WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Book bans and attempts to restrict library materials across the United States remain near historic highs, underscoring a shift toward more coordinated, politically driven efforts to remove books from shelves, according to new data released by the American Library Association.
The association said it documented challenges to 4,235 unique book titles in 2025, just shy of the all-time record set two years earlier. While the total number of reported challenges has declined slightly from its peak, the breadth of titles targeted remains far above pre-2021 levels, reflecting what library advocates describe as a sustained national campaign against certain categories of books.
Topping the list of the most frequently challenged titles was “Sold,” a 2006 novel by Patricia McCormick that tells the story of a Nepali girl trafficked into sexual exploitation in India. Critics of the book have cited its depiction of sexual violence, though supporters argue the novel is widely used in schools to address human rights and global exploitation.
Other books facing repeated challenges include Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir “Gender Queer,” and Sarah J. Maas’ fantasy novel “Empire of Storms.” The American Library Association expanded its annual “most challenged” list to 11 titles this year after a four-way tie, adding works such as “A Clockwork Orange,” “Looking for Alaska,” and “Identical.” The objections most commonly raised involve LGBTQ+ themes, sexual content, depictions of violence, or portrayals of adolescent behavior such as drinking and smoking. According to the association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, about 40 percent of the books challenged in 2025 centered on the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals or people of color.
Library officials say a key change in recent years is who is initiating the challenges. More than 90 percent of challenges recorded last year came from organized groups or government officials, rather than individual parents or local residents. Just a small fraction originated from family-by-family complaints, a reversal from past decades when book challenges were typically isolated and community-based.
“These are not spontaneous objections,” said Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. “They are part of a coordinated effort to control what stories are available to students and communities.”
Advocacy groups such as Moms for Liberty have pushed for tighter controls on school and library collections, arguing that parents should have greater authority over what materials children can access. In response, several states, including Florida, Texas, and Utah, have passed or enforced laws that make it easier to restrict books deemed to contain “sexual” or “sensitive” content.
In Florida, where school media laws have led to widespread book removals and restricted access, librarians have reported uncertainty over how to comply with state standards without risking penalties. In Utah, entire titles have been removed statewide once they reach a threshold number of district-level bans.
The American Library Association cautions that its data likely understates the scope of the issue, since many challenges go unreported. Librarians may avoid filing formal complaints out of fear of backlash, job loss, or legal consequences, particularly in states where penalties are tied to content disputes.
Despite that, library leaders emphasize that resistance efforts are growing. Legal challenges have been filed in multiple states, and educators, authors, and students have increasingly spoken out against bans they view as censorship.
The report was released during National Library Week, which runs through April 25. Helmick said the timing was intentional.
“Libraries exist to make space for every story and every lived experience,” he said. “As communities debate these issues, libraries continue to defend access, literacy, and the freedom to read.”
As the national conversation continues, librarians and free speech advocates say the outcome will shape not only school shelves, but also how future generations encounter ideas, identity, and history in public spaces.