UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – The number of book bans in U.S. schools reached a new high during the 2025-26 academic year, impacting authors such as Margaret Atwood and Ryan North. PEN America reported 11,982 bans, marking the highest annual total since they began tracking in 2021. These bans involved 7,370 unique titles across 114 districts. Over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators faced restrictions, illustrating the expanding scope of school censorship.
The novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood remained among the most frequently banned titles. North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was listed for the first time. More than half of the banned works were young-adult books. Fiction made up over 80% of the total bans. Additionally, more than 4,500 titles appeared in the index for the first time, broadening the range of literature being removed from students’ access.
Texas and Florida, led by Republican officials, accounted for most of the bans. Texas recorded over 8,100 bans, while Florida had more than 3,200. PEN America connected bans in 72% of the districts tracked to state legislation. The Texas Senate Bill 13, which took effect for the 2025-26 school year, increased parental oversight of school library collections. It also mandated statewide standards that restrict materials deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or age-inappropriate. Supporters call these laws parental-control and child-protection measures.
Conservative politics influence censorship efforts
The overall data indicates that the censorship push is closely tied to conservative political groups rather than sporadic parental protests. Organizations like Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have actively promoted book removals. Earlier research by PEN America described these groups as advocating strongly conservative values. The American Library Association found that 92% of 2025 book challenges originated from pressure groups, government officials, and decision-makers. Less than 3% came directly from individual parents.
This imbalance has led to growing criticism that right-wing efforts are limiting what students can read in public schools. PEN America highlights that bans disproportionately target books about race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, people of color, sexuality, and sexual violence. Many of these books were already part of school collections before challenges began. The organization also documented political influence through legislation, hearings, and removal demands. These processes can turn ideological disputes over specific books into restrictions affecting entire school systems.
Rising book bans spark concerns over free expression
The national scope extends well beyond isolated local conflicts. Since 2021, PEN America has recorded over 34,000 school book bans. The American Library Association separately identified 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025. They also reported 5,668 books banned from libraries and 920 facing access restrictions. Although they use different methods, both groups reveal censorship at historic levels. Their research shows coordinated organizations and government actions play a key role in many removals.
Atwood and North’s figures add a Canadian perspective, but the core issue remains rooted in U.S. education politics. Laws backed by Republicans and conservative advocacy networks have shifted decision-making from local educators and librarians to political forces. Organizations focused on free expression argue that these restrictions limit access to literature on identity, race, and sexuality. Supporters contend that schools must ensure materials are age-appropriate. The record-breaking totals reflect how these political struggles now determine access to thousands of books in U.S. public schools.