A new report from PEN America titled “Banned in the USA” reveals that during the 2024-2025 school year, Stephen King was the most frequently censored author in U.S. schools. His works were temporarily or permanently removed in 206 documented cases, according to PEN.
The total number of books banned or restricted during that period reached approximately 6,870 cases, a still high figure, although lower than the more than 10,000 recorded the previous year.
Works such as Carrie and The Stand are among the most affected King titles, part of the 87 of his books that have faced restrictions.
States most active in prohibitions
Florida, Tennessee and Texas concentrate near the 80 % of cases of book removal in schools, due to laws that allow or require works considered “objectionable” to be removed.
In contrast, states such as Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey have adopted laws limiting the authority of school districts or public libraries to ban books, which has reduced the number of bans in those regions.
Reasons for censorship
Books were removed for LGBTQ+ content, references to race, episodes of violence, or explicit sex. In many cases, the bans aren't directly in response to formal requests, but rather to fears of political or community backlash—a form of "preemptive censorship."
Removals are also included from Department of Defense military libraries as part of broader measures seeking to limit materials associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or "ideologies deemed extremist."
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