{
  "version": 1,
  "reviewedAt": "2026-10-12",
  "scope": "Selected documented incidents and annual lists. This is a starting register, not a complete list of Black literature or a claim that restrictions remain in effect today.",
  "preservationStatus": "Bibliographic records and source links saved. These full texts are not hosted. Permission or a verified license is required before adding a complete edition.",
  "sources": {
    "pen": {
      "name": "PEN America, Index of School Book Bans 2023–2024",
      "url": "https://pen.org/book-bans/pen-america-index-of-school-book-bans-2023-2024/",
      "evidencePdf": "https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/richmond.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/b7/8b7bfcec-9885-11ef-8e36-676fdad79077/672528bc1beac.pdf.pdf",
      "evidenceNote": "PEN-authored index PDF hosted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. PDF page numbers are one-based."
    },
    "ala": {
      "name": "American Library Association, Most Challenged Books",
      "url": "https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10"
    }
  },
  "authorArchives": [
    {
      "author": "Octavia E. Butler",
      "institution": "The Huntington",
      "url": "https://researchguides.huntington.org/oeb/overview",
      "note": "Manuscripts, correspondence and research survive in a dedicated archive. Access and reproduction follow the archive’s terms."
    }
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "id": "kindred",
      "title": "Kindred",
      "authors": [
        "Octavia E. Butler"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2023-12",
      "location": "Orange County Public Schools, Florida",
      "documentedEvent": "Removed pending review",
      "sourceId": "pen",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Kindred%20Octavia%20E.%20Butler",
      "sourcePdfPage": 54,
      "sourceClassification": "Banned pending investigation"
    },
    {
      "id": "bloodchild",
      "title": "Bloodchild and Other Stories",
      "authors": [
        "Octavia E. Butler"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2024-06",
      "location": "West Des Moines Community Schools, Iowa",
      "documentedEvent": "Removed pending review",
      "sourceId": "pen",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Bloodchild%20and%20Other%20Stories%20Octavia%20E.%20Butler",
      "sourcePdfPage": 130,
      "sourceClassification": "Banned pending investigation"
    },
    {
      "id": "speech-sounds",
      "title": "Speech Sounds",
      "authors": [
        "Octavia E. Butler"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2023-10",
      "location": "West Des Moines Community Schools, Iowa",
      "documentedEvent": "Removed pending review",
      "sourceId": "pen",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Speech%20Sounds%20Octavia%20E.%20Butler",
      "sourcePdfPage": 130,
      "sourceClassification": "Banned pending investigation"
    },
    {
      "id": "beloved",
      "title": "Beloved",
      "authors": [
        "Toni Morrison"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2007",
      "location": "Louisville, Kentucky",
      "documentedEvent": "Removed from AP English class",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Beloved%20Toni%20Morrison"
    },
    {
      "id": "bluest-eye",
      "title": "The Bluest Eye",
      "authors": [
        "Toni Morrison"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2024",
      "location": "United States",
      "documentedEvent": "Annual most-challenged list",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Bluest%20Eye%20Toni%20Morrison"
    },
    {
      "id": "caged-bird",
      "title": "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings",
      "authors": [
        "Maya Angelou"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2002",
      "location": "United States",
      "documentedEvent": "Annual most-challenged list",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=I%20Know%20Why%20the%20Caged%20Bird%20Sings%20Maya%20Angelou"
    },
    {
      "id": "color-purple",
      "title": "The Color Purple",
      "authors": [
        "Alice Walker"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "1986",
      "location": "Newport News, Virginia",
      "documentedEvent": "Restricted by age or parental permission",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Color%20Purple%20Alice%20Walker"
    },
    {
      "id": "go-tell",
      "title": "Go Tell It on the Mountain",
      "authors": [
        "James Baldwin"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "1994",
      "location": "Hudson Falls, New York",
      "documentedEvent": "Required reading challenged",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Go%20Tell%20It%20on%20the%20Mountain%20James%20Baldwin"
    },
    {
      "id": "their-eyes",
      "title": "Their Eyes Were Watching God",
      "authors": [
        "Zora Neale Hurston"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "1997",
      "location": "Brentsville, Virginia",
      "documentedEvent": "Challenged; retained on reading list",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Their%20Eyes%20Were%20Watching%20God%20Zora%20Neale%20Hurston"
    },
    {
      "id": "invisible-man",
      "title": "Invisible Man",
      "authors": [
        "Ralph Ellison"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "1975",
      "location": "St. Francis, Wisconsin",
      "documentedEvent": "Removed from English reading list",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Invisible%20Man%20Ralph%20Ellison"
    },
    {
      "id": "native-son",
      "title": "Native Son",
      "authors": [
        "Richard Wright"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "1998",
      "location": "Fremont, California",
      "documentedEvent": "Removed from high school",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Native%20Son%20Richard%20Wright"
    },
    {
      "id": "all-boys",
      "title": "All Boys Aren’t Blue",
      "authors": [
        "George M. Johnson"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2024",
      "location": "United States",
      "documentedEvent": "Annual most-challenged list",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=All%20Boys%20Aren%E2%80%99t%20Blue%20George%20M.%20Johnson"
    },
    {
      "id": "hate-u-give",
      "title": "The Hate U Give",
      "authors": [
        "Angie Thomas"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2021",
      "location": "United States",
      "documentedEvent": "Annual banned-and-challenged record",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Hate%20U%20Give%20Angie%20Thomas"
    },
    {
      "id": "stamped",
      "title": "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You",
      "authors": [
        "Ibram X. Kendi",
        "Jason Reynolds"
      ],
      "documentedDate": "2020",
      "location": "United States",
      "documentedEvent": "Annual banned-and-challenged record",
      "sourceId": "ala",
      "verifiedAt": "2026-10-12",
      "fullTextHosted": false,
      "accessStatus": "Library catalogue search; local availability varies",
      "librarySearch": "https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Stamped%3A%20Racism%2C%20Antiracism%2C%20and%20You%20Ibram%20X.%20Kendi"
    }
  ]
}