FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Oct. 6, 2025

Banned Books Week 2025: Fight Censorship in Your Community

SAN DIEGO – California is not immune to censorship. According to the American Library Association, 26 challenges were made to 81 unique book titles in California in 2024. 

From Oct. 5 through 11, Library Foundation SD will observe Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week began in 1982 and is spearheaded by the ALA. Libraries, schools and bookstores across the U.S. participate.

“It is crucial to defend the right to read and fight against book bans. That fight starts in your local communities,” said Patrick Stewart, CEO of Library Foundation SD. “Banned Books Week brings attention to these issues and gives anyone the opportunity to resist censorship.”

Book bans are often the result of complaints from well-organized groups, school boards and administrators. Many bans target books with characters and themes representing communities of color or the LGBTQIA+ community. According to the ALA, the top three most challenged books in the U.S. all contain content relating to one of these themes:

  1. “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson

  2. “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe

  3. (TIE) “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison 

  4. (TIE) “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky

Opposition occurs locally. In 2023, two protesters checked out every book in the Rancho Peñasquitos Library’s Pride display and did not return them. That same year, the Escondido Union School District performed an audit of its libraries, resulting in a ban on two books. 

Alongside censorship attempts on books representing marginalized communities, prominent titles for younger audiences are being challenged or outright banned. This includes:

  • “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

  • “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White

  • “The Adventures of Captain Underpants” by Dave Pilkey

Book bans target free speech, the cornerstone of democracy. They create a roadblock to new perspectives and free thought. 

Support local libraries, defend your right to read and attend Banned Books Week events this October. View the San Diego Public Library Banned Books Week events here.


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About Library Foundation SD

Library Foundation SD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supporting and advocating for the San Diego Public Library system. The Library Foundation SD helps fund essential programs and strengthens public libraries through philanthropy, advocacy and partnerships. To learn more about the foundation’s impact, visit libraryfoundationsd.org.