Yes, Water for Elephants Is Banned!

Water for Elephants tells the story of Jacob Jankowski, a Cornell veterinary student who, after a family tragedy, hops a train and lands in the chaotic world of a Depression-era traveling circus. He falls for Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to the show’s volatile, possibly psychopathic animal trainer August. Gruen’s richly researched novel captured readers with its vivid recreation of circus life, its love story, and its unforgettable elephant, Rosie. The book spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a 2011 film.

Despite being a mainstream bestseller aimed at adult readers, Water for Elephants racked up 66 bans in the 2023-24 school year, largely because copies had found their way into high school libraries. Challengers cite explicit sexual scenes and graphic violence, including depictions of animal cruelty. The book’s presence on banned lists surprised many, given its popularity and critical reception, but it was swept up in the broad removal campaigns across Florida, Texas, Iowa, and Utah that targeted any book containing sexual content regardless of literary merit or intended audience.