Attempts to ban or remove books from school and public libraries across the United States continue at unprecedented rates, with recent data indicating that these challenges have not slowed down over the past year. Organizations like PEN America and the American Library Association (ALA) are tracking these efforts, which have surged significantly since 2020.
According to PEN America’s latest report, there were 11,982 book bans during the 2025-2026 school year, marking the highest number of individual bans recorded since tracking began in 2021. The ALA, using different metrics, reported 8,596 books targeted for removal or restricted access and 5,668 books actually removed from libraries in 2025. These figures highlight a sustained and organized movement aimed at censoring literature available to students and the public.
The primary targets of these challenges remain books that address themes of race, gender, and sexuality. PEN America found that 58% of the books removed or restricted in the 2025-2026 school year were aimed at young adult audiences. The ALA’s data further underscores this trend, with 39% of the unique titles challenged in 2025 representing the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals and people of color.
In contrast to earlier trends where individual parents might challenge a single book, current data indicates a well-organized movement. Nearly 92% of censorship attempts in 2025 were initiated by pressure groups, signaling a coordinated effort to influence library policies and remove specific narratives from public access. This shift suggests a broader agenda to challenge books about race, history, gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health in educational settings.
Despite some states enacting laws intended to prevent book bans, such as Minnesota’s law passed in 2024, the effectiveness of these measures remains limited due to a lack of enforcement. In Minnesota, where a law prohibits public libraries from banning books based on their messages, books are still being removed from shelves. This points to a complex legal and social landscape where the freedom to read is continually being contested, with organizations and advocates working to resist these censorship efforts and protect intellectual freedom.
