★best-of-all-time.comAll 50 lists

The top 50

Banned books everyone should read

50 standout choices selected for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

What earns a placeLiterary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership. Every pick combines lasting value with current availability.
#1

Beloved

Beloved by Toni Morrison is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#2

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#3

1984

1984 by George Orwell is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#4

The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#5

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#6

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#7

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#8

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3) by J.K. Rowling is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#9

Animal Farm

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7) by J.K. Rowling is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#11

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#12

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) by J.K. Rowling is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#13

Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#14

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6) by J.K. Rowling is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#15

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4) by J.K. Rowling is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#16

The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#17

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#18

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Adventures of Tom and Huck, #2)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Adventures of Tom and Huck, #2) by Mark Twain is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#19

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#20

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#21

The Giver (Giver, #1)

The Giver (Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#22

Brave New World

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#23

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#24

A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1)

A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#25

The Outsiders

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#26

The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)

The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#27

Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1)

Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1) by A.A. Milne is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#28

The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)

The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3) by J.R.R. Tolkien is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#29

Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#30

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#31

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#32

James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#33

The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#34

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1)

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#35

The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild by Jack London is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#36

Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#37

Lolita

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#38

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#39

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#40

Green Eggs and Ham

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#41

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1) by L. Frank Baum is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#42

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#43

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) by Stephenie Meyer is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#44

Slaughterhouse-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#45

The Color Purple (The Color Purple, #1)

The Color Purple (The Color Purple, #1) by Alice Walker is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#46

Rebecca

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#47

The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3)

The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3) by Philip Pullman is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#48

The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2)

The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2) by Philip Pullman is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#49

The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →
#50

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume is a durable book choice, recognized for literary importance, relevance to censorship debates and enduring readership.

Why It Ranks →