10/09/2026
As Banned Books Week draws to a close, we’re celebrating the freedom to read.
There’s much debate about banned books. At the BookHouse, we believe in making room for stories and giving readers the freedom to choose what they read.
You’ll often hear “challenged” and “banned” used together. A challenge is an attempt to remove a book or restrict access; a ban means it was removed because of those objections.
Here are four titles at the BookHouse, and when, where, and why they were challenged.
📖 The Great Gatsby · F. Scott Fitzgerald
Our collectible edition has gilded edges. The novel was challenged at Baptist College in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1987 over language and sexual references.
📖 Fahrenheit 451 · Ray Bradbury
A book about burning books was itself challenged. In Conroe, Texas, in 2006, a parent objected to its language, violence, and references he considered contrary to his religious beliefs.
📖 Beloved · Toni Morrison
Challenged in Round Rock, Texas, in 1996 for being too violent. The book was retained on the high school reading list after the challenge.
📖 To Kill a Mockingbird · Harper Lee
Our copy is a corporate gift edition, not sold in stores. The novel was challenged in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1966 over its discussion of r**e. Later challenges have cited racial slurs and language.
Yesterday, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye found a new home. We’ll add more titles throughout October as books leave our shelves and new stories arrive.
Come visit the BookHouse this weekend. Revisit a familiar story—or discover one you haven’t read yet.
Friday & Saturday · 11 AM–7 PM
Sunday · 11 AM–5 PM
Historical challenge information: American Library Association.
