly Normal has been a trusted resource on sexuality for more than twenty-five years. Rigorously vetted by experts, this is the most ambitiously updated edition yet, featuring to-the-minute information and language accompanied by new and refreshed art. Updates include: * A shift to gender-neutral vocabulary throughout* An expansion on LGBTQIA topics, gender identity, sex, and sexuality—making this a sexual health book for all readers * Coverage of recent advances in methods of sexual safety and contraception with corresponding illustrations* A revised section on abortion, including developments in the shifting politics and legislation as well as an accurate, honest overview * A sensitive and detailed expansion on the topics of sexual abuse, the importance of consent, and destigmatizing HIV/AIDS* A modern understanding of social media and the internet that tackles rapidly changing technology to highlight its benefits and pitfalls and ways to stay safe online Inclusive and accessible, this newest edition of It’s Perfectly Normal provides young people with the knowledge and vocabulary they need to understand their bodies, relationships, and identities in order to make responsible decisions and stay healthy.
$24.99 US
May 18, 2021
6-1/2 x 10-1/4
Hardcover
128 Pages
Candlewick
Age 10 and up

Let's Talk About It
The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel)
978-0-593-12531-1
Is what I'm feeling normal? Is what my body is doing normal? Am I normal? How do I know what are the right choices to make? How do I know how to behave? How do I fix it when I make a mistake? Let's talk about it.
$23.99 US
Mar 09, 2021
5-3/4 x 8-1/4
Hardcover
240 Pages
Random House Graphic
Age 14 and up

Last Night at the Telegraph Club
978-0-525-55527-8
Malinda Lo's bestselling and National Book Award longlisted masterpiece is a gripping story of love and duty set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the 1950s. Now in paperback.
$11.99 US
Dec 28, 2021
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
432 Pages
Dutton Books for Young Readers
Age 14 and up

My Rainbow
978-1-9848-1460-9
A dedicated mom puts love into action as she creates the perfect rainbow-colored wig for her transgender daughter, based on the real-life experience of mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal.
$18.99 US
Oct 20, 2020
8-1/2 x 10-3/4
Hardcover
32 Pages
Kokila
Age 4-8 years

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
978-0-525-55549-0
A Coretta Scott King Honor and YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Top Ten title, Junauda Petrus's acclaimed debut is now available in paperback.
$10.99 US
Jun 23, 2020
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
320 Pages
Penguin Books
Age 14 and up

Hot Dog Girl
978-0-525-51627-9
Now in paperback, a fresh and funny contemporary YA rom-com about teens working as costumed characters in a local amusement park.
$10.99 US
Mar 24, 2020
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
336 Pages
Penguin Books
Age 12 and up

SHOUT
978-0-14-242220-5
Award-winning Speak author Laurie Halse Anderson's New York Times bestselling poetic memoir and call to action, which garnered eight starred reviews!
$10.99 US
Mar 10, 2020
5-1/16 x 7-3/4
Paperback
320 Pages
Penguin Books
Age 14 and up

Out of Darkness
978-0-8234-4503-5
A dangerous forbidden romance rocks a Texan oil town in 1937, when segregation was a matter of life and death.
$12.99 US
Sep 10, 2019
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
400 Pages
Holiday House
Age 14 and up

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
978-1-5247-0051-5
The National Book Award Finalist and instant New York Times bestseller about losing a sister and finding yourself amid the pressures, expectations, and stereotypes of growing up in a Mexican American home.  “I fell in love with Erika L. Sánchez’ stunning novel....The depth, wit and searing intelligence of her writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more." --America Ferrera
$12.99 US
Mar 05, 2019
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
368 Pages
Ember
Age 14 and up

Julián Is a Mermaid
978-0-7636-9045-8
Winner of a 2019 Stonewall Book AwardIn an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.
$17.99 US
Apr 23, 2018
9-13/16 x 9-1/16
Hardcover
40 Pages
Candlewick
Age 4-8 years

Dear Martin
978-1-101-93952-9
A #1 New York Times bestseller!"Raw and gripping." -Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling coauthor of All American Boys"A must-read!" -Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U GiveRaw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.
$10.99 US
Sep 04, 2018
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
240 Pages
Ember
Age 14 and up

I'll Give You the Sun
978-0-14-242576-3
The Printz Medal winner and Stonewall Honor book comes to Speak!
$11.99 US
Oct 27, 2015
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
400 Pages
Dial Books
Age 14 and up

Beyond Magenta
Transgender and Nonbinary Teens Speak Out
978-0-7636-7368-0
A 2015 Stonewall Honor BookA groundbreaking work of LGBT literature takes an honest look at the life, love, and struggles of transgender teens.Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken. Each honest discussion and disclosure, whether joyful or heartbreaking, is completely different from the other because of family dynamics, living situations, gender, and the transition these teens make in recognition of their true selves.
$14.99 US
Mar 10, 2015
7-1/2 x 9
Paperback
192 Pages
Candlewick
Age 14 and up

Two Boys Kissing
978-0-307-93191-7
New York Times bestseller David Levithan comes full circle with the story of a momentous kiss.
$10.99 US
May 12, 2015
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Paperback
224 Pages
Ember
Age 14 and up

I Am Jazz
978-0-8037-4107-2
The story of a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings, who has become a spokesperson for transkids everywhere"This is an essential tool for parents and teachers to share with children whether those kids identify as trans or not. I wish I had had a book like this when I was a kid struggling with gender identity questions. I found it deeply moving in its simplicity and honesty."—Laverne Cox (who plays Sophia in “Orange Is the New Black”)From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl's brain in a boy's body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn't feel like herself in boys' clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Jazz's story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.
$17.99 US
Sep 04, 2014
10-1/2 x 9
Hardcover
32 Pages
Dial Books
Age 4-8 years

Looking for Alaska Deluxe Edition
978-0-525-42802-2
A gorgeous collector's edition of the critically acclaimed debut novel by John Green, #1 bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our StarsA perfect gift for every fan, this deluxe hardcover features a stunning special edition jacket and 50 pages of all-new exclusive content, including: - An introduction by John Green - Extensive Q&A: John Green answers readers’ most frequently asked questions - Deleted scenes from the original manuscript ★ Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award★ A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist★ A New York Times Bestseller • A USA Today Bestseller★ NPR’s Top Ten Best-Ever Teen Novels★ TIME magazine’s 100 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time★ A PBS Great American Read SelectionNOW A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES!   Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words—and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young, who will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author John Green’s arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction.
$19.99 US
Jan 13, 2015
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Hardcover
368 Pages
Dutton Books for Young Readers
Age 14 and up

Almost Perfect
978-0-385-73665-7
For John Green and David Levithan fans, and readers of fiction concerning sexual identity.
$10.99 US
Nov 09, 2010
5-3/16 x 8
Paperback
368 Pages
Delacorte Press
Age 14 and up

Half of a Yellow Sun
978-1-4000-9520-9
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • From the award-winning, bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists—a haunting story of love and war. • Recipient of the Women’s Prize for Fiction “Winner of Winners” award.With effortless grace, celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie illuminates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra's impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in southeastern Nigeria during the late 1960s. We experience this tumultuous decade alongside five unforgettable characters: Ugwu, a thirteen-year-old houseboy who works for Odenigbo, a university professor full of revolutionary zeal; Olanna, the professor’s beautiful young mistress who has abandoned her life in Lagos for a dusty town and her lover’s charm; and Richard, a shy young Englishman infatuated with Olanna’s willful twin sister Kainene. Half of a Yellow Sun is a tremendously evocative novel of the promise, hope, and disappointment of the Biafran war.
$18.00 US
Sep 04, 2007
5-3/16 x 8
Paperback
560 Pages
Vintage

The Bluest Eye
978-0-307-27844-9
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner—a powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity that asks questions about race, class, and gender with characteristic subtly and grace. In Morrison’s acclaimed first novel, Pecola Breedlove—an 11-year-old Black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others—prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different. This is the story of the nightmare at the heart of her yearning, and the tragedy of its fulfillment. Here, Morrison’s writing is “so precise, so faithful to speech and so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry” (The New York Times).
$16.00 US
May 08, 2007
5-3/16 x 8
Paperback
224 Pages
Vintage

Persepolis
The Story of a Childhood
978-0-375-71457-3
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK and SF CHRONICLE AND LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER: The funny, tragic and deeply moving comic strip memoir of a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. First time in paperback.
$16.00 US
Jun 01, 2004
6 x 8-7/8
Paperback
160 Pages
Pantheon

The Complete Maus
A Survivor's Tale
978-0-679-40641-9
The definitive edition of the graphic novel acclaimed as “the most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust” (Wall Street Journal) and “the first masterpiece in comic book history” (The New Yorker) • PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • One of Variety’s “Banned and Challenged Books Everyone Should Read”A brutally moving work of art—widely hailed as the greatest graphic novel ever written—Maus recounts the chilling experiences of the author’s father during the Holocaust, with Jews drawn as wide-eyed mice and Nazis as menacing cats. Maus is a haunting tale within a tale, weaving the author’s account of his tortured relationship with his aging father into an astonishing retelling of one of history's most unspeakable tragedies. It is an unforgettable story of survival and a disarming look at the legacy of trauma.
$35.00 US
Nov 19, 1996
6-3/8 x 9-1/8
Hardcover
296 Pages
Pantheon