The theme for Banned Books Week 2023 is "Let Freedom Read." 

ALA documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, the most challenged and reasons cited for censoring the books are listed below.

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
   Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content; claims that it is sexually explicit.
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson 
   Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content; claims that it is sexually explicit.
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
   Reasons: Depictions of sexual abuse; Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) content.
4. Flamer by Mike Curato
   Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content; claims that it is sexually explicit.
5. Looking for Alaska by John Green 
   Reasons: Claims that it is sexually explicit; LGBTQIA+ content.
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 
   Reasons: Claims that it is sexually explicit; LGBTQIA+ content; depiction of sexual abuse; drugs; profanity.
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
   Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content; claims that it is sexually explicit.
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 
   Reasons: Claims that it is sexually explicit; profanity.
9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez 
   Reason: Claims that it is sexually explicit.
10. A Court of Mist and Fury (tie) by Sarah J. Maas 
    Reason: Claims that it is sexually explicit.

Crank (tie) by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Claims that it is sexually explicit; drugs.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (tie) by Jesse Andrews
Reasons: Claims that it is sexually explicit; profanity.

This Book is Gay (tie) by Juno Dawson
Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content; sex education; claims that it is sexually explicit.