Stephen King and the wave of book bans
Book bans continue to echo through U.S. schools, but this year brings a notable twist: Stephen King titles are among the most censored, alongside a broader surge in censorship pressure. The latest PEN America report, Banned in the USA, surveys the 2024–2025 school year and tallies 6,800 titles removed or restricted. While this total is lower than the more than 10,000 bans recorded the prior year, it remains well above levels from just a few years ago, when the organization did not publish comprehensive counts.
Regionally, roughly 80% of the removals stem from Florida, Texas and Tennessee—states that have passed or attempted to pass laws aimed at purging books considered offensive. The pattern suggests a strategic push to curb access to certain themes before complaints even reach a formal trigger. The report underscores that censorship today is as much about fear of political or legal pressure as about specific objections.
Which titles are most commonly targeted
Stephen King’s books were censored 206 times during the school year, including classics such as Carrie and The Stand (Pestens tid in Swedish). The most banned single title was Anthony Burgess’s dystopian A Clockwork Orange, with 23 separate bans. Other frequently challenged works include Patricia McCormick’s Sold, Judy Blume’s Forever, Jennifer Niven’s Breathless, and multiple titles by popular authors such as Sarah J. Maas and Jodi Picoult. The spectrum of censored works reveals a common thread: books that explore identities, relationships or difficult social realities often draw scrutiny from critics who fear they might influence young readers.
Why these books are banned
The Pen America report highlights several recurring rationale points behind bans. LGBTQ+ themes, depictions of ethnicity, and portrayals of violence—sometimes including sexual violence—top the list of frequently cited concerns. Beyond explicit objections, a growing trend involves preemptive removals to avoid political or legal scrutiny, rather than reacting to direct complaints. This preemptive approach can create a chill effect, limiting access to books even before a formal challenge is filed.
The broader picture: regional patterns and policy pressure
Florida, Texas and Tennessee together account for a substantial share of bans, reflecting how state laws and educational policies funnel decisions at the local level. These states have been at the center of debates about what constitutes appropriate material in school libraries and curricula, with lawmakers arguing that certain content is inappropriate for students while opponents warn that such measures threaten academic freedom and access to diverse voices. The report also notes that censorship pressure is increasingly felt beyond state legislatures, extending to federal agencies and national political discourse, signaling a broader cultural clash over what students should read and learn.
Implications for schools, students and free expression
For educators, librarians and districts, the bans translate into real, tangible consequences: restricted classroom resources, altered reading lists, and additional administrative hurdles to manage challenges. For students, the impact can mean less exposure to different perspectives and fewer opportunities to engage with complex, thought-provoking material. Proponents of access to widely read titles argue that libraries and schools must model critical thinking, not curb it; opponents contend that certain topics are inappropriate for younger readers. The tension between safeguarding students and protecting free expression remains at the heart of this ongoing debate.
Looking ahead
As the censorship conversation intensifies, expect continued legal actions, policy debates and advocacy from organizations defending academic freedom. PEN America and allied groups are likely to push for greater transparency in challenges, clearer guidelines for what counts as an offense, and stronger protections for library collections. The coming school year will probably bring more stories about how communities balance parental concerns, teacher autonomy and students’ right to access a broad range of ideas.
