According to a recent report by the American Library Association (ALA), last year, book bans and attempts of book bans spiked in the U.S., reaching record levels. The ALA revealed that 4,240 books in school and public libraries were targeted in 2023, a significant increase from the previous record of 2,571 books in 2022, marking the highest number recorded by the association in over two decades. Notably, 47% of the challenged books centered on LGBTQ and racial themes. While the total number of individual challenges decreased slightly to 1,247, efforts to censor numerous books concurrently surged in states like Florida and Texas, driven by conservative groups like Moms for Liberty and websites such as booklooks.org and ratedbooks.org. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, emphasized that every attempt to ban a book undermines the fundamental right to choose and access diverse literature, hindering the voices of marginalized communities. She expressed particular concern over the escalating challenges in public libraries, which now account for 40% of all reported incidents, a significant increase from the previous year. In the upcoming month, the ALA will unveil its annual compilation of the most frequently challenged books. Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir “Gender Queer” has held the top spot for two consecutive years, accompanied by other controversial titles such as Jonathan Evison’s “Lawn Boy,” Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.” #Queer Up The USA View