Book Bans in the U.S. Hit Record Levels

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Book bans and attempted bans in U.S. libraries have reached record levels, with efforts to remove or restrict titles becoming increasingly organized and politically driven, according to a new report from the American Library Association.

The ALA released its annual list of the most frequently challenged books on Monday as part of its State of America’s Libraries Report.

Leading the list for 2025 is Patricia McCormick’s Sold, a 2006 novel about sex trafficking in India.

Other heavily targeted titles include Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir Gender Queer, and Sarah J. Maas’ Empire of Storms, among others.

The association recorded challenges to 4,235 unique books in 2025, just shy of the record 4,240 reported in 2023.

It defines a challenge as an attempt to remove or restrict access to library material based on objections from individuals or groups.

Many objections centered on LGBTQ+ themes, sexual violence, and depictions of substance use.

The ALA also noted that most challenges now come from organized political or advocacy groups such as Moms for Liberty, rather than individual parents, with more than 90 percent linked to activists or government officials.

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