Banned Books Week: Nonfiction Books
Posted on September 22, 2022
by Brooke C
Banned Books Week is a week to celebrate the freedom to read by highlighting books that have been challenged or banned. This blog highlights 5 nonfiction books that have frequently been challenged or banned. Very often, a person reads nonfiction to consider perspectives that are different from their own. I encourage you to read one or all of the books below and do just that!
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
eBook | eAudiobook | Spoken CD | Large Print
Jeanette Walls memoir paints a picture of her childhood growing up in an impoverished dysfunctional family. It has been challenged, especially in high schools, for portrayals of alcoholism, addiction, bullying, and abuse, and use of explicit language.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
eBook | eAudiobook | Spoken CD
This autobiography covers her childhood years and explores subjects such as racism, identity, rape, and literacy. Angelou is one of the most banned authors in U.S. history, and this book has been challenged for vulgar language, sexual explicitness, racism, and portrayals of rape.
Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Spoken CD | Large Print | hoopla
In this book, Ehrenreich investigates the lives of unskilled workers and how government policy impacts the working poor. This book has been challenged for drugs, offensive language, anti-religious, and biased portrayal of capitalism.
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
Beyond Magenta is a series of interviews with six transgender or gender-neutral teenagers. It has been banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and being sexually explicit.
A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer
Pelzer’s childhood is one of the worst child abuse cases in the history of the state of California. In this book he tells his story of survival. This book has been challenged for graphic depictions of child abuse.
Did you like this blog post? Keep up to date with all of our posts by subscribing to the Library’s newsletters!
Keep your reading list updated with our book lists. Our staff love to read and they’ll give you the scoop on new tv-series inspired titles, hobbies, educational resources, pop culture, current events, and more!
Looking for more great titles? Get personalized recommendations from our librarians with this simple form.
