UPDATE: A shocking new report reveals that Stephen King has become the most banned author in U.S. schools, with his works being censored 206 times for the 2024-2025 school year. PEN America released its findings in the report titled “Banned in the USA,” highlighting a troubling trend of book bans that affects students across the country.
The report tracks over 6,800 instances of books being temporarily or permanently removed from school libraries, although this figure marks a decline from more than 10,000 in the previous year. Despite this decrease, the numbers remain alarmingly high compared to previous years, prompting PEN to emphasize the ongoing crisis in literary censorship.
A staggering 80 percent of these bans originate from just three states: Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, which have enacted laws aimed at restricting access to books deemed objectionable. Meanwhile, states like Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey show contrasting trends, with minimal or no instances of book removals due to protective legislation.
Kasey Meehan, director of PEN’s Freedom to Read program, states, “It is increasingly a story of two countries.” The report reveals significant disparities in book bans across various districts, even within the same state—highlighting the complexities of the ongoing censorship battle.
King’s iconic titles, including Carrie and The Stand, have been caught in the crossfire, with 87 of his works affected. Other notable banned works include A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, which topped the list with 23 removals, as well as Sold by Patricia McCormick and Forever by Judy Blume. The report indicates that books featuring LGBTQ+ themes, racial issues, and depictions of violence are often targeted for removal.
The report underscores a disturbing trend: thousands of books are being preemptively removed from shelves to avoid potential backlash from community, political, or legal pressures, a practice described as “obeying in advance.” This chilling effect is rooted in a climate of fear surrounding controversial topics.
PEN America highlights that the current censorship efforts extend beyond state and conservative activist initiatives, reaching federal levels. The Department of Education has halted an investigation into the legality of these bans, calling the entire issue a “hoax.” The report also notes that the Department of Defense removed hundreds of books from K-12 libraries serving military families as part of a broader campaign against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
In Florida alone, over 2,000 books have been banned or restricted, with numerous removals of King’s titles linked to compliance reviews with state laws. Meehan explains, “Some districts will sweep so wide they end up removing Stephen King from access, too,” as they attempt to conform to increasingly stringent regulations on “adult” content.
PEN’s methodology diverges from that of the American Library Association (ALA), which focuses on permanent removals. PEN’s higher numbers reflect its broader criteria, capturing any book removed or restricted, regardless of duration. However, both organizations acknowledge that their data is not exhaustive, relying on media reports and direct information.
As the censorship crisis intensifies, Stephana Ferrell, director of Research & Insight at the Florida Freedom to Read Project, suggests that the actual number of bans may be “much higher” than reported by PEN, based on ongoing public records requests.
Meehan stresses the difficulty of quantifying the full scope of book banning, particularly in states with restrictive laws, stating, “In a state where a banning law is passed, we don’t have the data to know whether every school had the books affected.”
As the battle over book censorship continues to unfold, the human impact on students and educators remains profound. The implications of these bans extend beyond literature, affecting the diverse narratives that shape young minds.
Stay tuned for further updates as this critical issue develops, and share this report to raise awareness on the ongoing censorship crisis in American schools.
