Published in 1979, The Flowers in the Attic has been frequently challenged for its depictions of incest, abuse, and sex. It was challenged in 1983 in Richmond, RI, and removed from a school in Oconee County, GA in 1994 because it was demeed filthy.2

“Many blame the negative reactions simply on Virginia’s weaving incest into the story. Some were also turned off by what’s been called the Southern-fried religious fanaticism Olivia and Malcolm Foxworth practiced. Others point to the vivid descriptions of child abused. Likely, the combination of all these things was what offended many readers and especially parents who wanted to keep it from their teenagers and young daughters. Eleven and twelve-year-olds who equated reading with taking castor oil were flocking to it” 3

           1 Andrews, V C. Flowers in the Attic: 40th Anniversary Edition (Reissue, Reissue). Gallery Books, 2019.

              2 Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books 1998 Resource Guide. Chicago, IL, American Library Association, 1998, archive.org/details/bannedbooks1998r0000doyl/page/10/mode/2up. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

              3Neiderman, Andrew. The Woman beyond the Attic. Simon and Schuster, 13 June 2023.