This NCTE database contains more than 1,400 book rationales, which are an important resource for educators and school librarians. NCTE members can use these rationales when selecting books to incorporate in a classroom or library, or when defending a text that is being challenged.
Click the “only new” toggle button below to see the most recent rationales in the database. Or, click here to read the full list of available titles. To find a rationale for a specific book, search by title, author, or grade level.
Book rationales are made possible by NCTE through decades of close engagement with members, who have contributed their expertise in developing rationales, and in partnership with NCTE’s Committee Against Censorship and the This Story Matters Teacher Corps. The database was launched in summer 2022 as part of the This Story Matters campaign. NCTE members can participate in this important ongoing work by signing up to write and review rationales.
In spring 2025, based on feedback from the This Story Matters Teacher Corps and the Committee Against Censorship, the rationale template was updated and annotated versions for writers and readers were created:
Rationale Template – Annotated for Writers
Rationale Template – Annotated for Readers
Because of this project’s long history, some rationales may vary in format or include titles or standards that are no longer current. Members are encouraged to examine the content carefully to ensure it meets their specific needs. Over time, some rationales will be replaced or supplemented with newer versions.
Contact intellectualfreedom@ncte.org with any feedback or questions about the database, rationales, or This Story Matters.
