Stephen King is reportedly the most banned author in American public schools, with more than 200 books removed from US schools last year

E book bans in public schools are a scorching matter proper now, and teams like the American Library Affiliation and PEN America have been diligently monitoring the titles which have been challenged or banned (whether or not quickly or completely) in current years. And a brand new report from PEN America has revealed a startling actuality for American public schools. 

PEN America’s study, Banned in the USA, experiences Stephen King as the most broadly banned author in American public schools, with 206 situations of ebook bans out of more than 6,800 incidents throughout the 2024-2025 college year. Whereas ebook bans are normally initiated due to content material associated to the LGBTQIA+ group and/or individuals of colour, the remedy of King’s work displays one other dimension to those bans. The examine notes that, “Hundreds of books had been taken off cabinets in anticipation of group, political or authorized stress quite than in response to a direct menace.” Persevering with, the examine says that by “‘obeying in advance,'” college libraries have change into an area the place their assortment improvement is “rooted in worry or just a need to keep away from subjects that could be deemed controversial.”

Kasey Meehan, the author of the examine and director of PEN America’s Freedom to Learn program, reiterated this to the Associated Press. “[King’s] books are sometimes removed from cabinets when ‘grownup’ titles or books with ‘intercourse content material’ are focused for removing — these prohibitions overwhelmingly ban LGBTQ+ content material and books on race, racism, and folks of colour — but additionally have an effect on titles like Stephen King’s books. Some districts — in being overly cautious or petrified of punishment — will sweep so large they find yourself eradicating Stephen King from entry, too,” mentioned Meehan. 

Throughout, it is an enormous bummer. 

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