Dramatic Rise in Book Bans in US Schools Amid New Censorship Laws

A recent report from PEN America indicates that over 10,000 books were banned in US public schools during the 2023-2024 academic year, marking a significant increase from previous years. This threefold surge from the 3,362 bans recorded the prior year highlights the impact of new censorship laws enacted by Republican-led states.

The survey conducted by PEN America reveals that Florida and Iowa accounted for approximately 8,000 of the banned titles, largely due to state legislation. Additionally, other districts, such as the Elkhorn Area School District in Wisconsin, have also seen substantial increases, with more than 300 books banned for several months.

The report notes that the rise in book bans is partly driven by restrictions on sexual content, affecting literature that includes themes of romance, women's sexual experiences, and discussions of rape or sexual abuse. Furthermore, there has been an ongoing crackdown on books featuring LGBTQ+ characters, as well as those addressing race and racism with characters of color.

PEN America warns that the actual number of banned books could be even higher, as many incidents of book bans go unreported. The report also points out that these figures do not capture instances of "soft censorship," which includes reluctance in selecting books, ideologically motivated restrictions on school book purchases, removal of classroom libraries, and cancellations of author events and book fairs.