Challenged Works

Selected books and magazines that have been challenged in Canada.

Antigone

By Sophocles

In Saskatchewan, Chief Dwayne Antoine and members of the band council of the Poundmaker Cree Nation tried to ban a live performance of an adaptation of Antigone on their reserve.

Bad Medicine: A Judge’s Struggle for Justice in a First Nations Community

By John Reilly (2010)

Early in his career, Judge John Reilly did everything by the book. His jurisdiction included a First Nations community plagued by suicide, addiction, poverty, violence and corruption. He steadily handed out prison sentences with little regard for long-term consequences and even less knowledge as to why crime was so rampant on the reserve in the [...]

Black Eye 1: Graphic Transmissions to Cause Ocular Hypertension

By Ivan Brunetti, Lilli Carré, et al. (2011)

An anthology of original narrative comics, art and essays by 41 international artists and writers, all focused on the expression of black, dark or absurdist humor.

Contes pour buveurs attardés

By Michel Tremblay (1996)

A collection of short stories.

Instigator magazine

U.S. gay mens’ leather fetish magazine.

Les nombrils

By Marc Delafontaine and Maryse Dubuc (2004 - )

Les Nombrils (The Bellybuttons) is a French Canadian comic book series written by Maryse Dubuc and illustrated by her husband, Marc Delafontaine.

Something to Tell

By Ann Alma

Takes One to Know One: An Alison Kaine Mystery

By Kate Allen

A patron of the Toronto Public Library complained about this murder mystery with a lesbian theme.

The Handmaid’s Tale

By Margaret Atwood (1985)

Set in the near future, in a totalitarian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government, The Handmaid’s Tale explores themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain agency.

The Shepherd’s Granddaughter

By Anne Laurel Carter (2008)

This is a moving novel about one of the most hotly disputed pieces of land on earth. Anne Carter tells the story of one girl and her family whose homes, way of life and livelihood — even their ancient olive trees — are threatened.