PEN America’s latest Banned in the USA report shows book bans in schools are still ampant, with more than 6,800 cases logged for the 2024–25 year — down from over 10,000 last year but far higher than just a few years ago. The bans are heavily concentrated: about 80% came from Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, which have pushed laws to remove “objectionable” books. Meanwhile, states like Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey have moved in the opposite direction, passing laws to protect access. PEN’s Kasey Meehan says the U.S. is splitting into “two countries” on the issue, and even within states, policies differ by district. Stephen King topped the censorship charts with 206 bans across 87 of his works, including Carrie and The Stand. The single most-banned book overall was Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, with 23 removals. Other frequently targeted authors include Judy Blume, Sarah J. Maas, Jodi Picoult, Patricia McCormick, and Jennifer Niven. Common reasons: LGBTQ+ themes, race, violence, and sexual violence. But PEN stresses many removals happen preemptively — schools yanking titles out of fear of complaints, lawsuits, or political pressure.