Beloved by Toni Morrison is a critically acclaimed novel that has won both the Pulitzer Prize and a lasting place in American literature. Yet despite its recognition, the book has frequently been challenged and even banned in schools and libraries. The primary reasons for its censorship include graphic depictions of violence, sexual abuse, and the … Read more
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is one of the most influential works in American literature, but it has also been one of the most frequently challenged and banned books. The novel has faced controversy primarily due to its use of racial slurs, especially the repeated use of the N-word, which many readers find … Read more
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the greatest American novels ever written, but like many classics, it has not escaped controversy. The book has been challenged and even banned in some schools and libraries due to its language, sexual references, and themes that some deem inappropriate for young readers. Critics … Read more
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck has long been considered a classic of American literature, yet it has also been one of the most frequently challenged and banned books in schools and libraries. The novel has faced censorship for its use of profanity, depiction of violence, portrayal … Read more
Synopsis & Themes Slaughterhouse-Five is a unique and powerful novel by American author Kurt Vonnegut, first published in 1969. It follows the story of Billy Pilgrim, a soldier who becomes “unstuck in time.” After surviving the bombing of Dresden during World War II, Billy begins to experience time non-linearly—jumping between different points in his life, … Read more
Synopsis & Themes The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum , first published in 1900, is a beloved American children’s novel by L. Frank Baum. It follows the story of Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas, who is swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. In her quest to return … Read more
Synopsis & Themes The Diary of Anne Frank is the true story of a young Jewish girl, Anne Frank, who went into hiding with her family during World War II to escape the Nazi persecution of Jews. The diary begins in 1942 when Anne is 13 and follows her life in a hidden annex behind … Read more
Synopsis and Themes The Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a classic novel first published in 1954. It tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who survive a plane crash and find themselves stranded on a deserted island without any adults. At first, the boys try to create a system of … Read more
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley has been banned and challenged multiple times since its publication in 1932. The book has faced censorship in countries like Ireland, India, and parts of the United States. Critics of the novel have objected to its portrayal of sexuality, drug use, and what was seen as anti-religious content. In … Read more
Ulysses by James Joyce is one of the most banned and controversial books in literary history. It was first published in 1922, but long before that, excerpts of the novel had already caused outrage. In 1918, chapters from Ulysses began appearing in the American magazine The Little Review. These installments sparked legal trouble due to … Read more