Banned and Challenged BooksLike this list

In celebration of Freedom to Read Week in Canada (February 22–28, 2026), explore a selection of books that have been banned and/or challenged for a wide range of reasons. Many readers are familiar with challenged classics such as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, 1984 by George Orwell, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison—titles that have faced repeated attempts at restriction over the years. This list, however, turns to some more surprising choices, both for adults and young readers. Banned books are those that are prohibited by law or for which free access is otherwise restricted. LeVar Burton’s advice to children about banned books applies just as well to adults: “Read the books they don’t want you to. That’s where the good stuff is.” To learn more about Freedom to Read Week and the importance of intellectual freedom, visit the Freedom to Read website: https://www.freedomtoread.ca/

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