Yes, Triangles Is Banned!
📖 Why You Should Read This Book
Hopkins brings her signature verse-novel style to adult fiction, dissecting the quiet desperation of suburban marriages. Frank about female sexuality and desire in middle age.
Ellen Hopkins’ Triangles follows three women in their forties whose lives are quietly falling apart. Holly is a stay-at-home mom whose husband has lost interest; Marissa is watching her marriage crumble while her teenage daughter pulls away; Andrea is newly divorced and rediscovering her sexuality. Hopkins writes in her signature verse-novel format, the spare, jagged poetry that made Crank and Tricks bestsellers, but this time applied to adult women’s lives. The result is a frank, sometimes brutal look at desire, disappointment, and the moment when women stop performing contentment and start demanding more.
Triangles has been challenged 8 times across Florida, Utah, Texas, and Virginia, flagged for sexual content. Hopkins is one of the most banned authors in America (her Crank series alone has racked up hundreds of challenges), and Triangles got swept up in district-wide removal efforts targeting her entire catalog. The sexual content is explicit by YA standards, but Triangles was written for adults. Its presence on challenged lists often reflects the reflexive banning of anything with Hopkins’ name on it. The book’s real offense is depicting middle-aged women as sexual beings with desires that extend beyond their marriages. Apparently, that’s still controversial.
Why Was It Banned?
Where Was It Banned?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Triangles banned?
Yes, Triangles by Ellen Hopkins has been banned or challenged in 8 documented instances across 4 states in the United States, including Florida, Utah, Texas, Virginia. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.
Why was Triangles banned?
Triangles has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Sexual Content. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.
Where is Triangles banned?
As of 2025, Triangles has been banned or challenged in Florida, Utah, Texas, Virginia. Notable bans include Clay County School District (2022), Escambia County Public Schools (2022), Seminole County Public Schools (2022).