BANNED

Yes, Speak Is Banned!

by Laurie Halse Anderson · Farrar, Straus · 1999

ISBN: 9780374371524

15 documented challenges

📖 Why You Should Read This Book

They want to ban this book because it tells the truth about sexual assault from a survivor's perspective.

Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel about a high school girl navigating trauma has sold over 3.5 million copies and been translated into 35 languages.

Why This Book Was Banned

The reasons listed above reflect formal challenge attempts. The real reasons are more complicated—and more revealing.

Why You Should Read This

They want to ban this book because it tells the truth about sexual assault from a survivor’s perspective.

Why Was It Banned?

Where Was It Banned?

Multiple Multiple districts 2024

Read It Anyway

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Speak banned?

Yes, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson has been banned or challenged in 15 documented instances across 1 states in the United States, including Multiple. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.

Why was Speak banned?

Speak has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Sexual Content, Sexual Assault Depiction. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.

Where is Speak banned?

As of 2025, Speak has been banned or challenged in Multiple. Notable bans include Multiple districts (2024).