{"id":3471,"date":"2022-09-09T09:00:42","date_gmt":"2022-09-09T13:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=3471"},"modified":"2023-12-12T12:28:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T17:28:10","slug":"15-banned-books-every-tween-teen-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/15-banned-books-every-tween-teen-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Banned &#038; Challenged Books Every Tween and Teen Should Read"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You can\u2019t please everyone. Every book will have its fans and its foes. But restricting reading for another person or group of people? That goes too far.<\/p>\n<p>Those who ban books believe that not only are banned books not appropriate for their own kids, they\u2019re not appropriate for anyone else\u2019s kids. Their <a href=\"http:\/\/libguides.butler.edu\/c.php?g=34189&amp;p=217686\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biggest complaints<\/a> usually center on the following issues:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>homosexuality<\/li>\n<li>witchcraft<\/li>\n<li>sex<\/li>\n<li>profanity<\/li>\n<li>alcohol use<\/li>\n<li>violence<\/li>\n<li>anti-God \/ religion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But, I\u2019ll give them one thing. Ideas are powerful.<\/p>\n<p>Ideas in books can ignite discovery, encourage empathy, and offer solace. (Among other things.) With that in mind, here are 22\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ala.org\/advocacy\/bbooks\/frequentlychallengedbooks\/decade2019\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">banned and challenged books<\/a> that are worth reading (maybe more than once) for their ideas.<\/p>\n<p> no no    9780425288290  <i>The Outsiders<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/541867\/the-outsiders-50th-anniversary-edition-by-se-hinton\/ by S.E. Hinton <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: conflict, crime, death of a character<\/i><br \/>\nS. E. Hinton\u2019s groundbreaking classic \u2014 now available in a 50th anniversary edition \u2014 centers on two rival groups of teen boys, the Greasers and the Socs, who are divided by unassailable class differences in 1965 Tulsa, Oklahoma.  <\/p>\n<p>   9780307278449  <i>The Bluest Eye<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/117662\/the-bluest-eye-by-toni-morrison\/ by Toni Morrison <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED AND CHALLENGED FOR: rape, incest, teen pregnancy<\/i><br \/>\nFor many readers, <i>The Bluest Eye<\/i> is their introduction to Toni Morrison. It tells the powerful and harrowing story of Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl desperate for the blonde hair and blue eyes she believes will make others accept her. <\/p>\n<p>   9780385755917  <i>All the Bright Places<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/237456\/all-the-bright-places-by-jennifer-niven\/ by Jennifer Niven <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: sexual content, mental illness, teen suicide<\/i><br \/>\nFinch and Violet meet at a pivotal moment in their lives, and what unfolds is a meaningful romance between two young people struggling openly and honestly with grief and depression. Billed for fans of <i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/books\/9780142424179\/penguin-minis-the-fault-in-our-stars-by-john-green\/\">The Fault in Our Stars<\/i><\/a> (another banned title). <\/p>\n<p>   9780307931917  <i>Two Boys Kissing<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/217499\/two-boys-kissing-by-david-levithan\/9780307931917\/ by David Levithan <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED AND CHALLENGED FOR: sex, homosexuality<\/i><br \/>\nIn this novel based on true events, two teen boys\u2019 attempt to beat the world record for the longest kiss provides the backdrop for a larger meditation on acceptance and love. It is skillfully written and simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming.<\/p>\n<p>   9780812980028  <i>I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings<\/i> http:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/3924\/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings-by-maya-angelou\/ by Maya Angelou <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED FOR: childhood rape, racism<\/i><br \/>\nReading this powerful story is like stepping into the shoes of a poor Black girl in the South. We discover that despite all of life\u2019s hardships, the wounded can heal. They can even sing. What\u2019s even more powerful is that the story is autobiographical.<\/p>\n<p>   9780525555278  <i>Last Night at the Telegraph Club<\/i>  by Malinda Lo <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: homosexuality, sexual content<\/i><br \/>\nA lesbian romance set in 1954 between a Chinese American teen and a white classmate, is a beautiful coming-of-age story of love and identity. <\/p>\n<p>   9780593109069  <i>Looking for Alaska<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/292717\/looking-for-alaska-by-john-green\/ by John Green <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED AND CHALLENGED FOR: sex, profanity, homosexuality, undermining religious beliefs<\/i><br \/>\nNamed the most challenged book of 2015, John Green\u2019s debut novel centers on a teen seeking new adventure and happiness through his self-destructive yet alluring classmate. Now a limited series on Hulu, it\u2019s an essential part of the John Green canon. <\/p>\n<p>   9780823445035  <i>Out of Darkness<\/i>  by Ashley Hope P\u00e9rez <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED AND CHALLENGED FOR: abuse, sex<\/i><br \/>\nThis award-winning historical YA novel takes place in East Texas, 1937. A young Mexican American girl falls in love with a Black boy in a segregated town. Their relationship gets challenged from every side, and the teens face discrimination, racism, and heartache in their fight for love.<\/p>\n<p>   9781101996997  <i>The Witches<\/i> http:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/350864\/the-witches-by-roald-dahl\/ by Roald Dahl <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED FOR: witchcraft, misogyny<\/i><br \/>\nThis is a hilarious story about a young boy who discovers that witches hate all children. With help from his Grandmamma, he outwits the witches, turning them into mice.<\/p>\n<p>   9781536207200  <i>It\u2019s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health<\/i>  by Robie H. Harris <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED FOR: nudity, sex, abortion, homosexuality<\/i><br \/>\nI think information is power \u2014 or at least if not power, it\u2019s really, really helpful. This controversial book covers everything about puberty and sex that kids wonder about. Seeing the illustrations of naked bodies may be uncomfortable for parents, but I think it\u2019s a great way to empower and educate. <\/p>\n<p>   9780440238133  <i>The Golden Compass<\/i> http:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/136447\/the-golden-compass-his-dark-materials-by-philip-pullman\/ by Philip Pullman <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED FOR: anti-God <\/i><br \/>\nAn adventure of heroic children, villainous adults, fantastical creatures, and a challenging quest make this an entertaining and award-winning fantasy novel.  <\/p>\n<p>   9780763673680  <i>Beyond Magenta<\/i>  by Susan Kuklin <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: LGBTQIA+ content, sexual content<\/i><br \/>\nThis book goes behind the scenes and gives readers a peek into the lives of six transgender and gender-neutral teenagers. Photos, stories, hope, and heartache come together on the page, offering a realistic view of the triumphs and tragedies of these real-life teens.<\/p>\n<p>   9780399501487  <i>Lord of the Flies<\/i> http:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/333560\/lord-of-the-flies-by-william-golding\/ by William Golding <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED FOR: violence, profanity<\/i><br \/>\nOften used as a class book in middle school, this thought-provoking allegory of the human condition forces you to notice and think about the real-life connections to the story. Yes, real life is often disturbing.<\/p>\n<p>   9780385752169  <i>Trash<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/204471\/trash-by-andy-mulligan\/ by Andy Mulligan <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: language, anti-police sentiment<\/i><br \/>\nAdapted for film in 2015, <i>Trash<\/i> is the story of three boys living in extreme poverty, who find something in a dumpsite that propels them on a heroic journey to restore justice. <\/p>\n<p>   9780143105947  <i>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/531875\/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-by-mark-twain\/ by Mark Twain <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: language<\/i><br \/>\nMark Twain\u2019s classic follows the adventures and exploits of young Huck Finn and runaway slave Jim \u2014 two friends who raft down the Mississippi through a Southern antebellum society where they\u2019re repeatedly confronted with racism and corruption. <\/p>\n<p>   9780375714573  <i>Persepolis<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/160890\/persepolis-by-marjane-satrapi\/ by Marjane Satrapi <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED AND CHALLENGED FOR: graphic language and images<\/i><br \/>\nMarjane Satrapi\u2019s widely hailed graphic memoir is a stunning coming-of-age tale about growing up in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. Narrated by Satrapi, a precocious only child, it\u2019s simultaneously an intimate story and a treatise on the devastations of war. <\/p>\n<p>   9780763687571  <i>The Kingdom of Little Wounds<\/i>  by Susann Cokal <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: violence, rape, sexual content<\/i><br \/>\nA seamstress, a maid, and a princess tackle literal and figurative illnesses in this spellbinding story set in Scandinavia. The book combines politics, romance, and deception to create a breathtaking novel for readers who love fairy tales and history. <\/p>\n<p>   9781400052189  <i>The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/168191\/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-movie-tie-in-edition-by-rebecca-skloot\/ by Rebecca Skloot <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: female anatomy<\/i><br \/>\nRebecca Skloot\u2019s investigation into the woman behind HeLa cells \u2014 which changed medicine forever \u2014 led her to the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, a poor Southern tobacco farmer whose tissue samples were taken without her consent while she was being treated for cervical cancer in 1951. <\/p>\n<p>   9780679732761  <i>Invisible Man<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/46131\/invisible-man-by-ralph-ellison\/ by Ralph Ellison <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: language, sexual content, racism<\/i><br \/>\n<i>Invisible Man<\/i> won the National Book Award in 1953 and established Ralph Ellison as a voice of American literature. It tells the story of a nameless black narrator who moves from the South to Harlem and navigates intolerance and indifference in early twentieth-century America. <\/p>\n<p>   9780812972351  <i>Prep<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/168071\/prep-by-curtis-sittenfeld\/ by Curtis Sittenfeld <\/p>\n<p><i>CHALLENGED FOR: sexual content<\/i><br \/>\nLee Fiora feels like an outsider at Ault, a prestigious boarding school in Massachusetts. Her experiences over the next four years \u2014 which build to a self-destructive peak \u2014 make for a poignant examination of adolescence and its many angsts. <\/p>\n<p>   9780385734295  <i>Real Live Boyfriends<\/i>  by E. Lockhart <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED AND CHALLENGED FOR: sexual content<\/i><br \/>\nE. Lockhart&#8217;s fourth book in the Ruby Oliver quartet is the most controversial, dealing with common issues teenagers face. As Ruby interviews her friends for a film project, she uncovers some uncomfortable truths about life, love, and friendship.<\/p>\n<p>   9781101939529  <i>Dear Martin<\/i>  by Nic Stone <\/p>\n<p><i>BANNED AND CHALLENGED FOR: language, racism<\/i><br \/>\nWritten in response to the deaths of Jordan Davis and Michael Brown, Nic Stone&#8217;s <i>Dear Martin<\/i> tells of a teenage Black boy, who, after a run-in with white police officers, writes to the late Martin Luther King, Jr. for advice. <\/p>\n<p><em>Learn more about banned books and Banned Books Week <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ala.org\/bbooks\/banned\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><i><small>Editor&#8217;s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2022.<\/small><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ideas in books can ignite discovery, encourage empathy, and offer solace. With that in mind, here are 22 banned books worth reading for their ideas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":99073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[109,278,300,954,1110],"coauthors":[13],"class_list":["post-3471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-lgbtq","tag-banned-books","tag-censorship","tag-educators","tag-diverse-books","ages_stages-tween","ages_stages-teen"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Banned &amp; Challenged Books Every Tween and Teen Should Read | Brightly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Books can ignite discovery, encourage empathy, and offer solace. 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