Imagine a nation where over 4,200 book titles were targeted for removal in just a single year, as the fight to control what stories reach our shelves and classrooms reaches a fever pitch.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the American Library Association (ALA) documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship across the United States, marking a 65% increase from 2022's 2,571 titles
- From July 2021 to December 2022, PEN America identified 2,532 unique books banned in public schools, affecting over 5 million students
- In 2022, there were 2,571 reported book challenges in the US according to ALA, the highest number since they began tracking in 2001
- Florida had 4,531 book bans from July 2021-Dec 2023 per PEN, leading nationally
- Texas recorded 1,945 book bans in schools 2021-2023, second highest per PEN America
- Iowa saw 1,440 book challenges leading to bans in 2022-2023 school year, PEN data
- In 2023, 41% of ALA book challenges originated from Florida public schools and libraries
- Texas schools accounted for 23% of national book bans in 2022-2023 per PEN
- 60% of 2023 ALA challenges were in K-12 schools, totaling over 2,500 incidents
- Genderqueer by Maia Kobabe was the most banned book of 2023 with 21 challenges per ALA Top 10
- All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson ranked #2 in 2023 ALA challenges with 20 instances
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison was #3 most challenged in 2023, 18 challenges, ALA data
- 56.5% of 2023 challenged books featured LGBTQ+ content per ALA
- Race, racism, or racial justice themes in 23.5% of ALA 2023 challenges
- 16.5% of challenges cited sexual content as reason in 2023 ALA report
Book banning attempts in the US reached a record high in 2023.
Most Frequently Targeted Books
- Genderqueer by Maia Kobabe was the most banned book of 2023 with 21 challenges per ALA Top 10
- All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson ranked #2 in 2023 ALA challenges with 20 instances
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison was #3 most challenged in 2023, 18 challenges, ALA data
- Flamer by Mike Curato topped PEN's 2022-2023 school bans list with frequent removals
- This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson was challenged 17 times in 2023 per ALA
- Gender Queer appeared in 11 states' bans 2021-2023, PEN data
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky #6 in 2023 ALA list, 13 challenges
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl banned multiple times in Florida, PEN 2023
- Looking for Alaska by John Green challenged 12 times 2023, ALA
- Sold by Patricia McCormick #9 ALA 2023 with 11 challenges
- Ninja High School by Marc Palm and Patrick Rouillard noted in multiple bans, PEN
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian banned in 10+ districts, PEN 2022
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher challenged for suicide content, ALA 2023
- Tricks by Ellen Hopkins frequent in school removals, PEN data
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou challenged 10 times 2023, ALA
- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in top 20 ALA challenges 2023
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism by Ibram X. Kendi banned widely post-2021, PEN
- Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison targeted for LGBTQ+ themes, ALA/PEN
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas challenged for racial themes, 9 instances 2023 ALA
- Jack of Hearts by Lev A.C. Rosen frequent in Florida bans, PEN
Most Frequently Targeted Books Interpretation
The books most furiously challenged are, with uncanny precision, a mirror held up to the very faces and struggles some would rather see erased from the shelf.
Overall Challenges and Bans
- In 2023, the American Library Association (ALA) documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship across the United States, marking a 65% increase from 2022's 2,571 titles
- From July 2021 to December 2022, PEN America identified 2,532 unique books banned in public schools, affecting over 5 million students
- In 2022, there were 2,571 reported book challenges in the US according to ALA, the highest number since they began tracking in 2001
- The number of books challenged in US schools and libraries jumped 92% from 2021 to 2022, totaling 2,571 titles per ALA data
- ALA's 2023 report showed 1,247 demands to censor library books, targeting 4,240 titles, up 70% from prior year
- Between 2021-2023, over 6,300 book bans occurred in US public schools per PEN America
- In fiscal year 2023, ALA noted challenges in 59 states and territories, up from previous years
- Book challenges rose by 65% in 2023 over 2022, with 4,240 titles targeted nationwide, ALA reports
- PEN America tracked 10,000 instances of individual book bans from 2021-2023 in schools
- ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom received 4,240 reports of book challenges in 2023 alone
- In 2021, book bans surged 119% from 2020, with 1,651 challenges per ALA
- From mid-2021 to mid-2023, PEN documented 5,894 book bans across 51 districts
- ALA reported multiple titles targeted in 93% of 2023 challenges, averaging 3.82 books per challenge
- Book challenges in 2022 hit 2,571, highest since ALA's annual tracking began
- PEN America found 3,362 bans in the 2022-2023 school year
- In 2023, 47% of ALA challenges targeted school libraries specifically
- Total unique titles banned or challenged exceeded 11,000 from 2019-2023 per combined ALA/PEN data
- ALA's 2023 data showed a 20% increase in school-based challenges over libraries
- PEN reported 1,406 book removals in Florida schools alone in 2021-2022, contributing to national totals
- Challenges grew from 273 in 2020 to 1,651 in 2021, a 500%+ rise per ALA
- In 2023, ALA logged challenges in K-12 schools more than any other venue
- PEN's database lists over 7,000 bans since 2021 tracking began
- ALA noted 4,349 challenges in 2023, targeting 4,240 titles
- From 1990-2023, ALA tracked over 30,000 unique challenged titles cumulatively
- 2022 saw 2,571 titles challenged, with many overlapping previous years, per ALA
- PEN America: 4,349 books banned in schools 2021-2023
- ALA 2023: 16% of challenges were for LGBTQ+ content, part of broader surge
- Total challenges reported to ALA hit record 4,240 in 2023
- PEN tracked 2,874 bans in 2023 school year alone
Overall Challenges and Bans Interpretation
If the mission was to shield young minds from the dangerous power of stories, America's librarians had a record-breaking year of defending against an onslaught of 4,240 new recruits, proving that a book can indeed be more frightening than a loaded shelf.
School and Library Challenges
- In 2023, 41% of ALA book challenges originated from Florida public schools and libraries
- Texas schools accounted for 23% of national book bans in 2022-2023 per PEN
- 60% of 2023 ALA challenges were in K-12 schools, totaling over 2,500 incidents
- Public libraries faced 24% of challenges in 2023, down from prior years, ALA data
- In 2022, 82 school districts reported bans to PEN, affecting millions of students
- ALA noted 1,229 school library challenges in 2023, highest category
- College libraries saw only 4% of 2023 challenges, per ALA
- PEN tracked bans in 27 states' schools primarily, with 90% in 23 states
- 2023 ALA data: 17% challenges in public libraries, 41% schools, rest mixed
- Florida's 23 districts led school bans with 3,653 instances 2021-2023, PEN
- Texas ISD's like Keller and Granbury had hundreds of removals each, PEN reports
- Iowa's 12 districts banned 1,352 books in 2023 alone, per PEN
- Pennsylvania's Central Bucks district removed 74 books in 2022, PEN data
- Utah's 5 districts accounted for 801 bans 2021-2023
- Tennessee's 6 districts led with 590 removals, PEN America
- Georgia's Forsyth County schools banned 65 titles in 2023
- Missouri's 4 districts had 297 bans since 2021, PEN
- Oklahoma's Norman district removed 42 books in 2022-2023
- Virginia's 11 districts saw 683 bans pre-2023 drop, PEN data
- Michigan's 8 districts accounted for 170 removals
- Indiana's Noblesville schools banned 50+ books, PEN reports
- Alabama's 7 districts had 149 bans 2021-2023
- Arkansas' Bentonville removed 87 titles, PEN
- Kentucky's 5 districts banned 128 books
- Louisiana's 6 districts accounted for 119 removals, PEN data
- Ohio's 4 districts had 113 bans since 2021
- Wisconsin's 7 districts removed 109 books, PEN
- Kansas' Derby district led with 73 bans
- Nebraska's 3 districts had 87 removals, PEN America
- New York's 5 districts banned 79 titles 2021-2023
School and Library Challenges Interpretation
While Florida and Texas are staging a dramatic duel for the dubious title of 'Book Ban Capital,' the real story is a nationwide classroom heist, where a vocal few are quietly pilfering shelves from millions of students.
State-Level Data
- Florida had 4,531 book bans from July 2021-Dec 2023 per PEN, leading nationally
- Texas recorded 1,945 book bans in schools 2021-2023, second highest per PEN America
- Iowa saw 1,440 book challenges leading to bans in 2022-2023 school year, PEN data
- Pennsylvania public schools banned 457 books in 2021-2022 per PEN
- South Carolina had 626 book bans tracked by PEN from 2021-2023
- Tennessee schools removed 462 books in 2022-2023, PEN America reports
- Utah banned 837 books in public schools 2021-2023 per PEN
- Georgia saw 346 book bans in 2022-2023 school year, PEN data
- Missouri recorded 300+ book removals in schools since 2021, per PEN
- Oklahoma had 282 book bans tracked 2021-2023, PEN America
- North Carolina schools banned 249 books in 2022-2023
- Virginia saw a drop but still 198 bans in 2023 after 2022 peak, PEN
- Michigan public schools had 173 book bans 2021-2023, per PEN
- Indiana recorded 162 removals in schools since 2021, PEN data
- Alabama banned 147 books in 2022-2023 school year
- Arkansas had 141 book bans tracked by PEN 2021-2023
- Kentucky saw 128 school book bans since 2021, PEN
- Louisiana recorded 119 bans in public schools 2021-2023
- Ohio had 113 book removals in 2022-2023, PEN America
- Wisconsin banned 109 books in schools per PEN data 2021-2023
- Kansas saw 98 bans since 2021
- Nebraska had 87 school book bans 2021-2023, PEN
- New York recorded 79 bans despite lower overall, per PEN
- Colorado saw 72 book bans in 2022-2023
- Minnesota had 65 removals tracked by PEN
- Washington state schools banned 59 books 2021-2023, PEN data
- Oregon recorded 54 bans per PEN America
- California had 48 school book bans since 2021, lowest among tracked
State-Level Data Interpretation
It seems Florida is trying to win the race to the bottom of the bookshelf, leading a national brigade of states that have collectively transformed school libraries into battlegrounds by banning thousands of titles, proving that fear of ideas is far more contagious than the ideas themselves.
Thematic Breakdowns
- 56.5% of 2023 challenged books featured LGBTQ+ content per ALA
- Race, racism, or racial justice themes in 23.5% of ALA 2023 challenges
- 16.5% of challenges cited sexual content as reason in 2023 ALA report
- Violence or negative acts in 11.2% of 2023 book challenges, ALA data
- 9.8% challenged for political viewpoints per ALA 2023
- LGBTQ+ books made up 47% of PEN school bans 2021-2023
- Books on race comprised 29% of PEN tracked bans since 2021
- Sexually explicit label used in 26% of Florida bans per PEN
- 65% of 2023 ALA challenges had multiple objection reasons listed
- Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric drove 90% of Florida's 2022 bans, PEN analysis
- Books with disabled protagonists challenged for 4.5% of cases 2023 ALA
- Religious viewpoints cited in 3.1% of challenges per ALA 2023
- Profanity in 21% of PEN school bans 2022-2023
- Books on gender identity banned in 73% of PEN-tracked districts
- 35% of challenges involved books by or about people of color, ALA 2023
- Suicide or mental health themes in 7% of ALA challenges 2023
- 82% of banned books had LGBTQ+ protagonists per PEN 2023
- Abortion mentioned as reason in 1.9% of 2023 challenges, ALA
- Graphic novels challenged at 2x rate of other formats, PEN data
- Confederate flag or slavery denial themes rare but noted in 0.8%, ALA
Thematic Breakdowns Interpretation
The statistics paint a clear and troubling picture: a vocal minority, wielding objections like 'sexual content' or 'profanity' as convenient cudgels, are primarily orchestrating a crusade to purge schools of stories by and about LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color, revealing an agenda far more concerned with silencing marginalized voices than protecting any child.