Florida Leads for Third Consecutive Year in School Book Bans Across the U.S.

Miami (U.S.) (EFE) — Florida leads the United States for the third consecutive year in the number of books banned or censored in schools, with 2,304 titles removed, according to a new report from the organization PEN America, which identified Stephen King as the most affected author.

For the 2024–2025 school year, the other states topping the list are Texas (1,781 books), Tennessee (1,622), Idaho (150), and Iowa (113). Nationwide, 6,870 titles, 2,308 authors, 243 illustrators, and 38 translators were affected, according to the civil association, which advocates for freedom of expression.

In total, 22,810 books have been removed across 45 states and 451 public school districts since July 2021, PEN America noted.

In Florida, “censorship has removed titles from school libraries” such as The Diary of Anne Frank, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, denounced the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

“During this Banned Books Week, we stand for a Florida where leaders defend freedom of expression — not punish it,” stated ACLU Florida on social media following the release of the study.

The most banned book nationwide this past year was A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, removed in 23 districts, followed by Breathless by Jennifer Niven (20) and Sold by Patricia McCormick (20).

Other popular titles on the list include The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Wicked, each banned in 17 school districts.

Horror author Stephen King tops the list of most censored writers, with 206 instances across the U.S., followed by Ellen Hopkins (167), Sarah J. Maas (162), Jodi Picoult (62), Yusei Matsui (54), Elana K. Arnold (52), Atsushi Ohkubo (45), P.C. and Kristin Cast (47), Lauren Myracle (43), and Laurie Halse Anderson (40).

Although most banned works are literary, PEN America noted that Florida residents also protested a biology textbook because it discussed climate change, evolution, COVID-19, and the use of face masks.

The organization stated that Florida has become a model for book censorship nationwide, pointing to Governor Ron DeSantis, who in 2022 signed HB 1467, a law limiting classroom materials containing sexual content or references to LGBTQ+ people.

DeSantis has also promoted restrictions such as the law dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, which bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, and the “Stop WOKE Act,” which limits classroom and workplace discussions about racism and sexism.