Books Banned in North Carolina

21 banned books

BANNED 73 challenges

Melissa (formerly George)

by Alex Gino

Alex Gino's middle-grade novel about a transgender fourth-grader, the most banned book in America from 2018 to 2020....

LGBTQ+ ThemesSexual ContentAnti-Family Content
BANNED 58 challenges

And Tango Makes Three

by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell

A children's picture book about two male penguins who raise a chick together, based on a true story from the Central Par...

LGBTQ+ ThemesAnti-Family ContentAge Inappropriateness
BANNED 45 challenges

Black Boy

by Richard Wright

Black Boy by Richard Wright is an autobiography of growing up Black in the Jim Crow South. Banned for decades for 'obsce...

Racial ContentProfanitySexual Content
BANNED 40 challenges

A Wrinkle in Time

by Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is a beloved science fantasy novel challenged for decades by both religious conse...

Religious ObjectionsOccult/Supernatural
BANNED 37 challenges

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

Lord of the Flies by William Golding follows boys stranded on an island who descend into savagery. Banned for violence, ...

ViolenceProfanityRacial Content
BANNED 25 challenges

Monster

by Walter Dean Myers

Monster by Walter Dean Myers follows a 16-year-old Black teenager on trial for felony murder, told through his screenpla...

ViolenceProfanityRacial Content
BANNED 20 challenges

Nickel and Dimed

by Barbara Ehrenreich

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich is an undercover investigation of low-wage work in America. Challenged for promot...

Political ContentDrug/Alcohol ContentProfanity
BANNED 18 challenges

Their Eyes Were Watching God

by Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston follows Janie Crawford's search for love and independence in the earl...

Sexual ContentProfanityRacial Content
BANNED 10 challenges

Almost Perfect

by Brian Katcher

Logan, a small-town Missouri football player, falls for Sage, a new girl at school, and struggles with his feelings when...

LGBTQ+ Themes
BANNED 10 challenges

Dear Martin

by Nic Stone

After a racially-motivated incident with police, Justyce McAllister starts writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr....

Race and Racism
BANNED 2 challenges

Life is Funny

by E. R. Frank

'Life is Funny...

Sexual Content
BANNED 2 challenges

Night

by Elie Wiesel

'Night...

Sexual Content
BANNED 2 challenges

The Parker Inheritance

by Varian Johnson

'The Parker Inheritance...

Sexual Content
BANNED 2 challenges

To Night Owl from Dogfish

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

'To Night Owl from Dogfish...

Sexual Content
BANNED 1 challenges

A Place at the Table

by Saadia Faruqi

'A Place at the Table...

Sexual Content
BANNED 1 challenges

Another Day (Every Day Series)

by David Levithan

'Another Day (Every Day Series)...

LGBTQ+ Themes
BANNED 1 challenges

Clean Getaway

by Nic Stone

'Clean Getaway...

Race and Racism
BANNED 1 challenges

Darkness Before Dawn

by Sharon M. Draper

'Darkness Before Dawn...

Sexual Content
BANNED 1 challenges

Forged By Fire

by Sharon M. Draper

'Forged By Fire...

Sexual Content
BANNED 1 challenges

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe (Sal and Gabi Series)

by Carlos Hernandez

'Sal and Gabi Break the Universe (Sal and Gabi Series)...

Sexual Content
BANNED 1 challenges

The Shape of Thunder

by Jasmine Warga

'The Shape of Thunder...

Sexual Content