UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – According to PEN America, nearly 12,000 books were banned 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 had their works restricted, including Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North. These numbers represent the highest yearly total recorded since PEN America started tracking school book bans in 2021.
The book The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood appeared once again among those removed from school access, while North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was added to the index for the first time. Titles aimed at young adults constituted over half of all banned books, with fiction making up more than 80% of the total cases. The index also included more than 4,500 new titles, broadening the range of literature affected by school censorship disputes.
Most bans were concentrated in Texas and Florida, which accounted for the majority of the incidents. Texas reported over 8,100 cases, while Florida had more than 3,200. PEN America noted that legislation in those states influenced bans in 72% of the districts it monitored. During the 2025-26 school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight of school library collections and introduced statewide rules targeting materials deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or inappropriate for minors.
Conservative groups lead many of the challenges
Organized conservative organizations have played a significant role in the efforts to challenge and remove books in public schools. Groups such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have actively supported these removal campaigns. PEN America identified these organizations as part of conservative political activism, and separate national library data revealed that 92% of the 2025 book challenges originated from pressure groups, public officials, and institutional decision-makers. Parents individually accounted for fewer than 3% of the reported challenges.
This data has intensified debates over the influence of political campaigns on access to educational literature. PEN America reports that many restrictions target books related to race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, sexuality, and sexual violence. Literature involving people of color frequently appears in their records as well. Many of these titles had already been selected for school collections by educators and librarians, yet laws, public hearings, and organized campaigns increasingly determine which books remain accessible to students.
Concerns over free expression escalate amid historic totals
The extent of these restrictions now extends far beyond isolated school conflicts. Since 2021, PEN America has documented more than 34,000 school book bans. The American Library Association separately reported during 2025 that 4,235 unique titles faced challenges, with 5,668 books banned from libraries and another 920 restricted in access. Despite different tracking methods, both organizations highlight an unprecedented level of pressure on students’ access to books and educational materials.
The inclusion of Atwood and North introduces a Canadian aspect to a debate primarily centered on U.S. educational policy. Laws supported by Republicans and conservative advocacy groups have become dominant in decisions regarding school library collections. Free-expression advocates argue that the widespread removal of books diminishes access to literature about race, identity, sexuality, and other sensitive topics. Conversely, proponents of restrictions contend that schools must prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content. These latest figures reveal that the nationwide conflict now involves thousands of books.