Banned/Challenged Graphic NovelsLike this list

37 items

• This One Summer

  Tamaki, Mariko

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  This graphic novel made it to the ALA’s annual Top Ten Challenged books list in 2016 due to the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, drug use, and profanity and was subject to a heavily biased media attack in Seminole county, Florida resulting in its…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Betty

  the Helen Betty Osborne Story

  Robertson, David, 1977-

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  After Robertson discovered his work, among other indigenous works, was on the Edmonton Public School district's "not-recommended reading" website, he formally questioned them. The school announced they would be revamping their recommended reading…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Fun Home

  a Family Tragicomic

  Bechdel, Alison, 1960-

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  Challenged in Marshall, MO in 2006 because of alleged pornographic content. Fun Home is rich in literary references and has won the GLAAD award, Lambda award, Stonewall Award, and Eisner Award. The challenge was not upheld and the novels were…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Pride of Baghdad

  Vaughan, Brian K.

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  Vaughn, who authored several award-winning series on this list, created this story which follows a pride of lions as they escape a zoo in Baghdad after American bombing of the city, and struggle to survive obliterated city . Themes include the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Gender Queer

  a Memoir

  Kobabe, Maia,

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  This graphic novel has received multiple challenges from Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida due to the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, and imagery taken out of context. Most of these bans have not been upheld due to the novels literary worth. This…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Blankets

  a Graphic Novel

  Thompson, Craig, 1975-

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  Challenged in Marshall, MO in 2006 for obscenity but was found not to meet the definition of obscenity as it confronts many aspects of coming of age.

• The Color of Earth

  Kim, Tong-hwa, 1950-

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  A beautifully rich coming of age story challenged for nudity, sexual content, and suitability of age. This graphic novel reached the ALA’s Top Ten Most Challenged Books of Books list, as well as the YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens list in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Saga. Volume One

  Vaughan, Brian K.

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  Saga reached the 6th spot for the ALA’s Top Ten List of Frequently Challenged Books in 2014 due to the challenge from an Oregon Public Library as well as the exclusion from the Apple App Store for containing “sexually explicit content” and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• My Brother's Husband. Volume 1

  Tagame, Gengoroh, 1964-

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  This story is a wonderful entry point to LGBTQ+ content, especially for those who are unfamiliar, and has been challenged for that very reason.

• Tank Girl. Action Alley

  Martin, Alan C.,

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  In the adventures of Tank Girl we are faced with a dark humored, anti-authority, punk girl and her mutant kangaroo in a post-apocalyptic world. In 2009 this novel was challenged by a librarian at the Hammond Public Library in Indiana for its…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Maus

  a Survivor's Tale

  Spiegelman, Art,

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  This is the story of a son’s quest to learn more about his father's history as a Polish Jew that survived the Holocaust. This novel was challenged for being “anti-ethnic” and “unsuitable for young readers” at the Pasadena Public Library, California,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Persepolis

  Satrapi, Marjane, 1969-

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  This Graphic Memoir depicts growing up during the Iranian revolution. In March 2013 the Chicago Public School administrators pulled the book from shelves for “graphic language and images not appropriate for general use.” But later decided it was…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bone. Vol. 1, Out From Boneville

  Smith, Jeff, 1960 February 27-

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  This is one of the most challenged series to date. From New Jersey to Texas schools have faced challenges for this novel because it depicts smoking and drinking. Most schools have decided to return this series to the shelves.

• Essex County

  Lemire, Jeff

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  A collection of 3 graphic short stories set in Essex, Ontario challenged in 2011, due to the explicit language, and was awarded the Alex Award, Doug Wright Award, and the Joe Shuster Award.

• Drama

  Telgemeier, Raina,

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  This graphic novel centers around the trials and tribulations of a middle school drama club. In a Mount Pleasant Elementary school in Texas this book was challenged due to the inclusion of two gay characters. In TeenReads Telgmeier said she and her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Go With the Flow

  Williams, Lily,

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  This book was banned in Keller, Texas in 2021, just after its release in 2020. This book examines the changes that happen to girls in puberty.

• Batman

  the Killing Joke

  Moore, Alan, 1953-

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  In 2013 this comic was challenged in Columbus, OH requesting that the public library remove this novel due to the depictions of rape and violence. This violent torture of Jim and Barbara Gordon significantly impacts the universe's continuity and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

  a Graphic Novel

  Terciero, Rey,

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  This story is a modern take on Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. This graphic novel was challenged in 2021 at the Lincoln Parish Library in Louisiana along with 13 other books. The ban was not upheld and the books were returned to the children's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Anne Frank's Diary

  the Graphic Adaptation

  Folman, Ari,

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  This novel was first challenged by a parent in the Northwood School District claiming that the content was “inappropriate” for any age level at school. Despite this protest, the book remains on the shelves at the school in the YA section.

• Assassination Classroom, Volume 1

  Matsui, Yusei

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  This Manga series was features an octopus-like teacher who must be killed in order to save the world, and was challenged by a parent of Markham Intermediate schools in New York. After examination the school decided to remove this series from their…Read moreRead more of this annotation