PEN: Stephen King Most Banned Author in U.S. Schools
PEN America’s 2024–2025 'Banned in the USA' report, released Oct. 1, 2025, found 6,800+ instances of books being removed or restricted from K‑12 schools, with roughly 80% of removals concentrated in Florida, Texas and Tennessee. The report names Stephen King as the single most‑censored author (206 removals across 87 works), details the most‑removed title overall ('A Clockwork Orange' — 23 removals) and ties many purges to state laws, district compliance reviews and pre‑emptive shelf clearances tied to political pressure.
Education
Politics
🔍 Key Facts
- PEN tracked 6,800+ book removals or restrictions in the 2024–2025 school year (down from >10,000 in 2023–24).
- Stephen King’s works were removed or restricted 206 times; 87 of his titles were affected (including Carrie and The Stand).
- About 80% of the reported removals originated in three states: Florida, Texas and Tennessee; PEN highlights pre‑emptive removals and state-driven compliance reviews.