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Book bans are at an all time high, new report finds

The latest report from PEN America shows American book bans more than doubled than the previous year.

6 Mar 2025 9:00

David Burton

PEN America's latest report shows book bans are at an all-time high in the United States and is unfairly targeting vulnerable communities.

Writing and Publishing

PEN America’s latest report shows book bans are at an all-time high in the US and are unfairly targeting vulnerable communities. Image: Brendan Stephens, Unsplash.

Over 4000 books were banned in US schools in the 2023/24 school year. A new report from PEN America suggests that books featuring characters of colour or LGBTQ+ themes are unfairly targeted. There are similar findings internationally, including Australia’s propensity for book bans on LGBTQ+ families or conservative Christian schools banning the Harry Potter series.

Perhaps most disturbingly, PEN America says that 2023/24 showcased more book bans than ever before, with over 10,000 separate instances of book bans across schools in the US. That number is more than double that of the previous year.

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David Burton

David Burton is a writer from Meanjin, Brisbane. David also works as a playwright, director and author. He is the playwright of over 30 professionally produced plays. He holds a Doctorate in the Creative Industries.