America is discarding its timeless treasures

Dangerous Literature: America's Controversial Reads

United States Bids Adieu to Timeless Icons, Altering Its Cultural Landscape

Stepping into the Fray By James R. Johnson LinkedIn Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Copy Link America, 2025: Books are under fire in some states, with a growing list of titles deemed too controversial for classrooms and even public libraries. But what is it that's stirring up controversy in these pages?

In the USA of 2025, under President Trump, books that enlighten, inspire, and provoke thought are being suppressed under the guise of being too inappropriate for children. Threatening hefty fines, these books often tackle important subjects such as race, LGBTQ+ identities, and social justice. The Authors Guild and PEN America have documented over 10,000 cases in 29 states and 220 districts, with Florida and Iowa leading the charge with the most bans. The books most frequently targeted tell stories of black people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those addressing racism, sexuality, gender roles, and the nation's history.

Echoes of the Past In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," author Daniel Kehlmann, who lives in Berlin and New York, says that "fascism" is no longer an exaggerated term for the United States under Trump. He explains, "Life in America has always been asymmetrical: If you were black, you lived in a police state where you were constantly afraid of being shot if the police stopped your car. If you were white, you didn't have this problem." Now, according to Kehlmann, people from South America are being hunted with a deep racist energy.

Organizations like PEN America and the American Library Association are fighting back against these book bans, sometimes succeeding in restoring access to the banned material. Here are some of the titles currently on the list:

The Handmaid's Tale - The Testimony of a Handmaid

Originally published in 1985, Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel plays out in a near-future America where radioactive, chemical, and bacterial contamination has led to widespread infertility. During a coup by a Christian-fundamentalist group, the President and all members of Congress are murdered, and the constitution is suspended. Chaos ensues, with the army declaring a state of emergency, newspapers censored, roadblocks set up, and a theocratic dictatorship established. The role of women is severely restricted, and their primary function is to bear children.

The book is noted for its evocative storytelling from the perspective of a Handmaid, one of the few remaining fertile women in the new society.

Animal Farm - Farm of the Animals

Originally published in 1945, George Orwell's fable follows a rebellion of animals on a neglectful British farm taken over by their human owner. The animals, led by pigs, initially gain freedom and prosperity but soon establish a dictatorship that is even more oppressive than the one they overthrew.

The story serves as an allegory of the history of the Soviet Union but can be applied to the history since 1945 all too clearly. Interestingly, during the GDR era, the book was banned and its possession could have criminal consequences.

1984

Also by George Orwell, "1984" is a dystopian novel set in the year 1984 in a surveillance state. Its titular year refers to the year 1948, a future that was not so far off at the time the book was written. With a totalitarian government controlling every aspect of citizens' lives, the story follows a man who seeks to protect his personal freedom and dig up the truth about his past.

The Diaries of Anne Frank

Originally published in Dutch in 1947, Anne Frank's poignant diary chronicles her experiences living in hiding with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The diary became a bestseller and has inspired numerous adaptations for stage and screen. In 2009, it was included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire

Suzanne Collins' post-apocalyptic trilogy is a staple of young-adult literature, with its first three books selling over 100 million copies worldwide. The series is told entirely in the present tense, providing a first-person perspective on the story. Its intense violence and themes of rebellion and struggle have attracted criticism from some, but its popularity remains undiminished. In 2020, Collins released a prequel titled "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," with a second prequel following in 2025.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Who Destroys the Mockingbird

Harper Lee's classic novel, published in 1960, offers a coming-of-age story against the backdrop of racism and prejudice in the American South during the Great Depression. Scout Finch, the novel's protagonist, learns difficult lessons about the world as she witnesses her father defend a black man falsely accused of rape.

Nineteen Minutes

In Jodi Picoult's novel "Nineteen Minutes," high school students in small-town America become the victims of a mass shooting. The story explores the motivations and backgrounds of individuals involved in the tragedy and the desperate search for justice.

As America grapples with ongoing debates about appropriate content for students, these and other books continue to be targeted for banning due to reasons such as sexual content, violence, and mature themes. With organizations such as PEN America and the American Library Association fighting against these restrictions, discussion about the role of literature in society continues to be a crucial and timely topic.

International classics like 'The Handmaid's Tale', 'Animal Farm', '1984', and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' have been banned in certain US states, as authorities deem them inappropriate for children due to their exploration of controversial themes.
In the lifestyle section, 'The Diaries of Anne Frank' is a general-news bestseller that recounts the experiences of a Jewish girl hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
'The Hunger Games' and 'Nineteen Minutes', found in the genres of education-and-self-development and entertainment, respectively, continue to spark disputes over appropriate content in schools due to their depictions of violence and mature themes.