Nearly 12,000 Books Banned in U.S. Public Schools During 2025-2026 Academic Year

According to PEN America’s latest Index of School Book Bans, public schools nationwide eliminated 11,982 books during the 2025-2026 academic year, the highest figure since the organization began tracking. The bans occurred in 114 school districts, also a record high, with Texas and Florida leading the count. State laws, including Texas' SB 13 enacted in 2025, were linked to the majority of removals, influencing 72% of the districts.

The American Library Association noted that challenges often target sexually explicit content, LGBTQIA+ material, and equity, diversity and inclusion topics. Frequently banned titles included Patricia McCormick’s “Sold,” Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak,” several Ellen Hopkins novels, Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and John Green’s “Looking for Alaska.” Stephen King emerged as the most banned author, followed by Ellen Hopkins and Sarah J. Maas, whose series have faced repeated scrutiny.