UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – During the 2025-26 academic year, U.S. public schools documented nearly 12,000 book bans, according to PEN America. The total reached 11,982 instances across 114 school districts, involving 7,370 distinct titles. Over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators had their work restricted. Canadian authors Margaret Atwood and Ryan North were among those impacted. These figures represent the highest annual total since PEN America began tracking school book bans in 2021.
The novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood was once again among the titles 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 constituted over half of all banned books. Fiction accounted for more than 80% of the cases recorded. The index also included over 4,500 titles for the first time, broadening the scope of literature involved in school censorship disputes.
Most of the bans were concentrated in Texas and Florida, with Texas recording over 8,100 cases and Florida more than 3,200. PEN America reported that legislation in these states influenced bans in 72% of the districts it 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.
Conservative organizations play a significant role in initiating challenges
Organized conservative groups have significantly contributed to campaigns seeking to challenge and remove books in public schools. Groups such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have supported efforts to challenge and remove certain titles. PEN America identified these organizations as engaged in conservative political activism. Separate national library data indicated that 92% of the 2025 book challenges stemmed from pressure groups, public officials, and institutional decision-makers. Individual parents represented less than 3% of reported challenges.
This data has intensified discussions about the influence of political campaigns on access to school literature. PEN America notes that restrictions often target books related to race, racism, LGBTQ+ themes, sexuality, and sexual violence. Literature involving people of color frequently appears in the organization’s records. Many of these titles had already been selected by educators and librarians for school collections, but laws, public hearings, and organized challenges increasingly determine which books remain accessible to students.
Concerns over free expression grow amid record-high bans
The scope of restrictions now extends well beyond isolated school disputes. Since 2021, PEN America has documented more than 34,000 school book bans. The American Library Association separately reported 4,235 unique titles challenged during 2025. They also recorded 5,668 books banned from libraries and another 920 facing access restrictions. Although their tracking methods differ, both organizations highlight an unprecedented level of pressure on educational materials and access to books.
The involvement of Atwood and North introduces a Canadian element into a conflict largely centered on U.S. education policy. Republican-backed laws and conservative advocacy groups have become prominent actors in decisions about school library collections. Organizations advocating for free expression argue that widespread removals limit access to literature addressing race, identity, sexuality, and other sensitive topics. Supporters of restrictions contend that schools must prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material. The latest statistics demonstrate that the debate now impacts thousands of books across the country.