Banned Books Week is an annual event promoting the importance of the freedom to read, and highlighting attempts to censor books in schools and libraries. While the book community supports the freedom of expression and freedom to seek ideas year-round, during this week we bring special attention to these causes so as not to forget that intellectual materials are still challenged to this day.

Here is some of our best content on Banned Books Week and the history of censorship:

• 400 years of banned books
• Quiz: how well do you know your banned books?
• A 2015 blog with banned books that NYPL book experts love
• E-Resources: Researching New York City's Scandalous Censorship Past

2018's 11 Most-Challenged Books, courtesy of the ALA:

1. George by Alex Gino
2. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss and illustrated by EG Keller
3. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
5. Drama by Raina Telgemeier
6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
7. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
8. Skippyjon Jones series by Judith Byron Schachner
9. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
10. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Kristyna Litten
11. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!