UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – According to PEN America, nearly 12,000 books were banned across U.S. public schools in the 2025-26 academic year. The total reached 11,982 incidents involving 114 school districts and encompassed 7,370 distinct titles. Over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators faced restrictions on their work. Among those impacted were Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North. These figures represent the highest annual total since PEN America began tracking school book bans in 2021.
The book The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood was once again among those removed from school access. North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was listed for the first time. Titles aimed at young adults made up over half of all banned books. Fiction accounted for more than 80% of the cases recorded. Additionally, more than 4,500 titles appeared in the index for the first time, broadening the scope of literature caught in school censorship battles.
Most bans occurred in Texas and Florida. Texas saw over 8,100 cases, while Florida experienced more than 3,200. PEN America reported 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. The law also established statewide standards for materials deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or unsuitable for minors.
Many Challenges Led by Conservative Advocacy Groups
Organized conservative entities have played a significant role in efforts to challenge and remove books from public schools. Groups such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have supported various challenges and removal initiatives. PEN America identified these organizations as having conservative political motivations. Separate national library data revealed that 92% of the book challenges in 2025 originated from pressure groups, public officials, and institutional decision-makers. In contrast, individual parents accounted for fewer than 3% of the reported challenges.
These statistics have intensified debate over the influence of political campaigns on access to school literature. PEN America notes that many restrictions target books discussing race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, sexuality, and sexual violence. Titles involving people of color are frequently featured in the organization’s records. Most of these targeted books had already been chosen by educators and librarians for school collections. However, laws, public hearings, and organized challenges increasingly determine which books remain accessible to students.
Concerns Over Free Expression Rise Amid Record Book Bans
The scope of these restrictions now extends far beyond individual school disputes. PEN America has documented over 34,000 school book bans since 2021. The American Library Association separately reported 4,235 unique titles challenged during 2025. It also recorded 5,668 books banned from libraries and another 920 facing access restrictions. While both organizations employ different tracking methods, their data clearly indicate an unusually high level of pressure on access to literature and educational materials.
The involvement of Atwood and North adds a Canadian element to the broader U.S.-centered conflict over education policy. Republican-backed legislation and conservative advocacy groups have become dominant forces shaping decisions about school library collections. Free-expression advocates argue that these widespread removals limit access to books addressing race, identity, sexuality, and other contentious topics. Supporters of restrictions contend that schools must protect minors from unsuitable material. The latest data shows that the dispute now impacts thousands of books nationwide.