NEW YORK\u00a0 \u2014 The closing of physical libraries because of the pandemic has slowed but not stopped patrons and others from calling for books to be banned or restricted.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the\u00a0American Library Association reported\u00a0more than 270 challenges to books in 2020, from Toni Morrison\u2019s \u201cThe Bluest Eye\u201d to Harper Lee\u2019s \u201cTo Kill a Mockingbird,\u201d compared to 377 the year before. The number of challenges is likely far higher than reported; the association estimates that only a small percentage are formally registered or publicized \u2014 a trend that got worse during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shutdowns didn\u2019t just make it less likely that patrons would complain, but because of all the furloughs and layoffs at schools and libraries, it disrupted the whole infrastructure that enables us to be aware of complaints,\u201d says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the association\u2019s Office for Intellectual Freedom.<\/p>\n
Alex Gino\u2019s \u201cGeorge\u201d was the most frequently criticized book, with objections including LGBTQ content and \u201cnot reflecting the values\u201d of the community. The No. 2 book for complaints was Ibram X. Kendi\u2019s and Jason Reynolds\u2019 \u201cStamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You,\u201d challenged in part for \u201cselective storytelling incidents\u201d that do not reflect racism against all people.<\/p>\n
A second book co-written by Reynolds, \u201cAll American Boys,\u201d faced complaints about political bias, bias against men, and the inclusion of rape and profane language. Others in the top 10 include Angie Thomas\u2019 bestseller about police violence, \u201cThe Hate U Give\u201d; John Steinbeck\u2019s \u201cOf Mice and Men\u201d; and the National Book Award winners \u201cSpeak,\u201d by Laurie Halse Anderson, and \u201cThe Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,\u201d by Sherman Alexie.<\/p>\n
Several of the top 10 books \u2014 which also included \u201cSomething Happened in Our Town: A Child\u2019s Story About Racial Injustice,\u201d by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard \u2014 received greater attention last year after the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matters protests.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did see pushback against anti-racist materials, some of which were seen as anti-police,\u201d Caldwell-Stone says. \u201cI always say that the challenged book\u00a0list reflects the conversations going on around the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ALA defines a \u201cchallenge\u201d as a \u201cformal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.\u201d The list, based on media reports and on accounts submitted from libraries, is part of the association\u2019s annual State of America\u2019s Libraries report. It comes out during National Library Week, which ends Saturday.<\/p>\n
Some books were simply criticized, others actually pulled. In Burbank, California, last November, \u201cTo Kill a Mockingbird\u201d and \u201cOf Mice and Men\u201d were among several novels removed from school reading lists because of racist language that educators allege led to harassment of minority students. The National Coalition Against Censorship condemned the decision, saying that \u201cbanning books does not erase racist ideas or prevent racist incidents.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The challenged books list is included in the State of America\u2019s Libraries Special Report: COVID-19, available here.<\/p>\n