Book Challenges Surged in U.S. Schools Over Two-Year Period, PEN America Report Finds
A new report from PEN America reveals a dramatic increase in book challenges and bans in U.S. schools, with a record number of titles targeted for removal during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. The institution documented 3,362 unique book challenges-many targeting multiple titles-affecting 4,291 individual books, a important jump from previous years. This escalating trend raises concerns about the erosion of intellectual freedom and access to diverse perspectives for students.
The surge in challenges represents a coordinated effort, frequently enough driven by organized groups, to restrict access to books addressing themes of race, LGBTQ+ identity, and American history. While local and state levels have seen the majority of enactments, the federal government has also played a role, with the Department of Defense removing nearly 600 titles from schools on military bases in July, citing a lack of alignment with executive orders related to diversity, discussions of race, and what has been termed “gender ideology extremism.” These actions are occurring amidst a broader debate about curriculum content and parental rights, with implications for educators, students, and the future of inclusive education.
PEN America’s research indicates that a disproportionate number of challenged books feature LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Titles like And Tango Makes Three, the true story of two male penguins raising a chick, and The Purim Superhero, featuring a Jewish child with two fathers, have been frequently targeted as “sexually explicit.” The report’s authors note that such classifications ofen stem from objections to the representation of LGBTQ+ identities themselves.
The Department of Education, however, has taken a different stance, issuing a memo in January that labeled book bans a “hoax” and rescinded federal guidance suggesting that removing “age-inappropriate” books coudl violate civil rights laws. Despite this, the trend of book challenges continues to grow, prompting ongoing debate and legal challenges across the country.
