5 Banned Graphic Novels to Add to Your TBR List

Comic books and graphic novels date back to the nineteenth century, but it wasn’t until the early twentieth century that they grew into the juggernaut they are today. While many people associate them with the superhero stories that made the medium popular, that’s not all these books have to offer. Today, comic books and graphic novels depict a wide variety of stories, including nonfiction and memoirs.

To celebrate the artists, writers, and fans of this beloved medium, National Comic Book Day is observed annually on September 25. That’s a good day to go to your local library and explore its graphic novel section to experience the many stories this art form has inspired.

Unfortunately, many graphic novels have been caught up in the rise of book bans. These Orwellian calls for censorship are sadly nothing new, though they have increased in recent years. Banned Books Week was established in 1982 to highlight the importance of free and open access to information and to encourage freedom of expression and the right to read. It is usually held in the last week of September; however, in 2025, it will take place from October 5–11.

In honor of both National Comic Book Day and Banned Books Week, here are five frequently challenged graphic novels you can read to celebrate this much-loved medium.

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1. This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

This One Summer is a young adult coming-of-age graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki. The story follows teenagers Rose and Windy during a summer in the beach town of Awago. Rose and Windy are “summer friends,” meeting up each year when their families bring them to Awago. But things are a little different this summer as the two girls, who have known each other since they were kids, now find themselves navigating the tricky waters of adolescence.

According to the American Library Association (ALA), This One Summer was the most challenged book in 2016, due to the inclusion of LGBTQ characters, drug use, profanity, and sexually explicit themes. Just the year before, the book was the first graphic novel to receive a Caldecott Honor.

2. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

Gender Queer is a memoir written and illustrated by Maia Kobabe, who identifies as nonbinary and asexual and uses the pronouns e/em/eir. This heartfelt autobiography explores Kobabe’s journey of self-discovery regarding eir gender and sexuality. Aimed at older teens and adults, Gender Queer follows Kobabe from childhood to adulthood, from first crushes to first relationships, realizing along the way that gender and sexual identity can be confusing, but learning to embrace one’s true self makes all the difference.

Due to its sexual and LGBTQ+ themes, Gender Queer holds the dubious distinction of earning the Guinness World Record for “Most Banned Book of the Year” in 2023. Certain illustrations have been taken out of context and used by pro-censorship groups to justify banning the book for being obscene. Despite all the backlash, the book remains beloved by many and has received both the Stonewall Book Award and ALA’s Alex Award.

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3. Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman

Maus, written and illustrated by Art Spiegelman, is a haunting tale of the Holocaust and the generational trauma it left behind. Spiegelman tells an interwoven story that alternates between his adult life and his difficult relationship with his father, and the harrowing account of his father’s experiences under Hitler’s regime. Spiegelman drew the characters as cartoon animals, with Jews depicted as mice and Germans as cats, but he did not hold back on depicting the atrocities his father endured under the Nazis.

Maus has faced multiple censorship challenges over the years, including a recent ban enacted in Tennessee due to “inappropriate language” and a scene showing a naked dead body (depicted, of course, as a mouse). Still, many schools use Maus to help teach about the Holocaust, and it was the first graphic novel to win the Pulitzer Prize.

4. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis, written and illustrated by Marjane Satrapi, is a memoir that follows Satrapi’s coming of age during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. She explores the struggles of growing up amid political upheaval and growing religious extremism, which eventually lead her to leave her beloved homeland.

There have been multiple attempts to ban Persepolis over the years, starting in 2013, when it was pulled from shelves in Chicago Public Schools due to graphic language and inappropriate images. However, many challenges have come from people complaining about the book being “Islamic literature,” despite Satrapi’s largely secular background. These efforts have not dulled the book’s popularity, though, as it has won multiple awards and was adapted into a critically acclaimed film.

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5. The Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa

The Color of Earth, written and illustrated by Kim Dong Hwa, is the first volume in a popular trilogy of Korean manhwa. It’s a historical fiction coming-of-age story about a girl named Ehwa, who lives in a country village in Korea. She helps her widowed mother run the local tavern and can’t help but notice the stigma her mother bears for being single. But when her mother finds new love, Ehwa begins to think about finding love herself.

The Color of Earth has been challenged due to nudity, sexual content, and its suitability for certain age groups. The creator, however, has stated that the sexual content being objected to is simply part of the normal experience of adolescence. Even though the book has faced potential bans, it has been highly praised and frequently appears on graphic novel recommendation lists.

These are just a few of the many award-winning and critically acclaimed graphic novels that have faced book bans. In honor of National Comic Book Day and Banned Books Week, consider reading one or more of these titles to celebrate the freedom to read. You can also sign EveryLibrary’s petition to fight book bans to show your support and stop censorship.

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