US schools record nearly 12,000 book bans in 2025-26

US schools recorded 11,982 book bans during the 2025-26 academic year, the highest number documented in a single year, according to a new report by PEN America. The restrictions affected 7,370 unique titles and more than 4,000 authors, illustrators and translators, putting renewed focus on the growing battle over what students can read in school libraries.

The findings were published in PEN America’s latest Banned in the USA report during Banned Books Week, an annual observance focused on censorship and access to literature. The latest figures take the total number of school book bans recorded by the organisation since 2021 to nearly 34,000.

Texas leads latest wave of book removals

Texas recorded the highest number of book bans in 2025-26, with more than 8,100 removals. It was the first time the state topped PEN America’s annual count after Florida held the position for three consecutive years.

The sharp rise in Texas has been linked to Senate Bill 13 (SB13), which places restrictions on certain categories of books available in public school libraries.

Florida also continued to report a high number of removals. Both states have introduced rules governing library materials, while conservative groups and political activists have pushed for the removal of books they consider unsuitable for students.

The issue has also spread to more school districts. According to PEN America, 114 school districts reported book bans during the 2025-26 academic year, a record number.

AI screening adds a new dimension

Artificial intelligence is also becoming part of the debate over school library books.

AI-powered screening tools can scan large collections and flag titles based on words, themes or categories identified as potentially problematic. Such systems can allow schools to review books far more quickly than through conventional manual screening.

PEN America said the growing use of these tools, combined with new state-level restrictions, may have contributed to the increase in titles being flagged and removed.

Stephen King remains the most frequently banned author

For the second consecutive year, Stephen King was the author whose works were banned most frequently. His books were involved in 312 removal instances during the academic year.

Among the individual titles repeatedly targeted was Sold, a young adult novel about a Nepali girl forced into sexual servitude. Other frequently challenged books included Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Speak and Crank.

Speak follows a teenager who becomes withdrawn and stops speaking after being raped, while Crank explores the effects of drug addiction.

Jane Eyre and Tokyo Ghoul also targeted

The latest restrictions have extended beyond contemporary young adult fiction to works long regarded as literary classics.

More than 4,500 titles were banned for the first time during the 2025-26 school year, PEN America said. Among them was Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, one of the most recognised works of 19th-century English literature.

The list also included the popular manga series Tokyo Ghoul, showing how challenges have expanded beyond books assigned in classrooms to titles students may choose to read independently.

Young adult fiction and manga face growing scrutiny

Young adult literature was among the most affected categories. More than 90% of banned young adult titles were fiction, according to the report.

The inclusion of manga and other popular entertainment titles further illustrates the widening scope of school library challenges. The books affected range from classic literature and bestselling fiction to contemporary young adult novels and manga.

Race, sexuality and gender remain major issues

Challenges to books continue to centre on themes involving race and racism, sexuality, sexual content and gender identity.

Supporters of book restrictions argue that schools should have greater authority over material made available to children, particularly when parents consider content inappropriate for their age.

Opponents argue that removing books can limit students’ exposure to different cultures, experiences and perspectives and can prevent young readers from accessing literature that reflects their own lives.

Debate over who decides what students can read

PEN America has continued to warn about the impact of widespread book removals on students’ access to ideas and diverse perspectives.

With more states introducing rules governing school libraries and more districts reviewing books through expanded screening processes, the debate over censorship, parental rights and students’ freedom to read is likely to remain contentious.

The record 11,982 book bans documented in 2025-26 underline the scale of that debate, with everything from Jane Eyre and Stephen King novels to young adult fiction and manga now caught in the fight over what belongs on school library shelves.