A San Luis Obispo author's book made the list of the most challenged books of 2018, according to a new report from the American Library Association for Banned Books Week.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a story about a high school student who receives a box in the mail containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by a classmate who killed herself. The story, which was adapted into a TV series, has been hotly contested for its focus on teen suicide.
Asher's book also made the list for 2017.
Other books included on the banned book list include stories about Vice Pres. Mike Pence's pet rabbit, a superhero who fights crime in his underwear, a fictional account of a young black girl who faces a moral struggle after witnessing a deadly police shooting, and a male student struggling with his gender identity.
The ALA publishes the list of banned and highly challenged books every year in an effort to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools.
The organization tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2019. Of the 483 books challenged or banned in 2018, here is the list of top 11 most challenged books from 2018:
George by Alex Gino
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss
Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
Skippyjon Jones series by Judy Schachner
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
