NEW YORK – A new report from PEN America has revealed Stephen King as the most censored author in U.S. schools, highlighting a divide between states enforcing book bans and those opposing them.
PEN America’s “Banned in the USA,” released on Wednesday, documented over 6,800 instances of books being removed for the 2024-2025 school year. This number, though lower than the more than 10,000 reported in 2023-24, remains significantly higher than in past years.
Kasey Meehan, director of PEN’s Freedom to Read program, emphasized the growing divide. “It is increasingly a story of two countries,” said Meehan.
According to the report, 80% of these bans originated from Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, states that have enacted or attempted laws to remove books they deem objectionable. In contrast, states like Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey have laws limiting the removal of books.
King’s books faced censorship 206 times, with “Carrie” and “The Stand” among the 87 works affected. The report found Anthony Burgess’ “A Clockwork Orange” as the most banned book, with 23 removals.
Meehan noted that some districts, in fear of punishment, removed King’s books when targeting adult content. “Some districts — in being overly cautious or fearful of punishment — will sweep so wide they end up removing Stephen King from access, too,” said Meehan.
The report also highlighted that many books were removed preemptively to avoid controversy, a trend PEN describes as “obeying in advance.”
PEN’s findings come amid federal and state censorship efforts. The Department of Education has stopped investigating the legality of bans, dismissing the issue as a “hoax.”
