Banned YA Books: An Essential Teen Reading List (90 Books)

Banned YA Books: An Essential Teen Reading List (90 Books)

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Banned YA books and frequently challenged books are books that should always be celebrated and shared widely. There is nothing more frustrating than discovering a fantastic YA novel has been deemed inappropriate due to the topics raised in the book. Themes such as offensive language, sexuality, racism, politics, and religion often face censorship. So many of my favourite books have been targeted by book bans and this post is my way of showing support to the authors and the YA books that have been banned or challenged. Open your book tracking app and get ready to add a few of these YA banned books to your TBR.

ya banned books

Last Updated: November 19, 2023

Banned YA/Teen Books

  1. Looking for Alaska by John Green

looking for alaska john green

2. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

two boys kissing david levithan

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

the hunger games suzanne collins

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Book cover for To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars

6. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

the golden compass philip pullman

7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

the perks of being a wallflower stephen chbosky

8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

eleanor and park rainbow rowell

9. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

the outsiders s.e. hinton

10. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

go ask alice anonymous

11. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

speak laurie hale anderson

12. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

harry potter and the sorcerer's stone

13. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

the darkest part of the forest holly black

14. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give Angie Thomas

15. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

thirteen reasons why jay asher

16. Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu

check please graphic novel

17. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

clap when you land Elizabeth acevedo

18. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder Marissa Meyer

Cinder is one of my favourite books and I just can’t imagine anyone wanting to remove this one from shelves. It is such an empowering novel that should be on anyone’s reading list. Check out the book trailer to learn more.

19. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

you should see me in a crown leah johnson

20. Scythe by Neal Shusterman

scythe neal shusterman

21. Dear Martin by Nic Stone

dear martin nic stone

22. Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

gossip girl cecily von ziegesar

23. The Giver by Lois Lowry

Book cover for The Giver by Lois Lowry.

24. Me, and Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Me and Earl and the dying girl

25. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

gender queer maia kobabe

26. The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

the infinite moment of us lauren myracle

27. We Are the Ants by Shun David Hutchinson

we are the ants david hutchinson

28. The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

the truth about alice jennifer mathieu

29. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

the 57 bus dashka slater

30. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

a court of mist and fury sarah j maas

31. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Book cover for More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera.

32. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

crank ellen hopkins

33. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

are you there god? it's me, margaret

34. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin

beyond magenta susan kuklin

35. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

this book is gay juno dawson

36. Feed by M.T. Anderson

feed mt anderson

37. Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

rainbow boys alex sanchez

38. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

the catcher in the rye

39. The Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa

the color of earth kim dong hwa

40. Lush by Natasha Friend

lush natasha friend

41. Lawn Boy Jonathan Evison

lawn boy by Jonathan evison

42. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

anne frank the diary of a young girl

43. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

the lord of the rings jrr tolkien

44. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

the book thief markus zusak

45. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows Leigh Bardugo

46. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

the absolutely true diary of a part-time indian

47. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

all boys aren't blue george m. johnson

48. Flamer by Mike Curato

flamer mike curato

49. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

out of darkness ashley hope perez

50. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds

all american boys jason reynolds

51. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

the chocolate war robert cormier

52. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

fahrenheit 451 ray bradbury

53. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Meyers

fallen angels walter dean myers

54. What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones

what my mother doesn't know sonya sones

55. 1984 by George Orwell

1984 george orwell

56. A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

a bad boy can be good for a girl

57. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher

athletic shorts chris crutcher

58. The Call of the Wild by Jack London

the call of the wild jack london

59. Stamped by Jason Reynolds

stamped jason reynolds

60. Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

whale talk chris crutcher

61. We All Fall Down by Nic Sheff

we all fall down nic sheff

62. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

summer of my german soldier bette greene

63. Forever by Judy Blume

forever judy blume

64. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

65. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

the face on the milk carton caroline b cooney

66. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

tiger eyes judy blume

67. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck

a day no pigs would die robert newton peck

68. I Know Why the Caged bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I know why the caged bird sings

69. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

persepolis marjane satrapi

70. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

the kite runner khaled hosseini

71. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

the adventures of huckleberry finn

72. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

this one summer mariko tamaki

73. Lord of the Flies by WIlliam Golding

lord of the flies william golding

74. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden

annie on my mind nancy garden

75. Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

almost perfect brian katcher

76. The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal

the kingdom of little wounds

77. A Separate Peace by John Knowles

a separate peace john knowles

78. Deenie by Judy Blume

deenie judy blume

79. Daughters of Eve by Lois Duncan

daughters of eve lois duncan

80. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

tricks ellen hopkins

81. Bless Me, Ultima by Anaya Rudolfo

bless me ultima Rodolfo anaya

82. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier

my brother sam is dead

83. The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney

the terrorist caroline b. cooney

84. Burned by Ellen Hopkins

burned ellen hopkins

85. Glass by Ellen Hopkins

glass ellen hopkins

86. The Shell Lady’s Daughter by C.S. Adler

the shell lady's daughter

87. Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

far from the tree robin benway

88. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places Jennifer Niven

89. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Book cover for Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli.

90. Monster by Walter Dean Myers

monster walter dean myers

Banned YA Books

Banned YA books and YA books that are being challenged are books that need to be supported and celebrated. This banned books week I will be reading some of the books on this list as my way to help draw attention to the freedom to read. There are quite a few lists on Goodreads as well that feature banned and challenged books. What YA banned books will you read?

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About The Candid Cover

Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.

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