Surge in Book Bans Sparks Concern Across U.S. Schools
In a significant development affecting school libraries nationwide, PEN America has unveiled its latest report detailing the surge in book bans during the 2024-2025 academic year. The organization, which advocates for free expression, revealed that the number of challenged or banned books in public school districts has risen dramatically over recent years, highlighting a concerning trend of censorship.
According to PEN America’s findings, there were 6,870 instances of book bans in the last academic year. This marks a decrease from the previous year’s total of 10,046 bans but remains a substantial increase compared to the average of just under 3,000 bans annually from 2021 to 2023. PEN America attributes this trend to what it describes as a “disturbing normalization of censorship” within public schools.
PEN America defines a school book ban as any action stemming from content objections, leading to a book’s removal or restricted access due to challenges from parents, communities, or governmental officials. This definition underscores the growing influence of such challenges on students’ access to literature.
Most-Banned Books and Authors
The report identifies Anthony Burgess’ classic dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange as the most-banned book in the 2023-2024 school year. Following closely are Patricia McCormick’s young adult novel Sold, which addresses human trafficking, and Jennifer Niven’s coming-of-age story Breathless.
Among the authors facing the most challenges are horror writer Stephen King, with 206 instances, young adult novelist Ellen Hopkins with 167, and fantasy author Sarah J. Maas with 162. Other frequently banned authors include Jodi Picoult, Yusei Matsui, and Elana K. Arnold.
Regional Trends and Government Involvement
The states leading in book bans for the 2024-2025 period are Florida, with 2,304 instances; Texas, with 1,781; and Tennessee, recording 1,622. The report emphasizes the unprecedented nature of these actions, stating, “Never before in the life of any living American have so many books been systematically removed from school libraries across the country.”
This wave of book bans is not limited to local or state levels. The federal government’s involvement, as indicated by new executive orders from President Trump, has led to the removal of nearly 600 titles from Department of Defense schools on military bases. These removals are tied to orders concerning diversity, race discussions, and what is termed “gender ideology extremism.”
Impact on LGBTQ+ Representation
Books portraying LGBTQ+ identities are particularly vulnerable to bans, often labeled as “sexually explicit.” Examples include the picture book And Tango Makes Three, which tells the true story of two male penguins raising a chick, and The Purim Superhero, which features a child with two fathers navigating a Jewish holiday.
