Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Due to it’s discussion of teen suicide, drug use and sexually explicit content, Thirteen Reasons Why earned the title of #1 Most Challenged Book of 2017 from the American Library Association. Following Clay Jenson as he explores the suicide tapes of his classmate Hannah Baker, Thirteen Reasons Why discusses the people, places and things that led Baker to suicide. One of the instances includes a boy named Bryce Walker who sexually assaults Baker at a party. The scene and a few others have been described as “pornographic” by critics of the book. Beyond it’s explicit depictions, the book has also been condemned for “[glorifying] teen suicide” and making suicide a “tool for revenge.”
"This novel shares a powerful message about the impact that one person may have on another. Far from glorifying suicide, the author shows how systems failed the main character as she shares the various reasons why she ended her life. From a student’s perspective, this novel makes you think twice about how you treat others because you never know what they might be going through at that moment."
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
Banned for profanity and discussions of physical and sexual abuse, Glass Castle landed itself as #9 of the American Library Association’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books List in 2012. The memoir details Jeannette Walls’ troubled childhood, from unstable living conditions to a volatile family life. Although Walls eventually manages to provide herself and her siblings with stable and successful lives, she finds her parents are still struggling. After the death of her father, Walls reconciles with her family. The book was suspended in a Pennsylvania high school for being “racist and sexually explicit“. Despite being challenged in a variety of other districts, many have elected to keep Glass Castle on the shelves according to an article from Marshall University Libraries.
"This memoir gives readers a glimpse of the author’s family life. Growing up in severe poverty, she and her siblings faced challenges that seemed insurmountable. While many other stories like this end in tragedy, the author’s resilience allows her to move beyond her traumatic childhood. This book is a classic example of giving students insight to a life that may be unlike their own."
