Spring 2026 marks five years of rising book challenges and removals in U.S. schools and libraries. PEN America has documented roughly 23,000 bans since the 2021 school year, though the true total is believed to be far higher. New analysis of official lists highlights the titles and authors most frequently targeted.
The American Library Association and PEN America have compiled the most detailed records available. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky tops the combined lists with eight appearances. It is followed by All Boys Aren’t Blue, The Bluest Eye, Gender Queer, and Tricks, each appearing seven times. Ellen Hopkins leads authors with twenty titles on the lists, ahead of Sarah J. Maas with eighteen.