Reports: School Book Restrictions Stay at Historic Levels as Manga Draws More Challenges
New reports from PEN America and the American Library Association show that efforts to restrict or remove books from schools and libraries remain at historic highs. PEN America tallied 11,982 instances where students' access to a book was restricted, the most since it began tracking in 2021, while the ALA recorded 8,596 challenged titles and 5,668 removals in 2025. The challenges are concentrated in a few states and disproportionately target books about race, gender, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color, with manga emerging as a new focus.
PEN America's tally of 11,982 restrictions for the 2025-2026 school year is the largest since its tracking began in 2021. The group compiles cases from news coverage, district and board documents, requests for public records, and direct submissions.
The ALA, applying separate criteria, logged 8,596 titles challenged and 5,668 removed in 2025. Both organizations found the most frequently challenged title was Sold, Patricia McCormick's 2006 young adult novel about a Nepalese girl trafficked into the sex trade.
Students, teachers, and librarians may feel the effects most directly, since decisions about which titles stay on shelves could shape what materials young people can access. Organized challenge campaigns may also influence school board agendas and local elections, while publishers and authors could see demand or scrutiny shift. The longer-term effect on reading habits and civic trust remains uncertain.