The Most Notorious Challenged and Banned Books in Arizona

Fact Checked by Young Ruth

A large number of young Arizona residents find joy and knowledge in the wide variety of worn book covers across different genres. Reading a good book is truly one of life’s greatest joys.

Regrettably, politicians and school officials have been prohibiting numerous of these novels, leading curious readers to search for these titles on the internet.

To celebrate World Book Day on April 23, yengols.com took a break from covering Arizona sports betting to investigate the most popular banned or challenged books in the state. Using the American Library Association’s list of the top 13 banned and challenged books, we utilized Google Trends to analyze search interest in these books in Arizona. The search spanned from March 8 to April 8, 2024.

1
Best Choice
Caesars Sports
Best Choice
Must be 21+ and present in AZ. T&Cs apply.
2
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in AZ. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional go-bets not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.
3
Must be a new verified Betway customer & present in AZ. 21+. Opt-in may be req'd. Make your first min. deposit of $10+, place a wager up to $250 (with odds of –300 (1.33) or greater (i.e. -300, -150, +150, etc.)) and receive up to $250 as bonus bet funds if the wager loses. Wager must be settled within 7 days from new account opening Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ).
4
Must be 21+ and present in AZ. T&Cs apply.
5
Must be 21+ to participate & present in Arizona. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs Apply.
6
Must be 21+ to participate & present in Arizona. T&Cs apply. Play Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-522-4700
7
8
Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC. Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ to play. T&Cs Apply. In AZ call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342.
9
Must be 21+ to participate & present in Arizona. T&Cs apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP.

The most popular banned books in Arizona.

RankBookAuthorSearch Interest Score
1“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”Stephen Chbosky37
2“Looking for Alaska”John Green22
3“Flamer”Mike Curato18
4“The Bluest Eye”Toni Morrison13
5“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”Sherman Alexie8
6“Crank”Ellen Hopkins6
T7“Lawn Boy”Jonathan Evison4
T7“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”Jesse Andrews4
9“This Book is Gay”Juno Dawson3
10“Out of Darkness”Ashley Hope Perez2

What are the most popular banned books?

The 48th State saw a surge in interest in banning Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” which scored a 37 in search interest. This groundbreaking 1999 novel broke new ground in the young adult literary world by exploring the emotional struggles of a teenage boy named Charlie, addressing themes of sexuality, drug use, sexual assault, and mental health.

In Arizona, “Looking for Alaska” by John Green secured second place with a score of 22, “Flamer” by Mike Curato came in third with 18 points, and Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” landed in fourth with 13 points.

Although locating specific books can be difficult, yengols.com provides a vast amount of information on sports betting. Check out our reviews of all Arizona sports betting apps on our website.

Author

Peterson Christopher

Peterson Christopher brings over seven years of experience in sports and sports betting coverage in Arizona, with previous roles at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. Currently, he is the lead writer at yengols.com.

According to major news sources such as: