A recent study by PEN America revealed that nearly 12,000 bans occurred in American public schools in the last year, marking the highest total in the organization’s five-year tracking history. This report coincides with the international Banned Books Week, celebrated from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10 under the theme “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read,” aiming to raise awareness of censorship efforts at schools and libraries.
While Canada observes its intellectual freedom campaign in February, some Canadian institutions participate in global initiatives during the October Banned Books Week. Notably, American author Stephen King, for the second consecutive year, topped the list of authors whose works were most frequently banned, with 312 removals, including books like “The Shining” and “The Green Mile.”
Among the banned titles in American schools is Margaret Atwood’s classic dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Additionally, Patrick McCormick’s book “Sold,” depicting a girl sold into sexual slavery in India, was the most banned individual title with 25 removals.
Several new titles appeared in PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans for the 2025-2026 school year, encompassing classic novels, gamebook adaptations, popular fiction, young adult stories, manga, and feminist anthologies. Notably, Ryan North’s 2016 graphic novel “Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure” was among the newly banned titles.
Florida and Texas witnessed numerous bans, attributed to stringent laws and advocacy from politicians and conservative activists. School administrators increasingly rely on AI to determine which books should be removed. The common reasons for book challenges include themes of race, racism, sexuality, and gender identity.
PEN’s report, “Banned in the USA,” emphasizes the importance of school libraries in providing access to diverse views and literature. The report highlights that book bans restrict students’ exposure to various perspectives and voices. In total, 11,982 bans were identified, affecting 7,370 different works, with over 4,500 titles appearing on the list for the first time.
Both PEN America and the American Library Association have reported a surge in bans since the early 2020s, with differing methodologies in counting banned books. While PEN includes books removed temporarily as bans, the ALA focuses on permanently pulled books. The ALA reported around 5,600 instances of bans in the previous year, underscoring the ongoing challenges to intellectual freedom in educational settings.
