Children's & Young Adult Collection

Are these books really banned?

Yes, and no. 

The United States as a country does not ban books. You cannot get arrested or fined for reading or buying any books. 

However, some people do not want others to read certain books, so they try to have them removed from schools or libraries, to true to keep people from reading them. 

All the books listed here have been challenged or removed from a school or library in the United States, some within the last couple years. 

Per Public Act 103-0100, Illinois libraries do not restrict their users in what they can or cannot read. Our goal is to provide a wide variety of materials for all our readers to use and enjoy. 

People have the right to determine what they (or their minor children) may or may not read. They do NOT have the right to determine what other people (or their minor children) may or may not read. When people get those two things confused, that is when book challenges or even book banning happens.