Why American schools don't like Stephen King: His books are banned more often than other authors.

A new report on book bans in US schools names Stephen King as the most frequently censored author. According to the report's authors, the country is divided between states that actively restrict access to books and those that try to minimize or eliminate bans. Associated Press.

PEN America's "Banned in the USA" report, released October 1, records more than 6800 temporary or permanent book seizures in the 2024-25 school year. This number is down from more than 10,000 in 2023-24, but still significantly higher than in previous years, when PEN didn't even consider it necessary to compile such a report.

About 80% of these bans occurred in just three states that have passed or attempted to pass laws requiring the removal of books deemed objectionable: Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Meanwhile, PEN found almost no seizures in several other states, including Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey, which have laws limiting the authority of school and public libraries to remove books.

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"This is increasingly becoming a tale of two different countries," said Casey Meehan, director of PEN's Freedom to Read program and co-author of the report. "And it's not just a red-state versus blue-state debate. In Florida, not all school districts have responded to calls to ban books. You can even see differences within individual districts."

According to PEN, King's works have been censored 206 times. Among the 87 banned were "Carrie" and "The Stand." However, the most frequently censored work was Anthony Burgess's 1960s dystopian novel "A Clockwork Orange," which was withdrawn 23 times. Other books and authors that have faced significant restrictions include Patricia McCormick's "Sold," Judy Blume's "Forever," Jennifer Niven's "Breathless," and numerous works by Sarah J. Maas and Jodi Picoult.

The most common reasons for book removal are LGBTQ+ themes, depictions of race, and scenes of physical and sexual violence. PEN notes that there is a growing trend toward preemptive book removals due to fears of social, political, or legal pressure, rather than in response to specific complaints.

"This is a kind of pre-emptive submission based on fear or a simple desire to avoid topics that may seem controversial," the protocol says.

The PEN report comes as censorship efforts continue in the United States, not only by states and conservative activists but also by federal authorities. The Department of Education has abandoned the Biden administration's initiative to review the legality of the bans, calling the issue a "hoax." PEN's documented cases also include the Pentagon, which removed hundreds of books from military family school libraries as part of a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and so-called "un-American thinking."

In Florida, where more than 2000 books have been banned or restricted, a few counties have been responsible for a significant portion of King's seizures: dozens of his books were pulled from shelves last year during a review for compliance with state laws.

"His publications are often removed along with 'mature' works or books with 'sexual content,'" Meehan explained. "These bans primarily target LGBTQ+ content, as well as books about race, racism, and communities of color, but they also affect works by Stephen King. Some districts—out of excessive caution or fear of penalties—act so broadly that they remove King along with other authors."

PEN's methodology differs from the approach of the American Library Association (ALA), which also publishes annual ban reports. PEN's figures are significantly higher because the organization considers any removal or restriction of access, even temporary, to be a ban, whereas the ALA only counts permanent removals or restrictions.

Both organizations acknowledge that their data is far from complete, as it is largely based on media reports and direct information.

Stefana Ferrell, director of research and analysis for the Florida Freedom to Read project, wrote this week that the total number of bans is "likely significantly higher" than reflected in the PEN report. She reached this conclusion based on the project's ongoing inquiries to government agencies.

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The PEN report does not include data on bans in Ohio, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and other "red" states, as the researchers were unable to find sufficient supporting documentation. Meehan added that PEN also does not know the full impact of statewide laws.

"It's become increasingly difficult to assess the scale of the book banning crisis," Meehan concluded. "In a state where banning laws have been passed, we don't have data on whether books are being affected in all schools. Our data is just a snapshot. It's what we've been able to gather from public sources, websites, and investigative journalism."

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