Summary
A book titled "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" has been banned from some school districts in Utah. The ban is due to the book containing "objective sensitive materials," according to the state's education board. Book banning incidents have been rising in recent years in the United States.
Key Facts
- "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" is banned in some Utah schools.
- The Utah State Board of Education cites "objective sensitive materials" as the reason for the ban.
- Other banned books in Utah include "Nineteen Minutes" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
- PEN America reports 6,870 instances of book bans in the U.S. from July 2024 to June 2025.
- Book bans are most common in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee.
- The book "Wicked" is also the sixth most-banned book of the 2024-2025 school year.
- Author Gregory Maguire said the book covers mature themes not suitable for children.
- PEN America warns of increasing censorship and book bans in the U.S.
