Yes, This One Summer Is Banned!
ISBN: 9781596437746
Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki’s graphic novel is a Caldecott Honor and Printz Honor book about two girls spending the summer at Awago Beach, where they’ve vacationed since childhood. Rose is dealing with her parents’ crumbling marriage and her mother’s depression. Windy is still happily childlike. The gap between them widens as Rose becomes fascinated by the local teenagers and their dramas of sex, pregnancy, and alcohol. The art is gorgeous, rendered in blue-washed ink, and the story captures the specific melancholy of realizing that the safe world of childhood is ending.
This One Summer was challenged 11 times in the 2024-2025 PEN America data, with bans across Florida and Tennessee school districts. It has been one of the most frequently challenged graphic novels in America since its publication, regularly appearing on the ALA’s most challenged list. The objections cite mature themes, drug references, and LGBTQ+ content (Windy briefly discusses her attraction to women). The graphic novel format amplifies the discomfort for challengers, since visual depictions of even mild content draw more scrutiny than prose. This One Summer depicts nothing explicit; its offense is treating the confusion and anxiety of early adolescence as worthy of serious art.
Why Was It Banned?
Where Was It Banned?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is This One Summer banned?
Yes, This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki has been banned or challenged in 25 documented instances across 2 states in the United States, including Florida, Tennessee. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.
Why was This One Summer banned?
This One Summer has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Sexual Content, Drug/Alcohol Use, Language, LGBTQ+ Themes. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.
Where is This One Summer banned?
As of 2025, This One Summer has been banned or challenged in Florida, Tennessee. Notable bans include Citrus County School District (2025), Hillsborough County Public Schools (2025), Marion County Public Schools (2025).