PEN America reports that nearly 12,000 books are banned in US public schools over the past year, the highest total since the organization began tracking the issue about five years ago. The figures cover the 2025–2026 school year and are based on PEN America’s tally of challenges and removals reported across the country.
According to the report, the scale of restrictions is part of a broader increase in what PEN America calls a “book censorship crisis.” PEN America says the total reaches 34,000 instances of book bans since it began compiling data in 2021. The Guardian notes that Texas accounts for the largest share of bans, and that Stephen King is among the most frequently banned authors, reflecting patterns in the types of books targeted.
Outlets agree on the record-setting national total and its timeframe, while some coverage emphasizes specific state and author patterns. Other reporting focuses more generally on the study’s headline numbers and the overall growth in restrictions over successive years.
