School book bans reached annual record of nearly 12,000, report finds

The short version

• PEN America tracked nearly 12,000 public school book bans during the 2025-2026 academic year, marking a new single-year record.[The Guardian]
• Texas led all states with more than 8,100 bans, surpassing Florida following the implementation of Texas state law SB13.[The Guardian]
• The restrictions impacted over 7,000 unique titles and 4,000 creators, with Stephen King ranking as the most targeted author for a second straight year.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• PEN America reported nearly 12,000 book bans in US public schools during the 2025-2026 academic year.[The Guardian]
• Since tracking began in 2021, the non-profit organization has documented 34,000 instances of school book bans.[The Guardian]
• Texas recorded more than 8,100 bans in the 2025-2026 school year, largely linked to the state law SB13.[The Guardian]
• Florida previously had the highest number of school book bans for three consecutive years.[The Guardian]
• The restrictions affected more than 7,000 unique titles and over 4,000 authors, illustrators, and translators.[The Guardian]
• Stephen King was the most banned author for the second consecutive year.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• US book bans in public schools reach record annual high of 12,000The Guardian - US
• PEN America: Nearly 12,000 school book bans in a year, a record highAssociated Press