BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Free Readings of Challenged Books
Banned Books Week 2025 will be held October 5th - 11th
Performance Schedule Coming soon!
Performance Schedule Coming soon!
BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK is a 60-minute program of readings of short excerpts from the top ten most frequently challenged books of 2023, accompanied by background on each book, including the reasons for their challenges. The readings are followed by an audience discussion. The 2024 data reported to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. Parents only accounted for 16% of demands to censor books, while 5% of challenges were brought by individual library users. The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books. The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice. Every year since 1982, the American Library Association has released a list of the top ten most frequently challenged books as reported to their Office of Intellectual Freedom. BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK features those books, celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the first amendment. As we begin preparations for Banned Books Week 2024, OPC wishes to reiterate that this work is about anti-censorship & defending the first amendment, which states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This work is rooted in book bans, and extends to any unconstitutional efforts to abridge the freedom of speech, including banning and censoring social media platforms and demonstrations of political speech. 
The BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK script is adapted by Katy Nielsen (pictured) who has been producing this program in association with City Lit Theater Company for 18 years.
|
Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2024:See the Top 10 List HERE
1. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Number of challenges: 39 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit 2. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Number of challenges: 38 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit 3/4. (TIE) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Number of challenges: 35 Challenged for: depiction of sexual assault, depiction of incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content 3/4. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Number of challenges: 35 Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual assault, depiction of drug use, profanity 5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins Number of challenges: 33 Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicitFlamer by Mike Curato Number of challenges: 67 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit 6/7. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green Number of challenges: 30 Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit 6/7. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Number of challenges: 30 Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity 8/9. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins Number of challenges: 28 Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of drug use 8/9. Sold by Patricia McCormick Number of challenges: 28 Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, depiction of sexual assault 10. Flamer by Mike Curato Number of challenges: 27 Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit |
Books on the Chopping Block 2024
|
Banned Books Week will take place from September 12th - 29th, 2024
Since 2006, our core members have worked closely with Chicago's City Lit Theater to produce their annual Books on the Chopping Block program in celebration of Banned Books Week! The American Library Association released the list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in the United States, and we worked with our talented performers to bring these books to life! See the 2023 Top 10 List HERE Watch The Full Program HERE Watch the American Library Association's "Live" video teaser for the 2020 event HERE |
|