See Which States Banned the Most Books from Public Schools this Year, According to 2026 PEN Report

**Record Number of Books Banned in US Schools, According to PEN America Report**

In a startling development, nearly 12,000 books have been banned from schools across the United States during the 2025-2026 academic year, marking a troubling new record in censorship. This significant spike in restrictions affects over 7,000 unique titles and involves roughly 4,000 different authors, highlighting a widespread shift toward limiting access to literature in educational institutions.

PEN America, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to defending free expression and promoting the importance of literature, released the alarming figures to coincide with Banned Books Week. The organisation attributes this sharp increase in book bans to the introduction of stringent state censorship laws and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in assessing literature for potential removal.

The report reveals that Texas has overtaken Florida as the state with the highest number of book bans, recording nearly 8,100 prohibitions this year. This represents a significant shift, as Florida had previously held this dubious distinction for three consecutive years. A key factor contributing to Texas’s surge in book bans is a new law that removes broad categories of literature from school libraries, resulting in a wider scope for censorship.

Florida follows closely behind with over 3,200 book bans, indicating that the trend is not an isolated issue but a growing phenomenon across various states. The motivations behind these bans appear multifaceted, influenced by political pressures as well as fears of potential backlash from voters, which may lead to school districts erring on the side of caution by removing books en masse.

Philomena Polefrone, senior manager of PEN America’s Freedom to Read programme, commented on the state of confusion sparked by vague censorship laws. She stated, “Unsure how to comply, districts are removing books en masse, sometimes with the ‘help’ of crude AI tools that only make the problem worse.”

One of the concerning aspects of this mass censorship is that many of these bans occur without public awareness. “Thousands of these cases are only recorded because of public information requests by local advocacy groups,” she noted. This lack of transparency is particularly troubling, especially considering that many of the banned titles were funded by taxpayer money.

The report also highlights that over 90 per cent of the books facing bans are fiction, including young adult novels and manga. Among the most frequently banned titles is Patricia McCormick’s 2006 novel “Sold,” which tells the poignant fictitious story of a teenager from Nepal forced into sexual slavery. This title exemplifies the types of narratives that are being repressed in the current climate of censorship.

Stephen King has been named the most banned author for the second consecutive year, with several of his works falling victim to recent prohibitions. Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read programme, emphasised the detrimental impact of these bans on young readers. “When reading for pleasure is in decline across all ages, bans on popular and engaging titles are exceptionally tragic,” she remarked.

Meehan further lamented that, rather than fostering a love for literature, many educational institutions are moving in the opposite direction. She called for schools to focus on connecting children with engaging stories that not only reflect their own experiences but also cultivate empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives.

As the landscape of book access shifts dramatically, concerns over the ramifications of such bans grow increasingly urgent. Many authors, educators, and advocates worry that the erosion of literary freedoms could undermine the role of schools as bastions of knowledge, creativity, and critical thought.

The ongoing trend of book bans raises essential questions about the future of education and the importance of maintaining a vibrant literary culture. Amid these pressing challenges, organisations like PEN America are working tirelessly to advocate for free expression and to ensure that students continue to have access to a broad array of literature that fuels their imaginations and understanding of the world.