Marjory Wentworth, a best-selling author, has written books on topics deemed "ban-able," which is one of the reasons she speaks up when it comes to censorship and free speech.
"The Supreme Court decided decades ago that the freedom to read what you want is equated with free speech," said Wentworth, director of Wittenberg's Writing Center and Oral Communication Program. "The reason that free speech is part of the First Amendment; you can't have a democracy without it."
October 4-10 is Banned Book Week, which celebrates the freedom to read and highlighting certain censorship issues. The theme is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read."
This year, this week is especially important as the U.S., which had 4,235 books challenged at the end of 2025. Significantly, that is the second highest on record, just short of 2023 – 4,240.
According to the American Library Association (ALA), almost 92% of the reported library censorship attempts in 2025 were initiated by pressure groups and government officials, not parents or teachers.
The ALA is partnering with bookstores and book publishers to host “Let Freedom Read Day on Oct. 10, 2026,” helping to encourage direct action against censorship. The ALA is providing bookmarks, posters, and educational materials to help celebrate and talk about “banned books.”
Penguin Random House is celebrating Banned Book Week with the Banned Wagon – a mobile giveaway truck delivering free copies of banned and challenged books to libraries, bookstores, and communities.
After speaking with some Wittenberg English professors about this week, asking them their thoughts and opinions, here is their list of the top 11 most challenged books:
"Sold" by Patricia McCormick
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
"Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe
"Empire of Storms" by Sarah J. Maas
"Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo
"Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins
"A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas
"A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess
"Identical" by Ellen Hopkins
"Looking for Alaska" by John Green
"Storm and Fury" by Jennifer L. Armentrout
