PEN America Reports Record High of Nearly 12,000 Book Removals in U.S. Public Schools
PEN America has released a new study revealing that nearly 12,000 book removals occurred in U.S. public schools over the past year, marking the highest total since the organization began tracking such incidents five years ago. The report, titled 'Banned in the USA,' indicates that 7,370 individual works were affected, with over 4,500 appearing on the list for the first time. These removals span a wide range of literature, from 19th-century classics like 'Jane Eyre' to contemporary manga series such as Sui Ishida's 'Tokyo Ghoul.' A significant number of these removals took place in Florida and Texas, where conservative politicians and activists have actively pushed for the withdrawal of books. Themes related to race, racism, sexuality, and gender identity remain the most frequent reasons cited for challenging books. Stephen King was identified as the author whose works were most frequently withdrawn for the second consecutive year, with 312 instances, including 'The Shining' and 'The Green Mile.' The most b...
