Looking for an awesome collection of the best banned YA books to celebrate Banned Books Week? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger about issue-driven YA fiction, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most impactful YA novels that have been banned for reasons such as profanity, sexual content, or themes of suicide and mental illness.
Censorship of YA novels is dumb—especially in the digital age. The only good thing to come from banning books from teenagers is that it drives up their popularity. What’s better than forbidden fruit, right? If it’s banned, it must be good. For example, when you look at the 10 Literary Classics That Have Been Banned, you’ll see titles that have become some of our literary staples today, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen of my favorite banned YA books in the roundup below. Read them. Discuss them. Start a book club with your parents (or teens) and friends and talk about them.
The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess
Banned Reasons
Depiction of sexual assault
What it’s about
Two best friends hide dangerous secrets—one about sexual assault and self-harm (cutting), and the other unknowingly walking into the predator’s trap.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Sometimes my inside hurts so bad that I need to make the outside hurt worse so the inside will stop.” ― Khristina Chess from The Cutting Edge of Friendship
Absolutely gripping! For readers drawn to the emotional and physical scars of characters like those in Girl in Pieces, The Cutting Edge of Friendship is for you. This realistic novel explores the wounds of self-harm, shame, and redemption following a sexual assault. Sadie’s resilience is fierce and unforgettable, and the book’s raw, unfiltered pain hits hard. This story doesn’t shy away from the truth—it reveals, with painful honesty, how self-harm can become a desperate response to trauma.
From the very first page, it’s clear that although Sadie and Elana have always shared everything, now they’re keeping secrets that could destroy them. On the night of the fireworks, something terrible happened to Sadie—something she can’t even name. Instead, she turns to cutting, the only way she knows to cope.
But Elana has secrets too. She’s been texting Hunter, making plans to meet in secret, and never questioning why he insists on hiding their relationship.
As their lives spiral deeper into danger, Sadie must find the strength to fight back—not just for herself, but for Elana—before a predator can strike again.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant YA book about sexual assault, self-harm, and the trust involved in sharing our truest selves. It’s definitely worth a look, especially if you’re looking for banned YA books.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Banned Reasons
Inclusion of rape and profanity, biased against male students, a political viewpoint
What it’s about
A teen struggles to reclaim her voice and her life after being raped at a high school party.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson from Speak
Just before beginning high school, Melinda Sordino is raped at a party, and as a result of this experience, she can’t speak. Everyone hates her at school. Her parents aren’t very supportive. She feels alone, depressed, powerless, and unsafe everywhere except in art class.
When her friend starts a relationship with her rapist, Melinda speaks.
This is an important YA book about rape that shows how victims feel silenced by their assailant and the culture around them and how speaking out can liberate.
If you’re looking for one of the best banned YA books, Speak belongs in your downloads list. In fact, Laurie Halse Anderson is an author listed on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited, and plenty of her content is also ban-worthy. Check it out!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Banned Reasons
Gang violence, drug references, profanity, anti-police messages
What it’s about
A young girl witnesses the police shooting of her friend, and she must find the courage to speak out.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?” ― Angie Thomas, quote from The Hate U Give
I saw this book everywhere and picked it up, wondering what all the fuss is about. Wow. I couldn't put it down. Starr is an amazing character in a perfectly-crafted situation that screams with tension, suspense, and emotion. Her emotions are raw and authentic. You can feel her little-girl timidity in the grand jury testimony and her grief and rage in the scene with Hailey. Her world is vivid and real. The pain of her dual life and the conflict it causes her is palatable. I loved this book. I love this girl. I want to see her again, doing more, making a difference. She's made me believe in her.
And after reading this one, I wanted to read everything Angie Thomas has written and also added her to my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s so amazing! If you’re looking for more profanity and offensive language (and great stories and characters), she writes some of the best banned YA books, and you should read them.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Banned Reasons
Gang violence, smoking, profanity
What It’s About
A classic coming-of-age novel about brothers and friends.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“You know a guy a longtime, and I mean really know him, you don't get used to the idea that he's dead just overnight.” ― S.E. Hinton, quote from The Outsiders
Siblings from the Greasers rumble with rivals from the Socs, and violence ultimately escalates into death of one of the boys. Because the novel portrays gang violence, this classic YA book about siblings was controversial at the time of its publication in 1967 and is still banned in some schools today.
There’s a lot going on in this book, which is why it continues to resonate with readers today. The main character is a fourteen-year-old boy named Ponyboy; he looks like a James Dean sort with the hair and clothes but with a smart, bookish personality. From a sibling relationship perspective, Ponyboy and his older brother, Darry, have an unusually close bond. Darry is raising Ponyboy because their parents are dead. Ponyboy has another brother, Sodapop, who he shares a physical resemblance. These relationships between the three siblings is an important theme in the novel.
The Outsiders is a must-read, all-time-great in a list of YA books with teen boys as protagonists who smoke and say bad words.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Banned Reasons
Suicide & mental health issues
What it’s about
A girl commits suicide and leaves a series of tapes that reveal the bullying that ultimately led her to kill herself.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything… affects everything.” ― Jay Asher from Thirteen Reasons Why
Hannah Baker committed suicide, and she left behind 13 tapes explaining why she did it.
When Clay receives these tapes, he goes on a journey to understand why she did it. It’s a terrible story involving crimes, and with every tape, there is suspense in wondering how Clay contributed to this girl’s death.
Clay is a nice guy. He has a thing for Hannah. It doesn’t seem he could have anything to do with it, but this story shows how you often don’t know what another person is going through.
Jay Asher’s popular novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, is one of the best YA books about suicide, and it’s one of the most popular YA books about bullying. It became a super-popular series on Netflix; there’s a reason it has become a #1 New York Times and International Bestseller. Thirteen Reasons Why definitely belongs on the list of best banned YA books to read.
Straight A’s by Khristina Chess
Banned Reasons
Suicide & mental health issues
What it’s about
A girl commits suicide and leaves a series of tapes that reveal the bullying that ultimately led her to kill herself.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I'm going to do it. November 4 is the last day of the grading period, and if I don't make perfect straight A’s, it's all over.“ ― Khristina Chess, quote from Straight A’s
Kim was supposed to be valedictorian. The top of her class. The girl with a future.
Then her parents split, and everything unraveled. She’s caught in the crossfire—bouncing between households, shouldering their meltdowns, and suffocating under expectations she can no longer meet.
Now she has a plan: she’s going to end it.
The semester is slipping through her fingers. A single B in calculus could shatter everything—scholarships, dreams, escape. And if there’s no escape, what’s left?
But then she meets him. The new guy in Writer’s Club. A distraction she didn’t expect. A reason to hold on.
Raw, unflinching, and ultimately hopeful, Straight A’s is an unforgettable YA novel about depression, pressure, divorce, and the invisible weight teenagers carry. If you’ve ever searched for a story that truly understands the darkness—and dares to find light—this is it.
For more YA books about suicide, you can also check out Which Frank YA Books about Suicide You Should Read Next.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Banned Reasons
Sexual content & profanity
What it’s about
A sweet and heartbreaking story of first love that won’t disappoint.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I just can’t believe that life would give us to each other,” he said, “and then take it back.”
“I can,” she said. “Life’s a bastard.” ― Rainbow Rowell from Eleanor and Park
It's been a long time since I've encountered a novel that I literally couldn't put down. Eleanor & Park was one of those books. Enchanting. I loved every minute. I sat on the porch, on the couch, on the floor by the window... and devoured this book. It was a wonderful reading experience about first love. Sweet and heartbreaking and everything I wanted. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, romantic young love story.
The story unfolds from alternating points of view, both Eleanor and Park, as they fall in love over the course of one year. The dialog is witty, snappy, and fun.
As a super-dreamy YA book about about dating and intimacy, it will give you all the feels.
Offensive language? I don’t even know what they’re talking about. :-)
The Poet X by Elizabeth Avecedo
Banned Reasons
Profanity & anti-Christian content
What It’s About
A powerful story about a mother-daughter relationship in which the Afro-Latina heroine uses poetry to find her way.
Why I Love It - Review
“And isn't that what a poem is? A lantern glowing in the dark.” ― Elizabeth Acevedo, quote from The Poet X
What a surprising and lyrical story!
I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, which is told entirely in verse, but I couldn’t put it down. Xiaomara is a young girl whose traditional Catholic mother prohibits her from doing anything. Xiomara is a good and dutiful daughter. But she wants to participate in the poetry group.
The mother-daughter relationship was well-developed, and there was a powerful moment when the mother did something truly awful. Moments like those between mothers and daughters are the ones that can define the relationship forever. I liked the choices Xiaomara made in response to that. In fact, all of the primary and secondary characters played important roles in her journey. I loved her father, the teacher, the priest; it was refreshing to see so many supportive adults in a young person’s life in a YA novel.
This award-winning banned YA book definitely deserves all the accolades, hype, and great reviews it has received and belongs on the list of the best YA book recommendations for all ages. Not banned.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Banned Reasons
Suicide & mental health issues
What It’s About
In their shared grief and sadness, a boy and a girl form an unlikely relationship.
Why I Love It - Review
“You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.” ― Jennifer Niven from All the Bright Places
Theodore Finch has more than a touch of the blues.
Violet Markey wants to escape the grief that lives in her hometown where her sister recently died.
Violet and Theodore are an unlikely couple, paired together on a school project to explore the natural wonders of their state. At first, Theodore seems to be the one helping Violet with her sadness, but Violet doesn’t have any understanding about the depth of Theodore’s despair. Along their journey, they make several unexpected discoveries about one another.
After re-reading this book a second time, I enjoyed it every bit as much as the the first. I liked the writing, the dual character viewpoints, the story, the language, and the symbolism.
Blue is a primary color.
This is a tragic YA book about star-crossed lovers that stayed with me for a long time and has no business on a banned YA book list. After re-reading this book a second time, I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first. I liked the writing, the dual character viewpoints, and the story. I felt that Jennifer Niven handled a difficult subject many teens face with personal honesty and resonance, and that’s all the more reason why you should read it.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Banned Reasons
Racist language & profanity
What it’s about
A funny and inspiring coming-of-age story about a courageous boy who dares to leave the reservation, his school, and his best friend to seek a different life.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“We all have to find our own ways to say good-bye.” ― Sherman Alexie, quote from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Junior Spirit is a courageous boy who dares to leave the reservation, his school, and his best friend to seek a different life. His story is funny, heartbreaking, inspiring, and brave. I loved his quirky voice, his cartoons, and I cheered so hard for him in his basketball game.
This novel highlights the contrast between extreme poverty and wealth, as well as racial differences. These themes are handled with humor and sensitivity.
The writing in this book is delightful. It’s one of the best banned YA books in the list, and laughter is why you should read it.
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Banned reasons
Sexual content & profanity
What It’s About
A quirky and hilarious amateur filmmaker sets out with his friend to make a movie about a dying girl—which fails spectacularly.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“We used to be pretty good friends, but fourteen-year-old girls are psychotic.” ― Jesse Andrews from Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
How can a book about a teenage girl dying from leukemia be so funny?
Greg and Earl are weird, unlikely friends and amateur filmmakers who manage to fly below the radar at school and enjoy their private world. Then Greg’s mom makes him reach out to Rachel, a childhood friend who has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs a friend.
Earl turns out to be the more compassionate of the pair, and the two of them set out to make a movie about Rachel. Their brilliant idea fails in execution and is the Worst Film Ever Made.
This fun, funny, and all-around wonderful banned YA book is full of crude humor, heart, honesty, and surprises as Greg learns things about his long-time friend Earl, as well as himself, through this journey with the dying girl, Rachel. I can’t say enough good about it. Buy it. Read it. Laugh.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Banned reasons
Sexual content & profanity
What It’s About
A quiet boy at boarding school meets a charismatic girl, then loses her.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“There comes a time when we realize that our parents cannot save themselves or save us, that everyone who wades through time eventually gets dragged out to sea by the undertow-that, in short, we are all going.” ― John Green, quote from Looking for Alaska
A quiet boy at boarding school meets a charismatic girl, then loses her.
Miles Halter goes away to boarding school, where he makes new friends, takes up drinking and smoking, breaks some rules, and meets a hot girl named Alaska Young. She’s the ringleader of the merry group’s adventures. She’s the one who can get alcohol and cigarettes.
She’s a bit wild.
Then one night while they’re all partying, she receives a phone call and takes off in her car. She never returns.
Other Banned YA Books and Why You Should Read Them
If you are looking for some other great banned YA books to read, check out the Banned & Challenged YA Novels and Best Banned, Censored, and Challenged Books lists on Goodreads, as well as the Frequently Challenged YA Books from the American Library Association. You will find dozens of great choices. And in those lists, be sure to check out 1984 by George Orwell, which is a classic in the book-banning genre.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by category. There’s something for everyone.
Why Books Shouldn’t Be Banned from Teenagers
1. The Digital Age Makes Banning Books Silly
Growing up in the 1980s, my parents had much greater ability to block my reading habits if they wanted. They could have restricted my public library access, and as a teen, I didn’t have money to buy books on my own. There wasn’t an Internet or eBooks. However, they had a ginormous bookshelf of science fiction and horror books that I was free to read. Did I encounter some “adult” themes while I devoured Stephen King novels in middle school? Yes. Was I reading for fun? Yes. Hallelujah!
But today, banning books from teenage readers just seems silly. Most students have smart phones with unlimited access to the Internet and the ability to download and read anything they want. If a school or library decides that Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee should be banned, students can simply download the titles and read or listen to them on their phones. Who can stop this? What is the point of banning these books?
2. Books Are Not Bad
I never want to be afraid to read books—any books, not even books whose content I might disagree with. Words and ideas are information that a thinking person can use to make better decisions. I want to always be free to choose for myself whether or not to read a particular book. Shouldn’t young adults also be able to make up their minds about what to read, particularly 15-18-year-olds who are developing their intellect?
3. Banning Books Doesn’t Erase Teen Problems
Okay, so parents censor the books that their fragile children are reading, and now nothing bad will happen to them, right? Wrong. The bullies are still in their schools, as well as the drugs. Guess what? Girls still get raped at parties, and girls still cut themselves and drink too much, and kids die from driving while under the influence. Removing book about tough topics from school libraries doesn’t stop bad things from happening.
4. It’s about Power, Not Helping
Maybe people who want to censor the reading material of others truly believe their motives are well-intentioned and good. Their concern comes from a well-intentioned place. Maybe. My perception is that those who want to control others, like the book-banners in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, really just want power.
I know what’s best for you.
I know what you can handle (and what you can’t)
I know what you need (and you don’t)
I know what’s right and wrong (and you don’t)
And that’s it. These are my top picks, my reviews, and my reasons why I think censorship is dumb.
Read, read it all! Have an opinion about what you read; it’s called a book review.
Author bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
