Stephen King Tops Book Bans in U.S. Schools, 2024–25
The PEN America report, published this week in its study titled Banned in the USA, reveals that 6,800 books were banned or removed either temporarily or permanently during the 2024–2025 school year. While this figure is down from the roughly 10,000 bans documented in 2023–2024, it remains much higher than in earlier years, a gap that underscores a new normal for censorship in American classrooms. The organization notes that PEN did not even publish a report in some past years when censorship activity was less visible.
Where bans are concentrated—and why
About 80 percent of these removals come from three states: Florida, Texas and Tennessee. In these places, laws or policy efforts aiming to restrict or remove books deemed offensive have driven the surge in challenged titles. The geographic skew mirrors a broader national debate about what is appropriate for students and which voices should be allowed in school libraries and curricula.
The King of bans: Stephen King’s works under the spotlight
Stephen King emerged as the most-targeted author within the dataset, with his books censored 206 times. Two of his well-known titles, Carrie and The Stand (the latter published in Swedish as Pestens tid), appear on the list of frequently challenged works. But King is far from alone in facing scrutiny; other titles and authors feature prominently as part of a wider pattern of censorship in schools.
A Clockwork Orange tops the list of most-banned titles
Anthony Burgess’s dystopian classic A Clockwork Orange was the most-banned single title, with 23 removal actions recorded. The book’s frequent appearance on ban lists illustrates how provocatively titled or controversial material can become a flashpoint in school libraries. Other prominent titles cited in the report include Patricia McCormick’s Sold, Judy Blume’s Forever, Jennifer Niven’s Breathless, and numerous books from authors such as Sarah J. Maas and Jodi Picoult.
Why bans are rising—and the stories censored
According to PEN America, the common justifications for censorship center on LGBTQ themes, depictions of race and ethnicity, and violence, including sexual violence. A notable shift in the current climate is the emergence of pre-emptive removals: books are being pulled not in direct response to specific complaints, but out of fear of potential political or legal pressure. This trend signals a chilling effect—where libraries and schools act to avoid controversy rather than address documented grievances.
The broader censorship landscape
The report arrives at a moment when pressure over what can be taught or read in schools is intensifying not only from conservative activists or state legislatures, but also from federal authorities. The heightened attention around who controls school reading lists and library shelves has real consequences for educators, students, and the availability of a diverse range of perspectives in classrooms.
<h3 What this means for students and educators
For teachers and librarians, the data emphasize a complicated balancing act: safeguarding students from content deemed inappropriate while preserving a robust, inclusive, and challenging body of reading. The bans have tangible effects on access to literature, the development of critical thinking, and the exposure to voices that reflect the country’s diverse experiences. Florida’s ongoing policy changes, Pennsylvania’s and other states’ debates, and the role of federal norms will continue to shape how schools curate their shelves in the years ahead.
Related developments
The current censorship climate is part of a broader conversation about the limits of book access in schools. Other recent developments include ongoing debates around titles such as Anne Frank’s Diary, which has faced bans in certain districts, highlighting how historically significant works can be entangled in contemporary policy fights. The PEN report invites readers to consider not only which books are removed, but what the pattern says about the values shaping education today.
