UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – During the 2025-26 academic year, U.S. public schools enacted a total of 11,982 book bans, according to PEN America. This figure represents the highest annual number since the organization began monitoring school restrictions in 2021. The bans impacted 7,370 unique titles across 114 school districts, involving over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators. Among those affected were Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North.
The title The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood remained among the books restricted by school bans. North’s Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable Path Adventure was listed in PEN America’s index for the first time. Over half of the restricted titles were young-adult books, with fiction making up more than 80% of all bans recorded. Additionally, more than 4,500 titles appeared in the index for the first time, expanding the scope of books involved in conflicts over school collections.
Most bans were concentrated in Texas and Florida, which accounted for the majority of cases—more than 8,100 in Texas and over 3,200 in Florida. PEN America noted that legislation in these states influenced bans in 72% of the districts it monitors. During the 2025-26 school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight over school library content and introduced statewide rules targeting material deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or inappropriate for minors.
Conservative activism influences the wave of book challenges
Organizations with conservative ties have been prominent in efforts to remove books from public school shelves. Groups like Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have actively supported challenges against certain school materials. PEN America has previously identified these organizations as part of a broader conservative movement that emphasizes education and parental authority. National library data for 2025 revealed that 92% of reported book challenges stemmed from pressure groups, government officials, and institutional decision-makers, while individual parents contributed less than 3%.
Many of the targeted subjects follow distinct patterns. PEN America reports that restrictions frequently involve books addressing race, racism, LGBTQ+ topics, sexuality, and sexual violence. Works featuring people of color are also often among those challenged. Many of these books had been selected by educators and librarians for school collections prior to facing opposition. Today, legislative measures, public hearings, and organized campaigns have taken on a more prominent role in determining what students can access.
Advocates for free speech express concern over increasing limitations
The extent of book restrictions in the U.S. has surged since national tracking began. PEN America reports over 34,000 school book bans since 2021, while the American Library Association recorded 4,235 unique titles challenged during 2025. It also documented 5,668 books banned from libraries and an additional 920 subject to access restrictions. Although their methods differ, both organizations highlight widespread pressure against books and educational resources nationwide.
The inclusion of Atwood and North in these figures adds an international aspect to the data, yet the core controversy remains rooted in U.S. education policy. Laws backed by Republicans and conservative advocacy groups now heavily influence decisions about school library collections. Free speech organizations warn that broad removals limit students’ access to literature on identity, race, sexuality, and other sensitive topics. Proponents of tighter controls argue that schools need to vet materials for age appropriateness. The latest totals underscore that this ongoing conflict now involves thousands of titles across U.S. public schools.