LibGuides: Banned Books Week 2024: Book Bans and Challenges in the News

PEN America Index of School Book Bans 2022-2023

During the 2022-2023 school year, PEN America recorded 3,362 instances of individual books being banned. These documented bans are traced in the index linked below, which notes the title, author, state, district, and ban status of each instance.

PEN America Index of School Book Bans - 2022-2023

Number of unique titles challenged 2021-2023. 1,858=2021. 2,571=2022, 4,240=2023.

Artwork provided by United Against Book Bans

60 Minutes: Beaufort, SC Book Bans

Video Credit: 60 Minutes, YouTube

MSNBC: Publishers sue Florida, alleging book bans violate 1st amendment rights

Video Credit: Washington Post

Selected Articles from the New York Times

Read through this selection of articles from The New York Times for examples of book bans appearing in the news. If you do not already have a New York Times account, you can create a free account using your CMU email address.

Looking for a Superhero? Check the Public Library. This article by Margaret Renkl addresses Banned Books Week 2024 and Amanda Jones's fight against Book Bans in Louisiana.
From School Librarian to Activist: ‘The Hate Level and the Vitriol Is Unreal’ This article from Alexandra Alter discusses Amanda Jones, a school librarian in Louisiana who has received death threats and online attacks for opposing book bans proposed at her local public library. Since speaking out at the library's board meeting, Jones has been fighting back against these attacks and has recently written a memoir talking about the threat that librarians are facing during this period of increasing book bans.
Book Bans Continue to Surge in Public Schools This article from Alexandra Alter discusses the findings of PEN America's 2024 "Banned in the USA" report. Among the findings that Alter discusses is the evidence of a growing movement to counter book bans.
Book Bans Are on the Rise. But Fear of Fiction Is Nothing New. This essay from author Lyta Gold addresses some of the early roots of censorship and book challenges, tracing the "fear of fiction" back to as early as the writings of Plato. Gold assigns this fear to the fear of other people and how they may "shift reality."
For John Green, the Battle Over Access to Books Has Gotten Personal This article from Alexandra Alter looks at the issue of book bans after a public library in author John Green's home state, Indiana, reshelved more than 1,800 young adult titles to the adult collection because of "sexually explicit content." Among those books reshelved were Green's "Looking for Alaska" and "Fault in Our Stars."
Major Publishers Sue Florida Over Banned School Library Books This article discusses a lawsuit between Penguin Random House (in addition to other major publishing companies) and the state of Florida over 2023 legislation that requires schools to remove books from the library if a community member complains that it depicts "sexual conduct."
His Book Was Repeatedly Banned. Fighting For It Shaped His Life This New York Times article describes how attempts to ban Robert Cormier's book, The Chocolate War, nearly tore Panama City, Florida, as community members witnessed arson and even death threats.
New State Laws Are Fueling a Surge in Book Bans This law provides statistics regarding book bans in 2023 and 2024.

Banned Books Week 2024: Book Bans and Challenges in the News

PEN America Index of School Book Bans 2022-2023

60 Minutes: Beaufort, SC Book Bans

MSNBC: Publishers sue Florida, alleging book bans violate 1st amendment rights

Selected Articles from the New York Times

Selected Articles from the New York Times

Smiley Memorial Library