Key facts
- US public schools saw a record 12,000 book bans in the 2025-2026 school year.
- PEN America reported 34,000 book bans since the organization began tracking in 2021.
- Texas led the nation with over 8,100 book bans, largely due to state law SB13.
- Over 7,000 unique titles and more than 4,000 authors were affected by the bans.
- The novel 'Sold' by Patricia McCormick was the most frequently banned title.
- Stephen King was the most banned author for the second consecutive year.
The United States experienced a record high of nearly 12,000 book bans in public schools during the 2025-2026 academic year, according to a report released Monday by the free-expression non-profit PEN America. This marks the highest number of bans recorded in a single year since the organization began tracking the trend in 2021, with a cumulative total of 34,000 instances.
PEN America attributed the surge to new state-level censorship laws and the implementation of artificial intelligence tools, which have led to the removal of a vast number of titles. Texas reported the highest number of book bans for the 2025-2026 school year, with over 8,100 instances, largely driven by state law SB13. Previously, Florida had held the top position for three consecutive years.
The bans affected a record number of unique titles, exceeding 7,000, and involved more than 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators. The report identified 114 school districts that implemented book bans during the school year, the highest figure recorded annually.
The young adult novel 'Sold' by journalist Patricia McCormick, which depicts a teen from Nepal sold into sexual servitude, was the most frequently banned title. Stephen King was named the most banned author for the second year in a row.
McCormick expressed anger over the disrespect shown to the survivors whose stories are told in her book and to students who seek out such literature for understanding and empathy. The bans also highlighted concerns over prohibitions on popular genres like fiction and manga, with fiction comprising over 90% of banned young adult titles.
Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, stated that banning engaging titles is particularly detrimental when overall reading for pleasure is declining. She emphasized that schools should encourage reading by introducing children to diverse stories, rather than banning books that help them see themselves in literature, deepen empathy, and develop their imaginations.