Florida Leads 2024–25 U.S. School Book Bans

PEN America’s 2024–25 “Banned in the USA” report documents more than 6,800 instances of books temporarily or permanently removed from U.S. schools—down from over 10,000 the prior year but still far above pre‑2020 levels. Roughly 80% of bans were concentrated in Florida (2,304), Texas (1,781) and Tennessee (1,622). Stephen King was the most‑censored author with 206 instances affecting 87 of his works, while Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange was the single most‑banned title (23 removals). PEN and free‑speech advocates say bans disproportionately targeted books with LGBTQ+ themes and works addressing race, sexual content or violence, driven by social media, activist groups and new state laws that have produced a chilling effect and quiet self‑censorship. The report documents a growing national divide—some states and districts are restricting access while others pass rules to limit removals—and notes actions like the Department of Defense’s removal of hundreds of titles that have prompted lawsuits. PEN warns book banning has become “normalized” in parts of the country and that Florida’s model has often served as a blueprint for similar efforts elsewhere.