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Book bans and attempted bans remain at record highs, with 'Sold' topping the list
Patricia McCormick’s novel about sex trafficking led a list that the ALA said reflected coordinated campaigns behind most challenges.
- On Monday, the American Library Association released its State of America's Libraries Report, finding book bans and attempted bans at record highs. Patricia McCormick's 2006 novel 'Sold' topped the most challenged books list for 2025.
- Sarah Lamdan, executive director of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, reported that more than 90% of 2025 challenges came from activists and government officials. She characterized this as a 'well-funded, politically-driven campaign' targeting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC stories.
- The ALA recorded challenges to 4,235 unique titles in 2025, the second-highest since tracking began more than 30 years ago. Actual removals exceeded 5,600, with frequently targeted works including 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' and 'Gender Queer'.
- An Iowa appellate court ruled earlier this month that the state can enforce laws limiting LGBTQ+ instruction in K–6 grades. Meanwhile, Florida, Texas and Utah have pursued restrictive legislation, with about 40% of challenged titles representing LGBTQ+ and BIPOC lived experiences.
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55 Articles
Book bans and challenges remain at record high levels, American Library Association says
April 19 marks the beginning of National Library Week in the United States. As part of its commemoration, the American Library Association (ALA) released statistics Monday on book bans and challenges documented across the nation in 2025.
Book bans at libraries remain at a record high — with 90% of challenges coming from government officials or activists
The American Library Association on Monday issued its annual list of the books most challenged at the country’s libraries, part of the association’s State of America’s Libraries Report.
Report on State of US Libraries Exposes Trump Attacks and Record-Breaking Book Ban Efforts
"The State of America's Libraries" report, released Monday, "is in a very real way a report on the state of our nation," said American Library Association executive director Dan Montgomery.
Efforts to have some books removed have never been more coordinated or more politicized in 2025, according to the American Library Association.
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