UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – During the 2025-26 academic year, nearly 12,000 books were prohibited from U.S. public school libraries, according to data from PEN America. The organization recorded a total of 11,982 incidents involving 114 school districts, encompassing 7,370 distinct titles. Over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators faced restrictions on their works, including well-known Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North. These figures mark the highest annual total since PEN America began tracking school book bans in 2021.
Among the banned titles was Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, which appeared once again on the list. North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was included for the first time. Titles aimed at young adults comprised over half of the banned books, with fiction making up more than 80% of all cases. The index also saw over 4,500 new titles, broadening the scope of literature affected by school censorship disputes.
The majority of these bans originated in Texas and Florida, which reported over 8,100 and 3,200 cases respectively. PEN America stated that legislation in these states influenced 72% of the districts it monitored. During the 2025-26 school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight of school library collections and implemented statewide regulations on materials deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or inappropriate for minors.
Many restrictions are driven by conservative organizations
Conservative groups have played a significant role in organizing campaigns targeting books in public education. Groups such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have been actively involved in supporting challenges and removal efforts. PEN America has identified these organizations as engaging in conservative political activism. Separate national library data revealed that 92% of the book challenges in 2025 originated from pressure groups, officials, and institutional decision-makers, while individual parents accounted for less than 3%.
These figures have intensified debate over the influence of political campaigns on access to educational materials. PEN America reports that many of the restricted books address themes related to race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, sexuality, and sexual violence. The records also frequently include books about people of color, many of which had already been selected by educators and librarians for school collections. Increasingly, laws, public hearings, and organized challenges are determining which books remain accessible to students.
Concerns over free expression grow amid unprecedented totals
The scope of these restrictions now extends far beyond individual school controversies. Since 2021, PEN America has documented over 34,000 school book bans. The American Library Association separately reported 4,235 unique titles challenged during 2025, along with 5,668 books banned from libraries and another 920 facing restricted access. While their tracking methods differ, both organizations highlight an extraordinary level of pressure on book availability and educational resources.
The inclusion of Atwood and North introduces a Canadian element into a debate primarily focused on U.S. education policies. Laws supported by Republicans and conservative advocacy groups have become influential in decisions about school library collections. Organizations advocating for free expression argue that these widespread removals limit access to books that explore issues such as race, identity, sexuality, and other sensitive topics. Supporters of restrictions contend that minors should be protected from inappropriate material. The latest statistics demonstrate that the controversy now impacts thousands of books nationwide.