UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – According to PEN America, nearly 12,000 books were prohibited in U.S. public schools during the 2025-26 academic year. The total reached 11,982 incidents across 114 school districts and involved 7,370 distinct titles. Over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators experienced restrictions on their work. Among those impacted were Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North. These figures represent the highest annual total recorded since PEN America began tracking school book bans in 2021.
The book The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood once again appeared on the list of banned titles, removed from access in schools. For the first time, North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was included in the organization’s index. Titles aimed at young adults accounted for over half of all banned books. Fiction made up more than 80% of the cases documented. Additionally, more than 4,500 titles were listed for the first time, broadening the spectrum of literature affected by school censorship disputes.
Most bans originated in Texas and Florida. Texas recorded over 8,100 cases, while Florida reported more than 3,200. PEN America noted that legislation in these states influenced bans in 72% of the districts monitored. During the 2025-26 school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight of school library collections and introduced statewide regulations governing materials deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or inappropriate for minors.
Many of the challenges are fueled by conservative organizations
Organized conservative groups have significantly contributed to efforts opposing books within public education. Groups such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have backed challenges and removal campaigns. PEN America identified these organizations as active in conservative political activism. Data from separate national library statistics indicated that 92% of the 2025 book challenges stemmed from pressure groups, government officials, and institutional decision-makers, with individual parents making up less than 3% of reported objections.
These statistics have intensified debates around how political influence shapes access to educational materials. PEN America reports that restrictions often target books related to race, racism, LGBTQ+ identities, sexuality, and sexual violence. Records frequently feature titles involving people of color. Many of the books targeted had already been selected by teachers and librarians for school collections, but laws, public hearings, and organized protests increasingly determine which titles remain accessible to students.
Concerns over free expression escalate amid record bans
The scope of these restrictions extends far beyond individual school disputes. PEN America has documented over 34,000 school book bans since 2021. Meanwhile, the American Library Association separately reported 4,235 unique titles challenged during 2025, with 5,668 books banned from libraries and another 920 facing restricted access. Despite different tracking approaches, both organizations highlight an unprecedented surge in pressure on literary access and educational resources.
The inclusion of Atwood and North introduces a Canadian element into a conflict primarily focused on U.S. education policy. Conservative advocacy groups and laws supported by Republicans have become dominant influences in decisions about school library holdings. Free-expression organizations contend that these widespread removals limit access to literature on race, identity, sexuality, and other controversial topics. Meanwhile, proponents argue that schools must keep inappropriate material away from minors. The latest statistics reveal that the issue now involves thousands of books nationwide, fueling ongoing debates about censorship and free speech.