All American Boys – Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

🚫 Banned for making people uncomfortable — exactly what it’s supposed to do.

One moment in a corner store. One Black teen slammed to the ground by a white cop. Two boys — Rashad, the victim, and Quinn, the witness — now live on opposite sides of the same brutal truth. All American Boys rips through the silence surrounding police brutality, privilege, and the power of speaking up when it’s easier to look away.

Why it was banned: For being “anti-police,” “divisive,” and “too political.” Translation: it hits too close to home.

Recommended for: Teens who want to break the cycle of silence, see both sides of the street, and aren’t afraid to face injustice head-on.