Yes, The Haters Is Banned!
ISBN: 9781419720789
Jesse Andrews’s follow-up to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a road-trip comedy about three teenagers who bail on jazz camp to form a band and tour the South in a borrowed car. Wes, Corey, and Ash have more enthusiasm than talent, and their trip involves sketchy gigs, worse accommodations, and the romantic tension that inevitably develops when teenagers share close quarters. Andrews writes with the same off-kilter humor that made his debut a hit: self-deprecating, profane, and genuinely funny in ways that don’t require a laugh track.
The Haters was challenged 13 times in the 2024-2025 PEN America data, with bans across Florida school districts and Iowa. The objections cite sexual content, language, and drug references, a combination that’s standard for books about teenagers behaving like teenagers. Andrews writes comedy, which means the objectionable content is played for laughs rather than drama, a distinction that doesn’t matter to content challengers but matters a lot to teen readers who respond to humor more than hand-wringing.
Why Was It Banned?
Where Was It Banned?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Haters banned?
Yes, The Haters by Jesse Andrews has been banned or challenged in 18 documented instances across 2 states in the United States, including Florida, Iowa. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.
Why was The Haters banned?
The Haters has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Sexual Content, Language, Drug/Alcohol Use. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.
Where is The Haters banned?
As of 2025, The Haters has been banned or challenged in Florida, Iowa. Notable bans include Brevard Public Schools (2024), Citrus County School District (2025), Hillsborough County Public Schools (2025).