TL;DR: The "banned book" conversation is everywhere, but it’s often more about school library "challenges" than actual government bans. Much of the heat is coming from TikTok (specifically #BookTok), where books like A Court of Thorns and Roses go viral among teens before school boards even know they exist. If you want to navigate this without losing your mind, focus on intent over outrage.
Quick Links to Frequently Challenged Media:
- Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe – Often the #1 challenged book for graphic depictions.
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison – A classic often targeted for heavy themes.
- Flamer by Mike Curato – High school graphic novel about identity and bullying.
- It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover – Massive on BookTok; deals with domestic violence.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower – A perennial target for "mature themes."
If you feel like every time you open Instagram you see a headline about a book being "banned," you’re not imagining it. But we need to define our terms because the rhetoric is dialed up to an eleven.
In the 2020s context, a "ban" almost never means the book is illegal to own. It usually means a parent or a group has "challenged" the book, requesting its removal from a school library or a specific grade’s curriculum. According to recent data, these challenges have hit record highs, often targeting books that feature LGBTQ+ characters, racial injustice, or "spicy" (romance) content.
The friction happens because school libraries are curated spaces. Unlike a public library or a Barnes & Noble, a school library has a specific mission to support education. The "No-BS" reality? Some of these books are high-quality literature that help kids feel seen; others are arguably "adult" content that ended up in the YA section because the cover looked cute.
Ask our chatbot about the most challenged books in your state
We can’t talk about library controversies without talking about TikTok. The #BookTok community has single-handedly revived the publishing industry, which is great! But it has also blurred the lines between "Young Adult" (YA) and "New Adult" (NA).
Your 13-year-old isn't finding these books by browsing the library shelves; they’re finding them through aesthetic "Books that made me sob" montages on their feed.
The Colleen Hoover Effect
Take It Ends With Us. It’s technically adult fiction, but it is massive with middle and high schoolers. When a school librarian stocks it because "kids are asking for it," and then a parent reads the graphic descriptions of domestic abuse or sex, a "challenge" is born.
The "Spicy" Fantasy Trend
Series like A Court of Thorns and Roses (often called ACOTAR) are the gateway drug for many teens. They start as "fantasy" but lean heavily into "smut." When these show up in junior high libraries, parents understandably flip out. The "ban" isn't usually about the magic; it's about the bedroom scenes.
As Screenwise parents, we aren't about blind censorship, but we are about intentionality. The "banned book" label is now a massive marketing tool. Authors love being "banned in Florida" because it guarantees a 300% spike in sales.
The real issue for us isn't just "is this book bad?" but "is my kid ready for this conversation?"
If a book like The Bluest Eye is removed from a curriculum, it’s often because of a scene involving sexual assault. As a parent, you might decide that the book’s literary merit outweighs the trauma of the scene—or you might decide your 14-year-old isn't there yet. That’s a parenting decision, not a political one.
Here is the "No-BS" breakdown of some of the most controversial titles currently making headlines.
The Controversy: This is a graphic memoir about being non-binary. It contains explicit illustrations of medical procedures and sexual exploration. The Take: Honestly? This is the book that fuels 90% of the "porn in schools" talking points. For an older teen struggling with identity, it’s a lifeline. For a 6th grader? It’s arguably way too much, way too soon. If your kid is asking for this, read it with them or check it out yourself first.
The Controversy: Challenged for "anti-police" sentiment and profanity. The Take: This is a fantastic, necessary book for high schoolers. It deals with a police shooting from the perspective of a Black teen. It’s gritty, yes, but it’s the kind of "uncomfortable" that leads to actual growth. If this is "banned" in your district, buy it for your kid anyway.
The Controversy: Graphic novel about a boy at Boy Scout camp dealing with bullying and his sexuality. The Take: It’s sweet, heartbreaking, and very real. The "graphic" parts are mostly about the internal struggle of a kid trying to survive middle school. It’s a "must-read" for kids who feel like outsiders, but the visuals make it an easy target for screenshots on social media.
The Controversy: Challenged for "vulgarity" and sexual references. The Take: It’s a book about teens. Teens are vulgar. If we "ban" every book where a 17-year-old makes a dirty joke, we’re left with nothing but The Chronicles of Narnia. This one is mostly harmless but definitely snarky.
Learn more about why certain books are being pulled from school shelves
How do you handle it when your kid comes home saying, "The library took away the book I wanted"?
- Middle School (Ages 11-13): This is the peak "curiosity" age. If a book is "banned," they will want it more. Use this as a chance to talk about why people are upset. Is it because of "bad words"? Is it because of "grown-up themes"?
- High School (Ages 14-18): At this point, they’ve seen worse on YouTube or Reddit. Instead of worrying about the "ban," talk about the content. Ask, "What do you think the author was trying to say with that controversial scene?"
The "danger" isn't usually the book itself—it's the community around it. If your kid is deep into "Dark Romance" BookTok, they are being served content that romanticizes toxic relationships, kidnapping, and "enemies to lovers" tropes that are... let's just say, not healthy relationship goals.
The "safety" issue here is the algorithm. Once they like one video about a "banned" book, TikTok will feed them increasingly mature content.
Check out our guide on how to talk to kids about difficult themes in books
Instead of joining a side in the "Culture War," try these conversation starters with your kids:
- "I saw that The Hate U Give was removed from your school library. Have you heard people talking about it? What do you think about that?"
- "A lot of parents are worried about the 'spicy' books on TikTok. Do you see those on your feed? Do they seem like they're for people your age or older?"
- "If you ever find a book that feels 'too much' or makes you uncomfortable, you can always put it down. You don't have to finish it just because it's viral."
Most "banned" books are actually just "misplaced" books. A book that is life-changing for a 17-year-old might be traumatic for an 11-year-old.
The noise you hear on the news is often about politics, but for us, it’s about digital wellness and intentional consumption. Don't let a "banned" label scare you off a great piece of literature, but don't assume that just because a book is in a school library, it's a perfect fit for your specific kid at this specific moment.
Trust your gut, read the reviews (or use Screenwise!), and remember that a book is just a conversation waiting to happen.
- Audit the Feed: Take a look at your teen’s #BookTok or Instagram "Explore" page. What books are being pushed to them?
- Check the WISE Score: Look up challenged books on Screenwise to see the "No-BS" breakdown of sexual content, violence, and educational value.
- Support Your Librarian: They are caught in the middle of a massive storm. A quick "Thanks for all you do" goes a long way.
Ask our chatbot for a list of age-appropriate alternatives to popular "spicy" books