19th Annual
BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
September 22-28, 2024
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.
Books on the Chopping Block is our annual 60-minute performance of dramatic readings of short excerpts taken from these books. City Lit has teamed up with the ALA in celebration of Banned Books Week since 2006, performing at special events, libraries and bookstores in and around Chicago...and virtually this year.
City Lit Artistic Director Terry McCabe believes that concert readings of excerpts from challenged books actively celebrate the books most at risk, calling attention to the would-be censor's threat to an educated democracy. “Our focus is literate theatre, so we are naturally concerned by attempts to keep books away from people,” McCabe says. “We are privileged to continue our alliance with the ALA in this important work.”
Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2023:
See the Top 10 List HERE
1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Number of challenges: 106
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Number of challenges: 82
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Number of challenges: 71
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, sexual education, claimed to be sexually explicit
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Number of challenges: 68
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs, profanity
5. Flamer by Mike Curato
Number of challenges: 67
Challenged for: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Number of challenges: 62
Challenged for: rape, incest, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
7/8. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Number of challenges: 56
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
7/8. (TIE) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Number of challenges: 56
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs, rape, LGBTQIA+ content
9. (Let's Talk About it: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Mathew Nolan
Number of challenges: 55
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, sex education, LGBTQIA+ content
10. Sold by Patricia McCormick
Number of challenges: 53
Challenged for: claimed to be sexually explicit, rape
2024 Events Schedule
Thursday, September 12th - 7:00pm - Park Ridge Library
Sunday, September 22nd - 2:00pm - Edgewater CPL Branch
Tuesday, September 24th - 7:00pm - Northbrook Public Library
Wednesday, September 25th - 6:30pm - McHenry Public Library - Via ZOOM!
Thursday, September 26th - 2:00pm - DePaul University Library in Lincoln Park
Saturday, September 27th - Time TBD - Blackstone Library Branch in Hyde Park
If you are a library and would like to schedule a performance, please contact Katy Nielsen at knielsen@citylit.org.
Trailer - Books on the Chopping Block 2021
Full Video of 2021 Books on the Chopping Block
