A new report from PEN America reveals that public schools across the United States recorded nearly 12,000 instances of book bans during the 2025-26 school year, the highest number since the organization began tracking restrictions on school library materials in 2021.
The report, released October 5, documented 11,982 instances of book bans involving 7,370 different titles across 114 school districts. More than 4,000 authors, illustrators and translators were affected, with over 4,500 titles appearing on the organization’s banned-book index for the first time.
The findings highlight an intensifying national debate over what students should be permitted to read, the authority of parents and school officials to determine appropriate materials, and the role of government in public education.
According to PEN America, books addressing race, racism, LGBTQ+ identities and sexuality have been frequent targets of removal efforts. The organization argues that restricting access to these works limits students’ opportunities to encounter different perspectives and learn about experiences outside their own communities.
Supporters of book restrictions, meanwhile, have argued that schools must ensure materials are age-appropriate and that parents should have a greater voice in determining what is available to children.
Texas and Florida accounted for the overwhelming majority of documented bans during the 2025-26 school year. Texas recorded more than 8,000 instances, according to the report, following implementation of a 2025 state law governing school library materials.
PEN America found that state legislation played a role in book restrictions in 72% of the school districts it tracked. In some cases, schools removed books in response to new laws, review procedures or pressure from elected officials.
The report also identified a growing trend involving artificial intelligence. Some school districts have begun using AI tools to evaluate books for potential removal, raising questions about whether automated systems can adequately assess literary content and educational value.
Public records obtained by the Texas Freedom to Read Project showed instances in which AI systems recommended removing books partly because they had already been restricted elsewhere.
PEN America warned that relying on such recommendations could lead to additional removals without thorough reviews of individual books.
Young adult literature accounted for the largest share of affected titles, representing approximately 58% of banned books. Adult books made up 26%, while middle-grade titles accounted for 10%.
Fiction dominated the list, representing approximately 87% of affected titles.
Among the books most frequently restricted were Sold by Patricia McCormick, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Looking for Alaska by John Green.
The report also documented an increase in restrictions involving graphic novels and Japanese manga, a popular illustrated storytelling format. Graphic novels represented approximately 14% of recorded bans.
PEN America said some challenges to graphic novels focused on individual illustrations depicting violence, sexuality or gender identity without considering the broader context of the works.
Several prominent authors, including Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Angie Thomas and Tiffany D. Jackson, have experienced repeated restrictions involving multiple books.
The inclusion of books by authors of color has drawn particular attention from educators and free-expression advocates concerned about the availability of literature reflecting diverse cultural and historical experiences.
The organization also reported that some districts removed entire series of graphic novels, resulting in dozens of individual volumes becoming unavailable to students.
While the report documents a substantial increase in restrictions, PEN America acknowledged that its findings may not capture every instance of book removal. Some districts do not publicly report such decisions, while others quietly limit purchases or remove titles without formal challenges.
The organization’s figures represent instances of bans, meaning the same book may be counted multiple times when restricted in different districts. They do not indicate that nearly 12,000 different books were banned nationwide.
The debate has placed school boards, librarians, educators and parents at the center of difficult decisions about educational content, student access and community standards.
As school districts continue reviewing library collections, the broader question remains how public schools can balance parental concerns about age-appropriate materials with students’ access to literature covering a wide range of ideas, histories and experiences.
The complete report, ‘A Spotlight on School Book Bans,’ is available through PEN America at <pen.org>.
