Report shows banned non-fiction books doubled over last school year in US
Summary
A report found that the number of banned non-fiction books in US schools doubled in the 2024-2025 school year. Many of these banned books focus on social activism, LGBTQ+ topics, people of color, and sex education.Key Facts
- Over 3,700 unique book titles were removed from US school libraries and classrooms between July 2024 and June 2025.
- About 29% (over 1,100) of banned books were non-fiction, more than double the previous year.
- Books about activism and social movements were the most common among banned non-fiction titles.
- Several banned books covered LGBTQ+ themes, sex education, death, grief, empowerment, and self-esteem.
- Marginalized communities were over-represented in banned books, with 39% featuring LGBTQ+ characters and 44% featuring people of color.
- Famous fiction titles like Fahrenheit 451, The Hunger Games, and To Kill a Mockingbird were also banned or challenged.
- Since 2021, PEN America has documented over 23,000 instances of book bans in US schools.
- A recent federal test showed that a third of 12th graders lack basic reading skills, the worst in 30 years.
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