American Library Association’s challenged books list: The 11 titles targeted the most in 2025 for removal

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The American Library Association released its 2025 list of most challenged books. (Source: ALA)

A new ranking by the American Library Association (ALA) lists the 11 books that people or activists tried to have removed from or restricted in libraries, schools, or universities last year. The list also reflects a dramatic change in who is making the requests for books to be pulled from the shelves.

Big picture view:

The ALA released the rankings Monday as part of National Library Week and noted the most common grounds used by those who want books removed.

According to the ALA, the rationales can include claims of illegal obscenity for minors, which the list’s authors characterize as false; because the book had LGBTQIA+ representation; how issues like race, racism, social justice, and diversity were discussed, or because the books present political or religious views that the challengers opposed. 

By the numbers:

The list was drawn from 487 challenges recorded by the ALA in 2025 and covered 4,235 unique titles, some of which ended up being upheld, the organization said, noting that 98% of the challenges covered multiple books.

Just over half (51%) of challenges recorded were targeted at public libraries, while 37% were aimed at school libraries. The rest were split between school curricula (8%) and higher education (3%).

Most Challenged Books

Topping the ALA’s list was the 2006 young adult novel Sold, written by Patricia McCormick. It was described as a story about a 13-year-old who left her mountain home in Nepal, believing that she found a job in the city as a maid, but ended up in the sex trade in India.

1.) Sold, by Patricia McCormick

2.) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

3.) Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Konabe 

4.) Empire of Storms, by Sarah J. Maas

5.) (tie) Last Night at the Telegraph Club, by Malinda Lo

5.) (tie) Tricks, by Ellen Hopkins

7.) A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas

8.) (tie) A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess

8) (tie) Identical, by Ellen Hopkins

8.) (tie) Looking for Alaska, by John Green

8) (tie) Storm and Fury, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dig deeper:

For decades, challenges to a given book came from a parent or another member of a local community. But in recent years, the ALA highlighted the drastic change in who was filing the challenges, with the trend shifting sharply to government officials and conservative activists such as Moms for Liberty, who advocate "parental choice" in deciding what schools and libraries should make available. The ALA says last year, 92% of the challenges arose from activists and government officials, while less than 3 percent of challenges originated from individual parents.

Florida, Texas and Utah are among the many states that have called for books to be banned or passed restrictive legislation. In Iowa, an appellate court ruled earlier this month that the state can enforce a law that limits teachers from talking about LGBTQ+ topics with students in kindergarten through the sixth grade and bans some books.

The backstory:

The ALA stated its description of a challenge included "an attempt to remove or restrict access to material or services based on the objections of a person or group." The organization noted that its list is based only on reports filed by library professionals and news articles, and is likely not a complete list. 

What they're saying:

"Libraries exist to make space for every story and every lived experience," ALA President Sam Helmick said in a statement. "As we celebrate National Library Week, we reaffirm that libraries are places for knowledge, for access, and for all."