Staff Favorites from the ALA Challenged Books ListLike this list

13 items

• The Handmaid's Tale

  Atwood, Margaret, 1939-

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  One of my favorite dystopian novels, this book portrays a future in which women have lost their right to independence. This chilling story with a wide cultural impact is must-read feminist fiction. Suggested by Brenna.

• And Tango Makes Three

  Richardson, Justin, 1963-

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  Inspired by actual events at New York's Central Park Zoo, this heartwarming tale of two male penguins raising a baby penguin is beautifully told and lovingly illustrated. I love the story itself, and its gentle, inclusive message. Suggested by Mary.

• Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

  a Novel

  Andrews, Jesse,

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  Forced by his mother to spend time with Rachel (the dying girl), Greg hilariously and profanely recounts his time with her and all that he would rather be doing. Instead of offering trite lessons on embracing life because our days are finite,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Drama

  Telgemeier, Raina,

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  Callie rides an emotional roller coaster while serving on the stage crew for a middle school production of Moon over Mississippi as various relationships start and end, and others never quite get going. I loved this portrayal of the social…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Speak

  Anderson, Laurie Halse,

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  Written more than two decades ago, this book follows Melinda Sordino after she is sexually assaulted during her first year of high school. Through uncomfortable yet candid stories like this one, Laurie Halse Anderson has consistently advocated for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Hate U Give

  Thomas, Angie,

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  By age 16, Starr Carter has witnessed the senseless gunshot deaths of two childhood friends. Angie Thomas’s first novel is a terrific, heartbreakingly moving story with memorable characters and a timely theme. I was totally engaged from beginning to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• This Day in June

  Pitman, Gayle E.

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  Rhyming couplets and brilliant colors portray a Pride Parade featuring all kinds of participants. Reading it is a celebration! Suggested by Mary.

• Fun Home

  a Family Tragicomic

  Bechdel, Alison, 1960-

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  This brilliant adult graphic memoir is a heartfelt exploration of Bechdel's relationship with her closeted father and her own coming of age. Both funny and vulnerable, her story somehow manages to convey both empathy and anger. Oh, and it also made…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Adventures of Captain Underpants

  An Epic Novel

  Pilkey, Dav, 1966-

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  Pilkey's signature irreverent sense of humor is a siren's song for nearly all children, but my favorite thing about it is that it not only welcomes, but also celebrates, creative kids who are often overlooked or deemed troublemakers. The good…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Two Boys Kissing

  Levithan, David,

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  This book weaves together events that occur in the lives of several gay teens while two former lovers attempt to break the world's record for the longest kiss. The book gives us some insight of what means to be a gay teen, though it never has the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• This One Summer

  Tamaki, Mariko,

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  This is a slice of life of lazy summer days, but it gradually unfolds into a complex narrative of a fragile family trying to overcome a loss and Rose's ambivalence toward growing up. The artwork is visually stunning. The muted tones of the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Prince & Knight

  Haack, Daniel,

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  An utterly charming rhyming fairy tale wherein a prince and a knight fall in love after defeating a dragon together. Anyone in a long-term relationship knows how challenging it can be to work on a treacherous project with your partner! THAT'S true…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Catcher in the Rye

  Salinger, J. D. (Jerome David), 1919-2010

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  Written in 1951, this novel by J.D. Salinger is ground zero for teenage malaise. Holden Caufield is more icon than character now, 70 some years after first appearing in print, but he's also still raw and authentic, and the narrative remains one of…Read moreRead more of this annotation