8 Infamous Banned Books You Should Read Once In Your Life

Published Aug 21, 2026, 9:42 PM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. While all banned books are worth reading, these eight provide unique perspectives and valuable insights into history and culture, making them must-reads. Book banning is nothing new, but it has become a more hot-button issue in the past few decades. Banned books have been deemed “infamous” and controversial by people in power and folks who disagree with their messages. As such, many book challenges adopt a "think of the children" mentality, ignoring educational value and the realities of modern-day adolescence. It's a form of control. Unfortunately, book banning often brings out the prejudices that plague society. Books taken off the shelves frequently provide diverse perspectives of the world and different cultures. Some challenge the conventional narrative. Many provide insight into historical events and break down nationalism and separation, encouraging understanding of people from different walks of life. Don't let book banners win. I encourage readers to pick up all banned books and use critical thinking to form their own opinions. These eight books are far from the only banned books that everyone should read, nor are they ranked. However, these eight have a lot to say, making them extremely valuable works of literature. I want to give an honorable mention to Maus by Art Spiegelman, which is a phenomenal banned graphic novel that everyone should read. 8 The Color Purple by Alice Walker Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winner The Color Purple is such a significant story that it has been adapted as two Oscar-nominated movies and a Tony-winning Broadway musical. However, the book is frequently banned in United States schools and prisons for numerous reasons, including the inclusion of sexual violence, abuse, and profanity. The context and social commentary are ignored. Plus, it has a loving lesbian relationship, making it a prime target for anti-LGBTQ+ folks. Ultimately, there’s so much value in The Color Purple. The book is an empowering story about a poor Black woman named Celie who endures racism and abuse but finds a way to reclaim her power and voice. The book examines how race and gender intersect. The writing doesn’t sugarcoat the topics, trusting the reader to handle the darker parts of humanity. However, it also shows that community and love can foster healing. 7 Ulysses by James Joyce Most of the banned books on this list are being challenged and banned this decade. However, Ulysses is a unique book on this list. The James Joyce novel was banned for over a decade in multiple countries for “obscenity,” due to sexual content and bodily functions. However, the bans have been lifted, and it’s now considered a literary masterpiece that everyone should read. The iconic book recontextualizes the Greek epic poem The Odyssey for a modern audience. Ulysses bounces between three main characters – Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom, and Molly Bloom – as they live their lives on July 15, 1904, in Dublin. Rather than following a traditional format, each chapter has a different style, pioneering madcap writing. The story includes plenty of humor and whimsy to keep readers entertained while also delving into perennial human experiences. 6 I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai I Am Malala is a powerful memoir by Pakistani girls' education and women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel laureate. When she was a girl, Malala lived under the Taliban’s rule, where girls were banned from attending school. She fought to get an education, and she was nearly killed by a Taliban gunman, who shot her on the school bus. I Am Malala explores her life before, during, and after this moment. The book has been banned in numerous Pakistani schools for disrespecting Islam and challenging the country’s ideologies. On the flipside, it has been restricted in some U.S. school districts for the discussion of Islam and social justice. However, everyone should read this book as it shows the value of education, the power of standing up for what's right, and the hope one person can bring to the world. 5 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Out of all the books on this list, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will probably seem the weirdest from both a book banning and necessary reading perspective. The comedy sci-fi story centers on Arthur Dent, a human who is plucked from Earth by his alien friend Ford Prefect just before Earth is destroyed. They travel the galaxy as Ford writes The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. There’s nothing overtly controversial about that premise, and the romances in the first book are straight. Why ban it? The book features very minor instances of profanity and satire of dogmatic theology. It has been deemed “blasphemous.” Despite this, the book is a peak example of absurdist science fiction. The book is laugh-out-loud funny and offers insightful social commentary on the vastness of the universe, corporate greed, and the silliness of human institutions. As such, it’s as valuable as it is entertaining. 4 More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera Adam Silvera’s books might be targeted at teenagers, but they are frequently challenged and banned YA books that adults should read too. The sci-fi coming-of-age More Happy Than Not centers on a gay Puerto Rican teenager named Aaron Soto, who is contemplating going through a memory-erasing procedure to erase his sexuality. More Happy Than Not is one of the many victims of book banning that center on LGBTQ+ characters. Many challenges don’t outright cite queer representation, pointing instead to sexual content and exploration of mental health. However, the book actually has very little sexual content, and it’s no more explicit or mature than teen books with straight characters. On top of that, it includes a meaningful exploration of internalized homophobia and the journey to self-acceptance in minority communities. 3 Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club has won numerous awards, and it’s also a heavily challenged and banned book. Set in 1954 San Francisco, a 17-year-old Chinese American girl named Lily comes to terms with being a lesbian and experiencing her first love. However, their romance is dangerous because of police raids on LGBTQ+ spaces and the Red Scare. Much like More Happy Than Not, Last Night at the Telegraph Club has been subject to bans due to its LGBTQ+ representation. Once again, it’s labeled as having “mature” themes and sexual content, even though there’s really no explicitness or anatomical descriptions in the book. Still, it’s a book everyone should read as it provides insight into queer history, which is often erased, and the impact of the Red Scare on Chinese Americans. 2 1984 by George Orwell George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 follows Winston Smith, a citizen living in the totalitarian state of Oceania. Despite constant surveillance and behavior control, Winston secretly rebels against the Party and its leader Big Brother. 1984 is one of the most ironic instances of a book being banned, as banning and censorship are exactly what the book's authoritarian government does. Sometimes, the challenges are related to sexual content, but it’s more often related to politics and “anti-authority” themes (via Barringer Publishing). Opposing governments find the story threatening, including communism, totalitarian dictatorship, unitary assembly-independent republics, and even school districts in democracies. Despite this, it’s a critical read because its commentary on systems of oppression and control is more relevant than ever before. Constant surveillance is now possible with widely available technology, and governments around the world are punishing protesters, though some more than others. 1 The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank is a tragic but important piece of history, telling about the experience of a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust. Unlike many accounts of the Holocaust, The Diary of a Young Girl is an in-the-moment perspective from a real person. It’s not reflecting on the past. It’s not fictionalizing the events. Anne Frank had to navigate puberty and self-discovery all while hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, and this is an emotionally intimate look into that experience. The book was originally bowdlerized, with objectionable passages removed. Then, it was published in full. Disturbingly, The Diary of a Young Girl has been banned in some United States school districts and public libraries because of its descriptions of puberty and emerging sexual attraction to both boys and girls. The book frequently returns to the shelves after bans, though, which is for the best. A Diary of a Young Girl is a crucial first-hand account of a tragedy that should never be repeated, and it’s necessary especially when there's an increase in Holocaust denial, neo-Nazis, and fascists.