UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – According to PEN America, U.S. public educational institutions imposed 11,982 book bans during the 2025-26 academic year, marking the highest annual tally since the organization started monitoring school restrictions in 2021. These bans impacted 7,370 distinct titles across 114 school districts, with data including over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators. Notably, Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North were among those whose works faced limitations.
The novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood remained among the titles affected by school book bans, while North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was newly included in PEN America’s index. More than half of the restricted titles during this period were young-adult books. Fiction books accounted for over 80% of all recorded bans, with over 4,500 titles appearing for the first time, expanding the scope of books involved in disputes over school collections.
Texas and Florida contributed the majority of bans reported, with Texas alone accounting for more than 8,100 cases, and Florida recording in excess of 3,200. PEN America indicated that legislation within these states influenced 72% of the districts it observed. During the 2025-26 school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight of school library materials, establishing statewide guidelines for content deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or inappropriate for minors.
Conservative activism influences book removal efforts
Organizations with conservative ties have actively contributed to campaigns aimed at removing books from public school collections. Groups such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have supported challenges to educational materials. PEN America has previously described these organizations as part of a broader conservative movement focused on education and parental authority. National library data for 2025 revealed that pressure groups, government officials, and institutional decision-makers accounted for 92% of reported book challenges, while individual parents contributed less than 3%.
The subjects targeted in many of these challenges reveal discernible patterns. PEN America states that restrictions often involve books related to race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, sexuality, and sexual violence. Books featuring people of color are also frequently mentioned. Many of these works were initially chosen by educators and librarians for school collections before facing opposition. Today, legislative actions, public hearings, and organized campaigns have a greater influence on which titles students can access.
Organizations advocating for free expression warn about increasing censorship
Since expanded tracking began, the extent of book restrictions across U.S. schools has risen sharply. PEN America has documented over 34,000 bans on school books since 2021. The American Library Association separately reported 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, along with 5,668 books banned from libraries and an additional 920 subject to restricted access. Although the two organizations utilize different methodologies, both highlight widespread pressure on literary and educational materials nationwide.
The inclusion of Atwood and North in these figures lends an international dimension, yet the core controversy remains rooted in U.S. education policy. Laws supported by Republicans and conservative advocacy groups influence many decisions regarding school library collections. Free speech organizations warn that broad removals limit students’ access to literature addressing identity, race, sexuality, and other sensitive topics. Proponents of stricter controls argue that schools must evaluate materials for age appropriateness. The latest data confirms that the ongoing conflict involves thousands of titles across U.S. public schools.