Every October, readers and libraries around the world come together to celebrate Banned Books Week — a time to honor the stories that challenge, provoke, and sometimes even unsettle us. It’s strange, isn’t it? That in a world overflowing with stories, some of the most powerful ones are the ones people have tried to silence.
I’ve always believed that reading is one of the bravest acts of empathy. Books don’t just show us what’s beautiful — they reveal what’s difficult, uncomfortable, and necessary. And the more I learn about why some books get banned, the more I realize that the very things that make them controversial are what make them worth reading.
So, in honor of Banned Books Week (October 5–11), I’m revisiting five titles that have been challenged or removed from shelves — books that continue to spark important conversations about identity, courage, and the power of words.
1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Starr Carter lives between two worlds — her poor, predominantly Black neighborhood and her elite, mostly white private school. Her careful balance shatters when she witnesses the police shooting of her unarmed childhood friend, Khalil. What follows is a powerful exploration of race, identity, and finding your voice in a world that often tries to silence it.
This book has been banned and challenged in several U.S. states, including Texas and Pennsylvania, for its language, depictions of police brutality, and accusations of being “anti-cop.” But the truth is, it just tells a story that too many people are afraid to hear. When I read it, I didn’t just feel anger — I felt empathy. Starr’s voice lingers with you because she’s speaking truths that demand to be heard, even if they make us uncomfortable.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, Harper Lee transports us to 1930s Alabama, where her father, Atticus Finch, stands up against racism by defending a Black man wrongly accused of a terrible crime. It’s a story of childhood innocence colliding with injustice, a moral tale about doing what’s right even when it’s hard.
This American classic has been repeatedly challenged and removed from reading lists in states like Virginia and California for its use of racial slurs and its portrayal of racial tension. Some say it’s outdated or offensive — but I think it’s precisely because it’s uncomfortable that it’s necessary. Each reread reminds me that the world still needs Atticus’s quiet courage and Scout’s hopeful innocence.
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Pecola Breedlove is a young Black girl growing up in 1940s Ohio, believing that blue eyes will make her beautiful and loved. Through her heartbreaking story, Toni Morrison exposes the devastating effects of racism, beauty standards, and abuse — all rendered in her lyrical, haunting prose.
It’s one of the most frequently banned books in America, removed from classrooms in Missouri and Florida for its explicit content and depictions of sexual violence. And yet, to ban it is to deny the raw truth Morrison forces us to face — the way society teaches some people to hate themselves. I won’t lie, it’s a difficult read. But that’s what makes it unforgettable. Some books don’t comfort you; they confront you — and that’s what The Bluest Eye does so powerfully.
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Told through letters to an unnamed friend, Charlie’s story unfolds as he navigates high school, friendship, grief, and mental health. It’s intimate and tender, filled with moments of awkward honesty and quiet revelation — the kind of book that makes you feel seen in all your messy, growing-up confusion.
This modern classic has been challenged and banned in places like Texas, South Carolina, and Florida for its depictions of sexuality, drug use, and suicide. But those are the very things that make it real — because for many teens, those experiences are part of their world. When I first read it, it felt like someone had written down the thoughts we’re not supposed to admit out loud. Books like this remind us that stories can be a lifeline, especially for those who feel alone.
5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s turbulent history, The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir and Hassan, two boys bound by friendship and divided by class. After a heartbreaking betrayal, Amir spends years haunted by guilt and searching for redemption. It’s a novel about forgiveness, loss, and the enduring power of love.
It’s been banned and challenged in schools across North Carolina, Arizona, and Illinois for its depiction of sexual assault and political violence. But silencing it erases an important voice in modern literature — one that gives readers a glimpse into Afghanistan’s complex history and humanity. When I finished it, I sat quietly for a long time. Some stories stay with you because they’re beautiful; this one stays because it’s true.
Banning books has never stopped their ideas from spreading — it only proves how powerful stories can be. These books challenge us, unsettle us, and make us think — and that’s exactly what reading should do.
Have you read any of these? Or is there a banned or challenged book that changed the way you see the world? I’d love to hear from you — email me at ihorton@whatsupmag.com and let’s start a conversation about the books that made us think differently, even when others tried to silence them.
