Report shows banned non-fiction books doubled over last school year in US
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- The number of banned non-fiction books in US schools more than doubled during the 2024-2025 school year, with over 1,100 titles removed, representing 29% of all banned books.
- The most common themes among banned non-fiction were activism and social movements, including titles addressing LGBTQ+ issues, history, and social justice.
- Books about sex education saw a significant increase in bans, with titles like "You Know, Sex" by Cory Silverberg being targeted.
- Marginalized communities were disproportionately affected, with books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and people of color making up 39% and 44% of banned titles, respectively.
- Fictional works such as "Fahrenheit 451," "The Hunger Games," and "To Kill a Mockingbird" were also among the banned books, reflecting a broader trend of censorship impacting diverse genres and topics.
