Best banned books for young adults (21 Of The Most Controversial Books Ever Written)

You read a book that seems innocent, but another parent points out aspects of the book that horrify you. You didn’t notice their long list of “no-nos” when you read it! You tell another parent, and they tell another. Soon the entire class is in agreement to ban a book. 

Do young adult authors mean that much harm in their innocent stories of teen life and fantasy lands? Each year, the list of prohibited books seems to grow. These are the most controversial young adult books or series ever written and why.

1. His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman

Book one in His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman is the best-selling book and movie The Golden Compass. The film was a hit at the box office, but not so much with parents. 

Lyra ventures to the north pole, full of witch clans and armored bears. She is trying to meet her Uncle Asriel, who is building a bridge between worlds. Usually, the literary world praises fierce young girls. This time, her parents looked past her bravery and the author’s underlying themes. Christian organizations stated on multiple occasions that the book attacks them. Pullman explains that it isn’t Christianity but how people use religious organizations to excuse their actions.

2. Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks, “Anonymous”

A young girl is served a soda laced with LSD, and her entire world turns upside down. She soon spirals into a world of drug addiction and sexual abuse. Drugs, let alone exchanging sexual favors for drugs, is a complex topic for adults to talk to teens about. In the author’s defense, she depicts drug addiction’s horrors on a person. Go Ask Alice by no means glamorizes or promotes the use of hard drugs. 

3. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

It’s not that the main character runs around in underpants that make Dav Pilkey’s book so scandalous that it needs to be banned. Parents say it is because of the use of “potty mouth” language throughout the ten-book series set. Funny enough, the same year, Captain Underpants and 50 Shades of Gray were considered banned books!

4. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Georgia Nicolson captures a teenager’s life in her journal, where she writes about her cat Angus, school, and appearance. While some find Georgia’s diary entries hilarious, others have issues with a teenage girl referring to her crush as a “Sex God.” The book has upset parents and teachers since its publication in 2001.

5. Forever by Judy Blume

Judy Blume, the author of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, writes a coming-of-age story about teen sexuality. Forever tells the story of Katherine and Michael. The two are young and in love, thinking they’ll be together forever. When Katherine and Michael separate for the summer, Katherine finds herself interested in someone else. Blume made enemies with anyone who advocates for abstinence after Forever hit bookshelves in 2014.

6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

An aspiring teen cartoonist living on an Indian reservation decides to hit the road and venture off the reservation. Unhappy with his previous school, Junior goes to an all-white high school in the middle of farm country where the mascot is an Indian. Parents disliked the book because of its use of obscene language and sometimes sexually explicit scenes. Alexie has fought back, saying, “book banners want to control debate and limit the imagination.”

7. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A banned book list wouldn’t be complete without William Golding’s book Lord of the Flies. Once a staple in high school English classes, the book has seen less and less in the classroom. A group of kids is stranded on an island, and while they try to keep things civil, things slowly spiral out of control. Parents opposed the book because of racism, violence, obscene language, and damaging statements about God and women. If you look past all of these items, the book warns teens about mob mentality and war dangers. One may think that war and mob mentality happens to adults, but Golding shows any age group is susceptible to these themes. 

8. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kulkin

Not every culture is accepting of different sexual orientations. Beyond Magenta is a masterpiece by Susan Kulkin that revolves around sensitive issues like LGBTQ+ rights. 

The story revolves around six teens and how they find out about their peculiar sexuality and what havoc that realization brings in their lives. The book is full of emotions, struggles, and tear-jerking moments.

9. The Color Of Earth by Tong-Hwa Kim

The Color Of Earth is a moving story about a girl whose mother is a single parent. Her entire life, she is looked down on, and as a result, she succumbs to a life of loneliness.

But when her mother finally finds a second shot at romance, her mind starts questioning things. Why doesn’t she deserve love for herself? Loaded with sexual content, the graphic novel is banned across many states.

10. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Rich with racial issues and America’s most unheard injustices, Fallen Angles may be a little too difficult to digest for many. The story starts with a man who joins the military after his college plans fail.

He is sent to Vietnam on his first assignment. But instead of fighting with the enemy, he finds the foes within. He is taken aback by the fact that when a mission is too deadly. He also questions the objectives of the war and America’s motives behind it.

11. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

Rose looks forward to summer each year as it is her favorite time. She spends time by a lake and enjoys each moment of it. But this year is different!

Her parents had a big fight that is still going on, takes her summer trip down with it. As a means of coping, she and her best friend Windy unexpectedly get involved in a tumultuous drama that may change Rose’s perspective of summer forever.

What happens next? Find out yourself if you can get over the sexual content and swearing.

12. Looking For Alaska by John Green

Even bans cannot stop a few books from getting world-famous. Looking For Alaska may be John Green’s most promising work yet, with fans worldwide. The book does not pass the standard of appropriate sexual content and is thus banned in many countries.

The story revolves around a boy who finds his life monotonous. But once he finds an interesting, adventurous, and self-destructive girl Alaska, his life takes many unexpected turns that grow him grateful for the boring life he once had.

13. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

You cannot kiss someone for 32 hours straight and not have feelings for one another. What started as a playful challenge between two boys to set a world record for kissing each other for 32 hours soon became a roller coaster of emotions.

The story, however, isn’t for everyone due to its depiction of LGBTQ+ content.

14. What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones

A freshman’s journey through the early years of high school can be pretty adventurous for some. It involves a train-wreck of emotions of loads of sex.

Sophie’s first year is full of sexual encounters with several boys that she sees while searching for “the right one.” The story, however, involves a lot of sexual content that is banned in many places.

15. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

A teenager’s childhood best friend was killed by a police cop. After dealing with the immense trauma, she must now find peace in her old black neighborhood and her dominantly white school.

The racist, profane, and anti-police references spark quite a controversy among the readers. Still, if you look past it, the story is full of emotions, struggles, and tear-jerking emotions.

16. Romiette And Julio by Sharon M. Draper

Inspired by the age-old classic “Romeo and Juliette,” Sharon M. Draper’s Romiette And Julio is a modern take on the story of doomed love.

Two lovers struggle to get together, while a dangerous gang has set its mind on tearing them apart by any means possible. What will happen to them and their love? Read the book to find out!

17. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Here is another banned masterpiece that has even been adapted into a blockbuster movie. The story is about a boy who struggles to befriend new people, and once he does, it is hard to let go.

The book involves several drugs, profane language, and sexual innuendos, making it to the banned books list.

18. While I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago

This story is controversial, banned, AND TRUE. What more could you ask for?

The author tells her own story as a Puerto Rican, but fate brings her to New York. Now she struggles to cope with an entirely new world and its strange ways. 

The book references drugs, alcohol misuse, foul language, and inappropriate sexual content.

19. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Clay finds out why her friend and classmate, Hannah Baker, recently took her own life by slicing her wrists. The revelations are shocking and eye-opening about the struggles of a teen girl in our society and how deeply bullying impacts the victim’s life.

20. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

What was once a banned and controversial book is now a monstrous movie franchise. That is what a sensational story does. If you are looking for books to be well-rounded, The Hunger Games makes it to the list.

Set in a world of tyranny and ruthless games, the story starts with Katniss volunteering herself in place of her sister for a life-threatening game. 

The story involves several dangerous encounters and immensely emotional moments that the book was banned due to being age-inappropriate for its audience.

21. The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Alice is a lonely girl with only her father and an elder brother. She misses the presence of another girl in her life with whom she could share her feminine views. But since she does not have a mother or a sister, she uses her journal to tell all the girly things to her imaginary female mentor.

Conclusion 

While these are the most controversial young adult book series ever written, you should still consider reading them. You, and your children, should be open to the idea of reading a banned book. Books are banned because they are too honest, timely, and topical. Certain societal groups feel very strongly about these books’ language or message. Before giving in to one group’s opinion, read for yourself. Nobody ever said you had to finish it!

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