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18h ago

School Book Bans Now Heavily Target Nonfiction, PEN America Says

The findings point to a political climate that is narrowing access to civic and historical materials.

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Chip Robinson dressed for book character day reads from “Chip ’n’ Dale’s Book of Seasons” during English class at the Mandarin Immersion School of Houston pictured on Oct. 31, 2025. A new report from nonprofit PEN America found that more schools nationwide are banning nonfiction books.
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Overview

  • PEN America, in a report released Thursday, counted 3,743 unique titles removed in 2024–2025, including 1,102 nonfiction books, more than double last year’s tally for that category.
  • The most frequently banned nonfiction focused on activism and social movements, reflecting challenges that now reach far beyond claims about sexual content.
  • Titles featuring people of color made up 44% of removals and LGBTQ titles rose to 39%, with many banned books addressing non-sexual violence or grief.
  • Nearly a quarter of the bans came from seven Texas districts, with Katy, Fort Bend and Lamar ISDs responsible for a large share within the state.
  • The findings arrive as the Education Department under President Trump backs local control and House bills H.R. 7661 and H.R. 2616 gain traction, while lawsuits have forced some banned books back onto Defense Department shelves.