Yes, Every Body Looking Is Banned!
ISBN: 9780525556206
Every Body Looking follows Ada, a Nigerian American college freshman stepping out from under her strict father’s expectations for the first time. Through verse, Ada reckons with her mother’s addiction, her inherited trauma, and her growing attraction to another young woman. Dance becomes her language for processing what words can’t hold.
A Stonewall Honor Book and finalist for the National Book Award, the novel has been challenged for its sexual content, LGBTQ+ themes, and references to substance abuse. Its raw, lyrical exploration of identity, desire, and the weight of familial obligation continues to make it a target for removal from school libraries.
Why Was It Banned?
Where Was It Banned?
Read It Anyway
The best response to a book ban is reading the book. Here's where to get it:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Every Body Looking banned?
Yes, Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh has been banned or challenged in 6 documented instances across 3 states in the United States, including Texas, Florida, Missouri. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.
Why was Every Body Looking banned?
Every Body Looking has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Sexual Content, LGBTQ+ Content, Drug Use. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.
Where is Every Body Looking banned?
As of 2025, Every Body Looking has been banned or challenged in Texas, Florida, Missouri. Notable bans include North East ISD (2022), Clay County School District (2023), Wentzville School District (2022).