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The Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024

Unfortunately, access to books is still under serious threat in the U.S. as the American Library Association’s (ALA) annual report on the state of the nation’s libraries makes all too clear. The ALA reports that in 2024, a staggering 2,452 unique book titles were challenged, which is the third-highest number ever documented by ALA. For comparison, from 2001-2020, the annual average books challenged was 273 unique titles.

Censorship of books by the numbers, according to the American Library Association

Publishers Weekly writes that “the most common reasons for challenges were claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and dealing with topics of race, racism, inclusivity, equity and social justice.” The ALA says that the majority of book ban campaigns — nearly 3 out of 4 — are led by pressure groups or government sources.

For more insights, read the ALA’s State of American Libraries 2024 Snapshot and make your calendars for Banned Books Week 2025 October 5-11, 2025 to help support access to reading for all readers. 

The Top 10 most challenged books of 2024

1. All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson

2. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

3. (Tie) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

3. (Tie) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

5. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Top 10 banned books of 2024

6. (Tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green

6. (Tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

8. (Tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins

8. (Tie) Sold by Patricia McCormick

10. Flamer by Mike Curato

 

This Interview Stinks! (In a Good Way) Interview with Joan Holub, Author of Fart Boy and Reeky Dog

Today I’m interviewing Joan Holub, author of Fart Boy and Reeky Dog. This graphic novel for 7-10 year olds introduces readers to a smelly superhero and his dog sidekick as they fight to defeat an evil alien scientist plotting world domination!

I’m going to be honest. This blog is posting a few days later than I planned. Why? Because the moment Fart Boy and Reeky Dog arrived in the mail, my 8 year old snatched it out of my hands. He proceeded to read it three times in a row. It was his constant companion on the couch, in the car, and on the bus for several days. He kept giggling and showing me parts he found particularly hilarious. I believe his enthusiasm is the best testimonial for this action-packed, fart-powered adventure! But just in case you need a bit more persuading, here are a few additional reviews that are anything but stinky:

“My nine-year-old son loved this book. He kept stopping to tell me about the book, which is rare for him, and laughed the whole time. The graphics are well done and colorful.” — Ashley P, Reviewer (5 stars)

“My favorite part, though, was when the hokey pokey song was used to show how the beans made their way through his body to make extra strong farts. This book is lively, with fantastic, fun, bright pictures. Even the villain is fun and over the top.”
— Lisa D, Reviewer (5 stars)

And now, let ‘er rip!

Emily Starr: You have written more than 200 books for kids, but this is your first graphic novel! How was your writing process both similar and different for this format?

Joan Holub: Great question! Probably the most unique difference is that I drew sketches for the entire graphic novel even though I had no intention of illustrating the final book. (Can you say over-achiever?) I draw sketches for all of my picture books to better understand them. Therefore, it didn’t feel unusual to do it for my graphic novel. However at 140 pages, Fart Boy and Reeky Dog required a lot of drawing! The sketches helped me decide which words to keep and which to leave out. I also think they helped my editor understand my book right away when I submitted it. She could literally see the action!

Early Layout Sketches

Emily Starr: Wow! That sounds like a very involved, yet helpful process. So how much of the layout and illustrations did you ultimately direct (e.g., how many panels are on a page, what is shown in each image)? If you were very involved, what process did you use to figure out how each page should be divided? The book has an incredible variety of layouts!

Joan Holub: Illustrators have often told me that they like to see the picture book dummies I make because, instead of starting from zero, my ideas afford them a bit of a springboard. Some illustrators love to see my dummies, while others don’t want to be influenced. Either is fine with me. (By the way, I love what illustrator Rafael Rosado did with the story! He ultimately decided the color and layouts.)

Emily Starr: Authors are often told to use difficult vocabulary words sparingly, yet you use complex words throughout and really went for it in the opening Warning. Why did you make that decision and was it questioned by your editor?

Joan Holub: Wow! You are sharp. I didn’t even notice I’d done that! My editor never called me out on word complexity, which I certainly appreciate. I think I might have felt stifled. When I was a kid reader, I would simply gloss over any words I didn’t understand. I could usually figure out the general meanings. At the same time, I’m always mindful of not writing book vocabulary that is too hard my audience to read. No words like “hyperbole”!

Emily Starr: Someone might think this is a simple book about a farting superhero, yet you expertly weave in science concepts, songs, history, cultural references, and even an “Are You Evil?” quiz. Why did you incorporate these elements?

Joan Holub: Many of my books incorporate a few learning components. It’s not my main goal to teach, but I do enjoy sneaking in the occasional scientific experiment as per the Gas Giant research. And I love, love, love the “Are You Evil” quiz! Since it’s one of my favorite things in Book One (and a favorite of kid readers), I’ve included more Comix for Fart Boy and friends to read in Book Two.

Emily Starr: What research notes or lists did you keep close by when writing? For example, did you create a list of different ways to say “fart” as part of your writing process? (Nuclear Air Bagel is my favorite!)

Joan Holub: I’m so glad to hear that you are a Nuclear Air Bagel fan! Yes, I went online and gathered a lengthy list of many sayings that incorporate the word “fart”, “stinky”, “smelly”,  or that allude to those kinds of words. Plus I made up some of my own. (Can you say, “Garbanzo Gas Buster?”)

Emily Starr: Was there anything you cut out of the book because it was too controversial or gross?

Joan Holub: In my head, I’m always writing what my inner kid would want to read, and that wouldn’t be something super-gross or controversial. However, some parents or kids might think that even simple farts are gross. So you never know. Whatever gets kids reading works for me.

Emily Starr: As a Mom and an educator, I love the prompts in the back that encourage creativity and set kids up for thinking about the next book. What inspired you to include that aspect and format it as a series of questions? (It sparked a memory of the Rocky and Bullwinkle previews.)

Joan Holub: That’s good to hear! When I finish reading a book that’s full of possibilities for the main characters to do more, I often wonder, “What’s next?” So, I  mean, kids probably wonder: “Will there be a Fartmobile?” “Will Carl ever get a cool sidekick name?” “Do Ninjas fart?” The questions are endless and as I reader, I’d like some to supply some answers! (Stay tuned for Book Two!)

Emily Starr: Any hints about Book Two you can share with our readers?

Joan Holub: Yes! In Book Two: Fart Boy and Reeky Dog: Dino Doom you’ll find:

  • More gadgets! More stanky explosions! More beans!
  • More Crazy Rich Superheroes and Villains comix.
  • Our main characters, Fart Boy, Carl, Liz, and Reeky Dog, and will meet (and learn about) long-ago dinos, plus “enjoy” some out-of-this-world travel.
  • And last but not least, the troublemaking Professor Groovypants-Gravypants-PerfumeLady is back, with a hilarious new minion!

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR and MULTIPLE AWARD WINNER JOAN HOLUB has written 220+ books for kids ages 2 to 13. Joan is co-author of the popular Goddess Girls middle grade series of 31 books and the Heroes in Training series of 18 books. Her best-known picture books include Zero the Hero, Little Red Writing, and I Am the Shark. She has written ten of the popular Who Was? series books, including Who Was Babe Ruth? and What is the Statue of Liberty? She’s the author of the This Little Trailblazer series of 10+ board books. Joan’s books have been named Junior Library Guild Selections and Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year among many other accolades. Her first graphic novel, FART BOY AND REEKY DOG, has garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, among other awards.

Emily Starr

As a former fourth grade teacher and founder of StarrMatica, a STEM publishing company, Emily Starr has developed award-winning K-5 science curriculum and professional learning materials for 20 years. She is a member of the Iowa State Science Leadership Team, a peer reviewer for the National Science Teaching Association’s journal Science and Children, and a frequent presenter at state and national education conferences. Her debut middle grade nonfiction book will be released in 2025 from the Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation.

 

EDITOR SPOTLIGHT: Meet Kristin Gilson, Editorial Director at Aladdin

Photo of ediorial Director Kristin Gilson

We are thrilled to welcome Kristin Gilson to the Editor/Agent Spotlight on The Mixed-up Files of Middle Grade Authors today.

Photo of ediorial Director Kristin Gilson Kristin Gilson is the Editorial Director of Aladdin, an imprint dedicated to quality commercial fiction and non-fiction for ages 12 and under.

Gilson began her long career in children’s publishing at Knopf and spent many years at HarperCollins and Penguin Random House before joining Aladdin. She is primarily looking for fiction and is drawn to stories with honesty and heart; books that make her laugh, cry, think, and feel; and quirky characters who are looking to find, figure out, or create their place in the world. She loves smart protagonists, sibling or found family stories, snarky humor, and books that speak to the growing young LGBTQ and GNC community.

A lifelong lover of books and reading, Kristin still has her very first library card!

Welcome to the blog, Kristin. We’re excited to learn about your editorial journey. Can you share any highlights or insights learned along the way from your early days at Knopf to your role at Aladdin?  

“Never underestimate the power of the paperback.”

Before I came to Aladdin all of my editorial positions had been focused primarily on paperbacks, though they encompassed the full range of paperback publishing—straight reprint conversions, traditional acquisitions, original titles developed in-house and with packagers, and licensed/tie-in publishing.

Publishing Opportunities

Publishing a title in paperback can create opportunities to reach different and often much broader audience and build a long tail that can sustain a title or author for years to come. Even in the case of a straight reprint conversion from hardcover, a strategic paperback publication—one that may involve a new cover or added bonus materials—can change the trajectory of a book and land it on a bestseller list!

Are there any updates you would add to your Wish List?

Given the impact that various recent events have had on young readers, I would add shorter/easier reads that still have relatable content for middle-graders and emphasize my desire for humorous and lighthearted stories. We are also publishing very little non-fiction at this time.

Building on Success

Congratulations on the release of your latest projects, including two NYT Bestsellers: Megan E. Freeman’s Away, the companion book to Alone; and Edgar Award winner James Ponti’s City Spies: London Calling.

How did you initially discover these authors?

I wish I had a triumphant story about how I saw a spark in a slush manuscript or hand-picked them after a presentation at a writer’s conference. But the truth is that I inherited them both from my predecessor at Aladdin. And boy am I glad I did.

What made you want to acquire their manuscripts?

From a business perspective, it was the fact that their previous books had done well and I wanted to build on that success. From a creative perspective, it’s because the authors had created such wonderful characters and scenarios and I wanted to see what they could create next and share that with readers. The fact that both authors are absolutely wonderful to work with was a plus as well.

Revisions

Typically, are there many revisions from acquisitions to final draft?

Sometimes, sometimes not—there are so many different things that factor into it. An author who prefers a more collaborative approach might submit something in a rougher or looser form so they can use my feedback to guide them as they work on the next version; others might prefer to get input from peers and sensitivity readers and do a lot of revising and polishing before I even see it; and still others will reach out to me to discuss things during the writing process so that when the manuscript comes to me we’ve already resolved things that might have needed revising. The important thing to know is that it doesn’t really matter how many revisions it takes as long as the author, the editor, and most importantly the readers, are excited about how it turned out.

Companion Books

Speaking of Freeman’s Away, what are the challenges and joys in editing a companion book? Can you share what this process was like?

Book cover of Away plus New York Times Bestseller The biggest joy is being able to return to characters and a world that you are already familiar with and get to know them a bit better or a bit differently. Those same things can also be challenges, because you can’t change their characteristics to fit the new story, the new story has to fit with what has already been established.

In the case of Away—which runs parallel to Alone—fitting the timeline was a pretty major challenge. This led to a fair amount of discussion and margin comments to make sure things were unfolding in a way that made sense, and that characters were developing accordingly. Fortunately, the use of different narrative forms allowed the story to take some leaps in time that would not have been easy to accomplish in a straight prose novel.

 

“Freeman delivers an engaging tale in which young crusaders strive to overcome both parental passivity

and corrupt authorities to discover and expose a dastardly scheme. . . . Scary and satisfying.”

Kirkus Reviews

Series Proposals or Stand-Alones?

Michael Vey book cover

Did Ponti’s City Spies series and Richard Paul Evans’ Michael Vey series begin as stand-alone novels or were they series proposals?

They were both series proposals, though the extent of both series has gone beyond what was initially acquired. (As an editor, my favorite kinds of series are those that allow you to build on them if the initial titles are successful, but at the same time are not reliant on additional books to complete a story or character arc. We don’t like to leave readers hanging.)

About that first library card…

We love that you still have your very first library card. What books or genres caught card-carrying young Kristin’s attention?

I’ve always been drawn to realistic fiction, stories with strong girl protagonists, and books that pack an emotional punch. I also loved (and still love) books about big families and secret clubs. To that point, some of my most cherished books from childhood are

  • The Saturdays, by Elizabeth Enright,
  • The Secret Language, by Ursula Nordstrom,
  • Summer of the Swans, by Betsy Byars,
  • Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth
  • William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth, by E. L. Konigsberg,
  • Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume, and
  • The Cat Ate my Gymsuit, by Paula Danziger.

(Young Kristin would be absolutely floored by the fact that not-young Kristin has had the good fortune of meeting some of these favorite authors!)

Kristin Gilson's actual, very first library card from 1971

Submissions

How and when can authors submit to you?

Their agents can submit to me via email at any time.

Are there any upcoming titles/current projects you are excited about?

I’m really looking forward to the publication of Hurricane Heist, the second book in James Ponti’s new series The Sherlock Society, this fall.

book cover of Hurricane Heist with four teens and their biclcles and inclement weather in the distance

BONUS Editor Lightning Round:

  1. Query/Pitch pet peeve: _I wrote this story for my grandchildren.”
  2. Please don’t send me: _picture books______
  3. Title on your TBR pile: _The Bletchley Riddle_by Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin 
  4. PB you could probably recite by heart: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. (It’s a classic for a reason.)
  5. Favorite line from a mg or YA novel: From Gayle Forman’s novel, I Was Here: ”Some messes can wait.”