UNITED STATES / RankWire.AI / – According to PEN America, nearly 12,000 books were banned across U.S. public schools during the 2025-26 academic year. The total number of cases reached 11,982, involving 114 school districts and 7,370 distinct titles. Over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators faced restrictions on their work. Among those affected were Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Ryan North. These figures represent the highest annual total since PEN America began monitoring school book bans in 2021.
The novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood appeared once more on the list of banned books. Meanwhile, 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, with fiction making up more than 80% of the cases recorded. Additionally, more than 4,500 titles appeared for the first time, broadening the spectrum of literature caught in school censorship debates.
Most bans were concentrated in Texas and Florida, with Texas recording over 8,100 cases and Florida surpassing 3,200. PEN America stated that legislation in these states influenced bans in 72% of the districts it tracked. During the 2025-26 school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 increased parental oversight of school library collections. The law also established statewide regulations concerning materials deemed harmful, indecent, profane, or unsuitable for minors.
Conservative organizations play a central role in opposition efforts
Major conservative groups have been instrumental in organizing campaigns to challenge and remove books in public schools. Organizations such as Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom, and Parents’ Rights in Education have actively supported efforts to contest and eliminate certain titles. PEN America identified these organizations as engaged in conservative political activism. Data from a national library survey showed that 92% of book challenges in 2025 originated from pressure groups, public officials, and institutional decision-makers, while individual parents accounted for fewer than 3% of the reported challenges.
These statistics have intensified discussions about the political influence on access to educational literature. PEN America emphasizes that many restrictions target books on race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, sexuality, and sexual violence. Titles involving people of color are also frequently listed in the organization’s records. Many of the challenged books had already been selected by educators and librarians for school collections. The combined impact of laws, public hearings, and organized campaigns increasingly determines which books remain accessible to students.
Concerns over free expression escalate amid unprecedented bans
The scope of these restrictions now extends far beyond isolated school disputes. PEN America has documented over 34,000 book bans in schools since 2021. Meanwhile, the American Library Association separately reported 4,235 unique titles challenged during 2025, along with 5,668 books removed from libraries and 920 titles restricted from access. Despite differences in their tracking methods, both organizations highlight the unusually high pressure on the availability of books and educational materials.
The inclusion of Atwood and North introduces a Canadian element to a conflict primarily centered on U.S. education policy. Laws supported by Republicans and conservative advocacy groups have become key actors in decisions regarding school library collections. Free-expression advocates argue that the widespread removal of books diminishes access to works addressing race, identity, sexuality, and other sensitive topics. Supporters of restrictions contend that minors should be protected from inappropriate material. The latest figures reveal that this ongoing dispute now impacts thousands of books nationwide.