# Banned books in Iowa schools

**92** titles reported as banned, removed, or formally challenged by at least one Iowa public-school district. This is a state-aggregated view — the specific district and policy vary per title. Sourced from PEN America's Index of School Book Bans and the American Library Association (ALA) most-challenged list.

**State:** Iowa  ·  **Reported titles:** 92
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/banned-books/iowa
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.
**Primary source — PEN America:** https://pen.org/banned-book-list/
**Primary source — ALA most-challenged:** https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks
**Iowa Department of Education:** https://educate.iowa.gov/

## Books reported as banned or challenged in Iowa schools

- [1984](https://readinglist.school/book/1984) by George Orwell _(1090L · Grades 9–12 · pub 1949)_
- [A Long Walk to Water](https://readinglist.school/book/a-long-walk-to-water) by Linda Sue Park _(720L · Grades 5–8 · pub 2010)_
- [A Separate Peace](https://readinglist.school/book/a-separate-peace) by John Knowles _(1110L · Grades 9–11 · pub 1959)_
- [Ace of Spades](https://readinglist.school/book/ace-of-spades) by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2021)_
- [Animal Farm](https://readinglist.school/book/animal-farm) by George Orwell _(1170L · Grades 7–10 · pub 1945)_
- [Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret](https://readinglist.school/book/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret) by Judy Blume _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1970)_
- [Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe](https://readinglist.school/book/aristotle-and-dante-discover-the-secrets-of-the-universe) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2012)_
- [Bathe the Cat](https://readinglist.school/book/bathe-the-cat) by Alice B. McGinty _(Grades K–1 · pub 2022)_
- [Beloved](https://readinglist.school/book/beloved) by Toni Morrison _(870L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1987)_
- [Black Girl Unlimited](https://readinglist.school/book/black-girl-unlimited-the-remarkable-story-of-a-teenage-wizard) by Echo Brown _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2020)_
- [Blended](https://readinglist.school/book/blended) by Sharon M. Draper _(610L · Grades 3–7 · pub 2018)_
- [Blood Water Paint](https://readinglist.school/book/blood-water-paint) by Joy McCullough _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2018)_
- [Brave New World](https://readinglist.school/book/brave-new-world) by Aldous Huxley _(870L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1932)_
- [City of Bones](https://readinglist.school/book/city-of-bones) by Cassandra Clare _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2007)_
- [Clap When You Land](https://readinglist.school/book/clap-when-you-land) by Elizabeth Acevedo _(Grades 3–10 · pub 2020)_
- [Class Act](https://readinglist.school/book/class-act) by Jerry Craft _(Grades 4–8 · pub 2020)_
- [Daughter of Smoke and Bone](https://readinglist.school/book/daughter-of-smoke-and-bone) by Laini Taylor _(Grades 5–12 · pub 2011)_
- [Dear Martin](https://readinglist.school/book/dear-martin) by Nic Stone _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2018)_
- [Drama](https://readinglist.school/book/drama) by Raina Telgemeier _(Grades 5–9 · pub 2012)_
- [Ender's Game](https://readinglist.school/book/enders-game) by Orson Scott Card _(780L · Grades 6–10 · pub 1985)_
- [Everybody Sees the Ants](https://readinglist.school/book/everybody-sees-the-ants) by A.S. King _(Grades 5–12 · pub 2011)_
- [Fat Kid Rules The World](https://readinglist.school/book/fat-kid-rules-the-world) by K L Going _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2003)_
- [Firekeeper's Daughter](https://readinglist.school/book/firekeepers-daughter) by Angeline Boulley _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2021)_
- [Flowers for Algernon](https://readinglist.school/book/flowers-for-algernon) by Daniel Keyes _(910L · Grades 8–11 · pub 1966)_
- [Frankly in Love](https://readinglist.school/book/frankly-in-love) by David Yoon _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2019)_
- [Gabi, a Girl in Pieces](https://readinglist.school/book/gabi-a-girl-in-pieces) by Isabel Quintero _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2014)_
- [Girl Mans Up](https://readinglist.school/book/girl-mans-up) by M-E Girard _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2016)_
- [Graceling](https://readinglist.school/book/graceling) by Kristin Cashore _(Grades 5–12 · pub 2009)_
- [Grasshopper Jungle](https://readinglist.school/book/grasshopper-jungle) by Andrew Smith _(Grades 4–9 · pub 2014)_
- [Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel](https://readinglist.school/book/hey-kiddo-how-i-lost-my-mother-found-my-father-and-dealt-with-family-addiction) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka _(Grades 3–10 · pub 2018)_
- [Hold Still](https://readinglist.school/book/hold-still) by Nina LaCour _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2009)_
- [How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe](https://readinglist.school/book/how-moon-fuentez-fell-in-love-with-the-universe) by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2022)_
- [I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings](https://readinglist.school/book/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings) by Maya Angelou _(1070L · Grades 10–12 · pub 1969)_
- [I'll Give You the Sun](https://readinglist.school/book/ill-give-you-the-sun) by Jandy Nelson _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2014)_
- [Invisible Man](https://readinglist.school/book/invisible-man) by Ralph Ellison _(950L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1952)_
- [Julie of the Wolves](https://readinglist.school/book/julie-of-the-wolves) by Jean Craighead George _(Grades 3–7 · pub 1972)_
- [King and the Dragonflies (Scholastic Gold)](https://readinglist.school/book/king-and-the-dragonflies) by Kacen Callender _(Grades 5–8 · pub 2020)_
- [Last Night at the Telegraph Club](https://readinglist.school/book/last-night-at-the-telegraph-club) by Malinda Lo _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2021)_
- [Lawn Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/lawn-boy) by Gary Paulsen _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1993)_
- [Looking for Alaska](https://readinglist.school/book/looking-for-alaska) by John Green _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2005)_
- [Maus: A Survivor's Tale](https://readinglist.school/book/maus) by Art Spiegelman _(Grades 9–12 · pub 1986)_
- [Monster](https://readinglist.school/book/monster) by Walter Dean Myers _(670L · Grades 8–11 · pub 1999)_
- [New Kid](https://readinglist.school/book/new-kid) by Jerry Craft _(Grades 4–8 · pub 2019)_
- [New Moon](https://readinglist.school/book/new-moon) by Stephenie Meyer _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2010)_
- [Night](https://readinglist.school/book/night) by Elie Wiesel _(590L · Grades 9–12 · pub 1960)_
- [Nimona](https://readinglist.school/book/nimona) by ND Stevenson _(Grades 5–12 · pub 2015)_
- [Of Mice and Men](https://readinglist.school/book/of-mice-and-men) by John Steinbeck _(630L · Grades 8–11 · pub 1937)_
- [Parachute Kids](https://readinglist.school/book/parachute-kids) by Betty C. Tang _(Grades 3–7 · pub 2023)_
- [Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood](https://readinglist.school/book/persepolis) by Marjane Satrapi _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2000)_
- [Red Queen](https://readinglist.school/book/red-queen) by Victoria Aveyard _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2015)_
- [Salvage](https://readinglist.school/book/salvage) by Alexandra Duncan _(Grades 5–12 · pub 2014)_
- [September Girls](https://readinglist.school/book/september-girls) by Bennett Madison _(Grades 5–12 · pub 2013)_
- [Shiver (Shiver, Book 1)](https://readinglist.school/book/shiver) by Maggie Stiefvater _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2009)_
- [Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda](https://readinglist.school/book/simon-vs-the-homo-sapiens-agenda) by Becky Albertalli _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2015)_
- [Slaughterhouse-Five](https://readinglist.school/book/slaughterhouse-five) by Kurt Vonnegut _(850L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1969)_
- [Speak](https://readinglist.school/book/speak) by Laurie Halse Anderson _(690L · Grades 8–10 · pub 1999)_
- [The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian](https://readinglist.school/book/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian) by Sherman Alexie _(600L · Grades 7–10 · pub 2007)_
- [The Adventures of Captain Underpants](https://readinglist.school/book/the-adventures-of-captain-underpants) by Dav Pilkey _(720L · Grades 2–5 · pub 1997)_
- [The Bluest Eye](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bluest-eye) by Toni Morrison _(920L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1970)_
- [The Cardboard Kingdom](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cardboard-kingdom) by Chad Sell _(Grades 4–6 · pub 2018)_
- [The Carnival at Bray](https://readinglist.school/book/the-carnival-at-bray) by Jessie Ann Foley _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2014)_
- [The Catcher in the Rye](https://readinglist.school/book/the-catcher-in-the-rye) by J.D. Salinger _(790L · Grades 9–12 · pub 1951)_
- [The Color Purple](https://readinglist.school/book/the-color-purple) by Alice Walker _(670L · Grades 9–12 · pub 1982)_
- [The Dark-Thirty](https://readinglist.school/book/the-dark-thirty) by Patricia McKissack _(Grades 4–8 · pub 1992)_
- [The Face on the Milk Carton](https://readinglist.school/book/the-face-on-the-milk-carton) by Caroline B. Cooney _(Grades 9–12 · pub 1990)_
- [The Fault in Our Stars](https://readinglist.school/book/the-fault-in-our-stars) by John Green _(850L · Grades 9–12 · pub 2012)_
- [The First Part Last](https://readinglist.school/book/the-first-part-last) by Angela Johnson _(Grades 4–8 · pub 2003)_
- [The Giver](https://readinglist.school/book/the-giver) by Lois Lowry _(760L · Grades 6–8 · pub 1993)_
- [The Handmaid's Tale](https://readinglist.school/book/the-handmaids-tale) by Margaret Atwood _(750L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1985)_
- [The Hate U Give](https://readinglist.school/book/the-hate-u-give) by Angie Thomas _(590L · Grades 9–12 · pub 2017)_
- [The Hidden Oracle](https://readinglist.school/book/the-hidden-oracle) by Rick Riordan _(Grades 6–9 · pub 2017)_
- [The Kite Runner](https://readinglist.school/book/the-kite-runner) by Khaled Hosseini _(840L · Grades 10–12 · pub 2003)_
- [The Lost Hero](https://readinglist.school/book/the-lost-hero) by Rick Riordan _(Grades 5–9 · pub 2019)_
- [The Mark of Athena](https://readinglist.school/book/the-mark-of-athena) by Rick Riordan _(Grades 5–9 · pub 2012)_
- [The Miseducation of Cameron Post](https://readinglist.school/book/the-miseducation-of-cameron-post) by Emily Danforth _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2017)_
- [The Parker Inheritance](https://readinglist.school/book/the-parker-inheritance) by Varian Johnson _(610L · Grades 6–8 · pub 2018)_
- [The Perks of Being a Wallflower](https://readinglist.school/book/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower) by Stephen Chbosky _(720L · Grades 9–12 · pub 1999)_
- [The Poet X](https://readinglist.school/book/the-poet-x) by Elizabeth Acevedo _(800L · Grades 8–12 · pub 2018)_
- [The Princess and the Warrior](https://readinglist.school/book/the-princess-and-the-warrior-a-tale-of-two-volcanoes) by Duncan Tonatiuh _(Grades K–5 · pub 2016)_
- [The Son of Neptune](https://readinglist.school/book/the-son-of-neptune) by Rick Riordan _(Grades 6–9 · pub 2011)_
- [The Summer Prince](https://readinglist.school/book/the-summer-prince) by Alaya Dawn Johnson _(Grades 5–12 · pub 2013)_
- [The Sword of Summer](https://readinglist.school/book/the-sword-of-summer) by Rick Riordan _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2015)_
- [The Things They Carried](https://readinglist.school/book/the-things-they-carried) by Tim O'Brien _(880L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1990)_
- [The Underground Railroad](https://readinglist.school/book/the-underground-railroad) by Colson Whitehead _(Grades 11–12 · pub 2000)_
- [The War That Saved My Life](https://readinglist.school/book/the-war-that-saved-my-life) by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley _(580L · Grades 4–7 · pub 2015)_
- [Their Eyes Were Watching God](https://readinglist.school/book/their-eyes-were-watching-god) by Zora Neale Hurston _(1080L · Grades 10–12 · pub 1937)_
- [To Kill a Mockingbird](https://readinglist.school/book/to-kill-a-mockingbird) by Harper Lee _(870L · Grades 7–10 · pub 1960)_
- [What Girls Are Made Of](https://readinglist.school/book/what-girls-are-made-of) by Elana K. Arnold _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2017)_
- [When We Collided](https://readinglist.school/book/when-we-collided) by Emery Lord _(Grades 9–12 · pub 2016)_
- [When You Trap a Tiger](https://readinglist.school/book/when-you-trap-a-tiger) by Tae Keller _(Grades 4–7 · pub 2020)_
- [Will Grayson, Will Grayson](https://readinglist.school/book/will-grayson-will-grayson) by John Green _(Grades 3–10 · pub 2010)_
- [Wishtree](https://readinglist.school/book/wishtree) by Katherine Applegate _(590L · Grades 3–6 · pub 2017)_

## How book challenges work in Iowa

Iowa has 92 titles on file as banned, restricted, or formally challenged by at least one Iowa public-school district in the public sources ReadingList aggregates from (PEN America's Index of School Book Bans and the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom most-challenged list). These tracked numbers represent FORMAL challenges that reached district board minutes, ALA OIF reporting, or PEN America's quarterly index — quieter classroom-level removals that never reached those national trackers are not captured here, so the actual scope of restriction in Iowa is plausibly larger than this list reflects.

Book challenges in Iowa typically follow a layered process: a parent, board member, or community member files a written request for reconsideration of an assigned title with a specific school or district; the district convenes a review committee (usually comprising teachers, librarians, administrators, and sometimes parent representatives); the committee reads the book, evaluates it against the district's selection criteria and against Iowa ELA standards, holds at least one public comment session, and votes to retain, restrict (e.g., grade-level limits or parental consent), or remove the title from the approved curriculum. Decisions are typically appealable to the state board of education within a defined window.

Common challenge bases across the 92 Iowa titles tracked here mirror the national pattern: sexual content (most common), LGBTQ+ themes, race and racism, profanity or violence, religion and political content, and depictions of substance abuse. Tracked titles include: 1984; A Long Walk to Water; A Separate Peace. Each title's detail page lists the specific Iowa district that initiated the challenge, the date, and (when published) the formal challenge basis recorded in district minutes. For deeper context on national patterns, the linked PEN America and ALA pages publish quarterly and annual reports.

For parents, teachers, librarians, and students in Iowa navigating this landscape: the practical paths forward depend on role. Parents who object to a specific assigned title can typically request an alternative assignment from the teacher directly without initiating a formal challenge — most Iowa districts have informal opt-out paths well before the formal reconsideration process kicks in. Librarians and teachers facing pressure to remove a title can document the formal selection criteria the book met, gather student-reader testimonials (with FERPA-compliant consent), and align with the National Coalition Against Censorship for advisory support. Students directly affected by a book removal can speak at the school board meeting where the decision is reviewed — public comment is open to all Iowa district residents. Iowa's Department of Education publishes the formal procedural framework — the source link is in the sources block above.

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_Aggregated from PEN America + ALA public reporting. A statewide ban is rare; most removals are at the district or individual-school level, and many challenged titles remain available elsewhere in the state. HTML view: https://readinglist.school/banned-books/iowa._