UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – During the 2025-26 academic year, nearly 12,000 books were prohibited from public schools across the U.S., as reported by PEN America. The total number of cases reached 11,982, involving 114 school districts and encompassing 7,370 distinct titles. Over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators faced restrictions on their works, including notable Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North. These figures represent the highest annual total since PEN America began monitoring school book bans in 2021.
Among the titles banned was Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, which reappeared on the list of removed books, while North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was included for the first time. Books aimed at young adults accounted for more than half of all banned titles, with fiction comprising over 80% of the reported cases. The index also saw more than 4,500 new titles added, broadening the spectrum of literature caught up in school censorship conflicts.
The majority of bans originated in Texas and Florida, with Texas reporting over 8,100 incidents and Florida more than 3,200. PEN America highlighted that legislative measures in these states influenced bans in 72% of the districts it monitored. During the 2025-26 school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight over school library collections and established statewide regulations concerning materials deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or inappropriate for minors.
Conservative organizations play a leading role in driving challenges
Proactive conservative groups have been instrumental in orchestrating campaigns against books within public educational institutions. Organizations such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have actively supported efforts to challenge and remove certain titles. PEN America identified these groups as associated with conservative political activism. Moreover, separate national library data revealed that 92% of the 2025 book challenges originated from pressure groups, government officials, and institutional decision-makers, with individual parents contributing less than 3% of the reported challenges.
These statistics have intensified ongoing debates regarding how political activism influences students’ access to literature. PEN America notes that many restrictions disproportionately impact books discussing race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, sexuality, and sexual violence, with works about people of color frequently appearing in their records. Most targeted titles had already been vetted and selected by educators and librarians for inclusion in school collections. Nonetheless, laws, public hearings, and organized protests increasingly determine which books remain accessible to students.
Concerns over free expression escalate amid unprecedented totals
The scope of these restrictions now extends far beyond isolated school disputes. Since 2021, PEN America has tracked more than 34,000 school book bans, while the American Library Association separately reported 4,235 unique titles challenged during 2025. The organization also documented 5,668 books banned from libraries and an additional 920 with restricted access. Although their tracking methods differ, both organizations highlight an unusually high level of pressure on access to books and educational resources.
The involvement of Atwood and North adds a Canadian element to a broader conflict rooted in U.S. education policy. Conservative-backed legislation and advocacy groups have gained prominence in shaping decisions over school library collections. Civil liberties organizations argue that the widespread removal of titles diminishes access to literature on race, identity, sexuality, and other controversial subjects. Advocates for restrictions contend that schools must shield minors from inappropriate content. The latest statistics illustrate that this ongoing dispute now impacts thousands of books across the nation.