What are the top 10 most banned books in the US? See PEN America's list. Greta Cross, USA TODAYOctober 5, 2025 at 6:01 AM 0 Banned Books Week has begun and new titles are dominating this year's top challenged list. Banned Books Week is Oct. 511 and this year's theme is, "Censorship Is so 1984.
- - What are the top 10 most banned books in the US? See PEN America's list.
Greta Cross, USA TODAYOctober 5, 2025 at 6:01 AM
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Banned Books Week has begun and new titles are dominating this year's top challenged list.
Banned Books Week is Oct. 5-11 and this year's theme is, "Censorship Is so 1984. Read for Your Rights." The theme is inspired by George Orwell's "1984," a dystopian novel that tells the story of a man trying to break away from his society's oppressive regime. Though the novel is set in 1984 (the book was published in 1949), freedom advocates argue that the increase of banned books today is similar to the censorship displayed in Orwell's work.
Despite an increase in book bans, polls show that most Americans disagree with them. A 2022 American Library Association poll found that 71% of 1,000 people surveyed oppose book ban efforts.
Those who supported bans expressed a "need to protect young people from books they might find upsetting or that reflect ideologies and lifestyles that are out of the mainstream," according to the survey.
Thousands of books are challenged each year. Here's a look at what titles were banned the most over the past year.
Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/t7crleN class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
">Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
" src=https://ift.tt/t7crleN class=caas-img>Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/MjGD3Eb class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.
">Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.
" src=https://ift.tt/MjGD3Eb class=caas-img>Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Ph3qH1Y class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.
">Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.
" src=https://ift.tt/Ph3qH1Y class=caas-img>Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/cOjLTSm class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.
">Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.
" src=https://ift.tt/cOjLTSm class=caas-img>Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/7eSCgIn class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.
">Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.
" src=https://ift.tt/7eSCgIn class=caas-img>Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/RUuzeDm class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.
">Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.
" src=https://ift.tt/RUuzeDm class=caas-img>Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ZqO9myC class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.
">Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.
" src=https://ift.tt/ZqO9myC class=caas-img>"Misery" by Stephen King
" data-src=https://ift.tt/gbhutpw class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
"Misery" by Stephen King
">"Misery" by Stephen King
" src=https://ift.tt/gbhutpw class=caas-img>Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/wn9Kzq6 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.
">Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.
" src=https://ift.tt/wn9Kzq6 class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/xDd4s9w class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.
">Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.
" src=https://ift.tt/xDd4s9w class=caas-img>Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/r6SiE3j class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.
">Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.
" src=https://ift.tt/r6SiE3j class=caas-img>J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/BAhNn7y class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.
">J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.
" src=https://ift.tt/BAhNn7y class=caas-img>Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/2zeuVh5 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
">Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
" src=https://ift.tt/2zeuVh5 class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Xy2ItuE class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.
">Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.
" src=https://ift.tt/Xy2ItuE class=caas-img>"Duma Key" by Stephen King.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/aNoH5Yi class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
"Duma Key" by Stephen King.
">"Duma Key" by Stephen King.
" src=https://ift.tt/aNoH5Yi class=caas-img>Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007
" data-src=https://ift.tt/IwWdHQB class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007
">Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007
" src=https://ift.tt/IwWdHQB class=caas-img>Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/M6kPe0w class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.
">Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.
" src=https://ift.tt/M6kPe0w class=caas-img>Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/4PownOJ class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.
">Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.
" src=https://ift.tt/4PownOJ class=caas-img>Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ziBN3RC class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.
">Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.
" src=https://ift.tt/ziBN3RC class=caas-img>Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UrVBHsd class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.
">Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.
" src=https://ift.tt/UrVBHsd class=caas-img>Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."
" data-src=https://ift.tt/SaOJ1ek class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."
">Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."
" src=https://ift.tt/SaOJ1ek class=caas-img>Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1aZpAxv class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.
">Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.
" src=https://ift.tt/1aZpAxv class=caas-img>Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/yHKm48t class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.
">Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.
" src=https://ift.tt/yHKm48t class=caas-img>Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/BeTg3Af class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.
">Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.
" src=https://ift.tt/BeTg3Af class=caas-img>Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/m8S4IsT class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.
">Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.
" src=https://ift.tt/m8S4IsT class=caas-img>Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Fn1eXRK class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.
">Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.
" src=https://ift.tt/Fn1eXRK class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kuALgUe class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.
">Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.
" src=https://ift.tt/kuALgUe class=caas-img>Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/MQFaY7U class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
">Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/MQFaY7U class=caas-img>Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/J6bjR4M class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.
">Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.
" src=https://ift.tt/J6bjR4M class=caas-img>Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/F6ewiCl class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books" data-caption="
Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
">Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
" src=https://ift.tt/F6ewiCl class=caas-img>
1 / 30Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the 'King of Horror' and his books
Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.
Banned Books Week: Book censorship in US schools has become 'rampant and common', free speech advocates warn
What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is a movement that celebrates the freedom to read, while drawing attention to censorship of literature in libraries, schools and bookstores. The week of awareness was launched in 1982, created in response to a surge of these challenges, according to the American Library Association.
What are the top 10 most banned books?
Some of the most banned books during the 2024-2025 school year, as tracked by PEN America.
According to PEN America, the 10 most challenged books of the 2024-2025 school year were:
"A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess
"Breathless" by Jennifer Niven*
"Sold" by Patricia McCormick*
"Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo
"A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas
"Crank" by Ellen Hopkins†
"Forever..." by Judy Blume†
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky†
"Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire†
"All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson
*Titles No. 2 and 3 were tied. †Titles No. 6, 7, 8 and 9 were tied.
"All Boys Aren't Blue," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," "Crank" and "Sold" were also on the American Library Association's Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024 list.
Graphics explain the data: Most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ characters
How many books were banned in 2024?
The number of targeted book titles in 2024 is dependent on the source.
The American Library Association says 2,452 unique book titles were challenged in 2024, while PEN America recorded 3,752 unique titles. These differentiating numbers are due to how the two organizations track book bans.
How are the top banned books tracked?
PEN America and the American Library Association track banned books a little differently.
In addition to the number of unique titles affected, PEN tracks the number of challenges each year. This latter number is larger because it accounts for all challenges, even of the same book titles.
As for PEN's methodology, the organization analyzes "all relevant news stories on challenges, restrictions and bans to school library books, curriculum and classroom libraries," according to the PEN website. The organization also consults school district websites and letters sent to school districts and corresponds with librarians, authors and teachers.
The American Library Association compiles its list similarly, analyzing news stories published in the U.S. and reports filed by library professionals.
Both PEN and the American Library Association acknowledges limitations in their reporting. Book challenges and bans that are not reported, aren't picked up by the organizations. And as book bans continue at a rapid rate, it is difficult for the organization to keep on top of them all.
Additionally, PEN only looks at a snapshot of books removed within a one-year period, so books that were previously banned do not make the organization's list.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See the top 10 most banned books in America
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October 05, 2025 at 02:09PM