The Story Behind America’s School Book Bans

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This map stopped me in my tracks. Over 10,000 books were pulled from school shelves last year – but the numbers vary dramatically depending on where you live.

The latest data from PEN America shows that some states remove thousands of books while others keep their libraries largely unchanged. These aren’t just random differences – they reflect specific choices and new laws that are reshaping what students can read.

The States Leading Book Removals

Two states stand out with striking numbers:

• Florida: 4,561 book bans
• Iowa: 3,671 bans

Both states passed laws in 2023 that changed their school library policies. Florida’s new rule (HB 1069) requires schools to immediately remove any book that gets challenged for “sexual conduct” while it’s under review.

Most Commonly Banned Books

The most frequently banned books include titles like “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult (98 bans), “Looking for Alaska” by John Green (97 bans), and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky (85 bans).

The books below faced the most restrictions across U.S. school districts. (The following links will take you to the books’ pages on Amazon, where you can learn more about each title or purchase them if you wish.)

1. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
2. Looking for Alaska by John Green
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
4. Sold by Patricia McCormick
5. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
6. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
7. Identical by Ellen Hopkins
8. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
9. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
10. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
11. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
12. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
13. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
14. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
15. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
16. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
17. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

The Authors Facing the Most Restrictions

Some writers have multiple books being removed from schools. Here are the numbers:

Author	Total Bans	Unique Titles Affected
Ellen Hopkins	523	19
Sarah J. Maas	481	22
Stephen King	173	74
Jodi Picoult	161	22
John Green	157	8
Colleen Hoover	147	24
Margaret Atwood	125	9
Toni Morrison	116	5
Lauren Myracle	108	10

Common Themes in Banned Books

Looking at the data, clear patterns emerge in what’s being removed:

• 44% feature characters of color
• 39% include LGBTQ+ themes or characters
• 57% contain content related to sex or relationships

Financial Impact

These decisions affect school budgets too. Districts spend between $34,000 and $135,000 yearly on the review and removal process. Nationwide, that adds up to an estimated $3.2 billion for the 2023-2024 school year.

How do these numbers compare to what you’re seeing? Are books being removed from your local school libraries? Let me know in the comments what’s happening in your area – your perspective helps paint a clearer picture of how these policies play out in different communities.