Book censorship in US schools has become 'rampant and common', free speech advocates warn Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY October 2, 2025 at 3:20 AM 0 A free speech advocacy group warned on Oct.
- - Book censorship in US schools has become 'rampant and common', free speech advocates warn
Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY October 2, 2025 at 3:20 AM
0
A free speech advocacy group warned on Oct. 1 that book censorship in public schools across the United States has become "rampant and common," with book bans increasing significantly over the last few years.
Though book censorship is not a new issue, the United States has seen a sharp rise in book bans and attempted bans since 2021. PEN America's "Banned in the USA" report, released on Oct. 1, recorded about 6,800 instances of books being removed from schools during the 2024-2025 academic year.
While the new number is down from the more than 10,000 bans reported in the 2023-2024 school year, PEN America noted that it was still an uptick from previous years when the advocacy group did not release an annual report or index of book bans. Since July 2021, PEN America has documented more than 22,800 cases of book bans across 45 states and 451 public school districts.
According to the report, the systematic removal of books from schools and school libraries in many parts of the country has resulted in the "normalization and routinization of censorship" in public education. PEN America cited "alarming censorship pressures" on school districts, including recent federal efforts to restrict education, continued attacks on LGBTQ+ identities, and state-mandated book bans.
Just days after President Donald Trump took office in January, the U.S. Department of Education called book bans a "hoax" and rescinded all department guidance that had suggested school districts' "removal of age-inappropriate books from its libraries may violate civil rights laws."
"Censorship pressures have expanded and escalated, taking on different forms – laws, directives, guidance that sow confusion, lists of books mislabeled as 'explicit' materials, and 'do not buy' lists," Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America's Freedom to Read program, said in a statement. "A disturbing 'everyday banning' and normalization of censorship has worsened and spread over the last four years. The result is unprecedented."
States with the most banned books
Between July 2024 and June 2025, PEN America tracked 6,870 instances of book bans across 23 states and 87 public school districts, according to the report.
The report states that Florida led the nation for the third straight year, with over 2,300 instances of book bans for the 2024-2025 school year. Florida was followed by Texaswith more than 1,780 bans, and Tennessee with over 1,600.
The advocacy group noted in its report that school districts often remove titles that are attacked by extremist groups with anti-LGBTQ+ stances and are against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. "Educators and school boards comply out of fear of losing funding, being fired or harassed, even being subjected to police involvement," PEN America said in a news release.
The report found that some of Florida's book bans were the result of direct pressure from local groups and elected officials rather than formal objections filed by parents with their local school boards. The report added that the increase in bans in the state was also due to the passage of multiple "vague laws" and threats to educators' professional licenses if they failed to comply.
"No book shelf will be left untouched if local and state book bans continue wreaking havoc on the freedom to read in public schools," Sabrina Baêta, senior manager of PEN America's Freedom to Read program, said in a statement. "Book bans stand in the way of a more just, informed and equitable world. They chill the freedom to read and restrict the rights of students to access information and read freely."
It's especially important when book bans happen in Florida, according to Meehan. She said the organization watches Florida's actions in particular since they see that the pressures placed on Florida's school districts often happen in other states or at the federal government level, through the Trump administration's orders.
"We have always called Florida a blueprint state, because what happens in Florida in terms of book bans then kind of trickles out to other states," Meehan said.
Book bans: Librarians, teachers and others plan day of action to fight book bans and preserve history
Top 5 banned books
PEN America has previously reported that the majority of targeted books were written by or about a person of color, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, or a woman.
"The books that continue to be most frequently targeted typically contain themes related to race and racism, gender identity and sexuality, or depict sexual violence," the organization said.
According to the report, the top five banned books for the 2024-2025 school year were:
"A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess with 23 bans
"Sold" by Patricia McCormick with 20 bans
"Breathless" by Jennifer Niven with 20 bans
"Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo with 19 bans
"A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas with 18 bans
Graphics explain the data: Most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ characters
Most banned authors
The report noted that book bans continue to impact a "wide group of creative professionals" in the literary sector. During the 2024-2025 school year, book bans affected the works of almost 2,600 people, including over 2,300 authors, more than 240 illustrators, and nearly 40 translators, according to the report.
The report states that the top five banned authors in the 2024-2025 school year were:
Stephen King: Eighty-seven titles banned, totaling 206 times.
Ellen Hopkins: Eighteen titles banned, totaling 167 times.
Sarah J. Maas: Twenty-one titles banned, totaling 162 times
Jodi Picoult: Twenty-three titles banned, totaling 62 times.
Yūsei Matsui: Twenty-two manga books in the Assassination Classroom series were banned, totaling 54 times.
Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/7CA6m1K class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
">Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
" src=https://ift.tt/7CA6m1K class=caas-img>Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1GM93fC class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.
">Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.
" src=https://ift.tt/1GM93fC class=caas-img>Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/2ZBs7tO class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.
">Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.
" src=https://ift.tt/2ZBs7tO class=caas-img>Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/NqThVYQ class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.
">Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.
" src=https://ift.tt/NqThVYQ class=caas-img>Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Aw27LQj class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.
">Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.
" src=https://ift.tt/Aw27LQj class=caas-img>Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/pdAFMPm class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.
">Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.
" src=https://ift.tt/pdAFMPm class=caas-img>Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/puNs1Sa class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.
">Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.
" src=https://ift.tt/puNs1Sa class=caas-img>"Misery" by Stephen King
" data-src=https://ift.tt/poxaVIg class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
"Misery" by Stephen King
">"Misery" by Stephen King
" src=https://ift.tt/poxaVIg class=caas-img>Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/02y6kbY class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.
">Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.
" src=https://ift.tt/02y6kbY class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Sc3yYwm class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.
">Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.
" src=https://ift.tt/Sc3yYwm class=caas-img>Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kVrULcA class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.
">Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.
" src=https://ift.tt/kVrULcA class=caas-img>J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/9Vseqw5 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.
">J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.
" src=https://ift.tt/9Vseqw5 class=caas-img>Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/RWSo7HA class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
">Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
" src=https://ift.tt/RWSo7HA class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/KWCXuBI class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.
">Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.
" src=https://ift.tt/KWCXuBI class=caas-img>"Duma Key" by Stephen King.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/2iIbxdG class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
"Duma Key" by Stephen King.
">"Duma Key" by Stephen King.
" src=https://ift.tt/2iIbxdG class=caas-img>Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007
" data-src=https://ift.tt/g9uXSln class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007
">Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007
" src=https://ift.tt/g9uXSln class=caas-img>Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/JXI5v10 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.
">Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.
" src=https://ift.tt/JXI5v10 class=caas-img>Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ikJw3f1 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.
">Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.
" src=https://ift.tt/ikJw3f1 class=caas-img>Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/4muLcD9 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.
">Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.
" src=https://ift.tt/4muLcD9 class=caas-img>Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/c4Kf6HN class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.
">Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.
" src=https://ift.tt/c4Kf6HN class=caas-img>Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."
" data-src=https://ift.tt/90ktLsd class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."
">Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."
" src=https://ift.tt/90ktLsd class=caas-img>Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gyRw8x7 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.
">Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.
" src=https://ift.tt/gyRw8x7 class=caas-img>Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/mWvdM61 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.
">Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.
" src=https://ift.tt/mWvdM61 class=caas-img>Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/2FnmDsY class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.
">Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.
" src=https://ift.tt/2FnmDsY class=caas-img>Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/BZ7iAWL class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.
">Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.
" src=https://ift.tt/BZ7iAWL class=caas-img>Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/rlsb0F2 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.
">Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.
" src=https://ift.tt/rlsb0F2 class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Yv3bxrC class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.
">Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.
" src=https://ift.tt/Yv3bxrC class=caas-img>Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/SOcvhNK class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
">Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/SOcvhNK class=caas-img>Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/5YPH8qg class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.
">Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.
" src=https://ift.tt/5YPH8qg class=caas-img>Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/J4zRsXr class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
">Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
" src=https://ift.tt/J4zRsXr class=caas-img>
1 / 30Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books
Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
Contributing: Stephany Matat, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: PEN America warns of 'rampant and common' book bans across US
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