Trending Now - Non-fiction Book Bans Surge in U.S. Schools, Study Reveals
WHO:
Fast Company - PEN America, a free expression advocacy group, conducted the report.
The Guardian - McKenna Samson, a co-author of the report, commented on the themes of banned non-fiction books.
The Guardian - Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, provided statements regarding the trend of book bans.
WHAT:
Fast Company - The number of nonfiction books banned from U.S. public schools doubled during the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fast Company - PEN America analyzed 3,743 books removed from American school libraries and classrooms, with 1,100 (29%) being nonfiction.
The Guardian - The most common theme in banned non-fiction books was activism and social movements.
The Guardian - Banned non-fiction titles included "Challenges for LGBTQ+ Teens" by Martha Lundin, "Aztec, Inca, and Maya" by Elizabeth Baquedano, and "Night" by Elie Wiesel.
The Guardian - 44% of banned books featured characters who were people of color, and 39% featured LGBTQ+ characters.
The Guardian - 48% of banned titles addressed death and grief, while 39% dealt with empowerment and self-esteem.
The Guardian - Since PEN America began documenting book bans in 2021, there have been over 23,000 instances recorded.
WHERE:
Fast Company - The report pertains to U.S. public schools.
WHEN:
Fast Company - The analysis covered the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Guardian - The report analyzed books removed from July to June of the academic year.
WHY:
Fast Company - Kasey Meehan stated that the trend reflects an embrace of anti-intellectualism and undermines public knowledge.
The Guardian - The increase in banned books reflects a broader political climate that normalizes attacks on marginalized communities.
HOW:
Fast Company - Books can be banned through parent or community interventions, administrative decisions, or in response to government policies.
The Guardian - The report found that more than 90% of efforts to ban or restrict books originated with organized pressure groups, school administrators, and government officials.
(UPDATED May 7, 2026 21:22 UTC)
A new report from PEN America reveals that the number of nonfiction books banned from U.S. public schools doubled during the 2024-2025 academic year, with 1,100 out of 3,743 analyzed titles being nonfiction. The report highlights that the most common themes in these banned books include activism and social movements, with notable titles such as "Challenges for LGBTQ+ Teens" and "Night" by Elie Wiesel among those removed. Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, emphasized that this trend reflects a growing anti-intellectualism and a political climate that normalizes attacks on marginalized communities.