by Laurel Stokes
With Banned Books being an ongoing problem in America I’ve compiled answers to some common questions around book banning to better understand the issue.
How common is Book Banning?
In April the American Library Association ( (ALA) reported in 2023 there were “4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship,” a 65% increase over 2022. Public and school libraries had a 92% increase from the previous year. Many of the increases are due to single individuals or groups calling for multiple books to be banned in a single request. In one case, PEN America cited one person calling for the ban of 400+ titles in their challenge, and a study by the Washington Post found that 11 people are largely responsible for filing 60% of the complaints.
Where is book banning occurring?
In looking at which regions have been most greatly impacted by book bans the ALA reports that there are now 17 States that have more than 100 censorship requests, and PEN America notes that Florida and Texas have the highest number of book bans exceeding 1k+ in both cases. Only 8 out of 50 states have no reported incidents of book bans.
Which books are being banned?
Of the titles targeted, 47% represent LGBTQ+ and/or BIPOC voices (ALA). Many of the complaints call into question the appropriateness of a book in Schools and Public Libraries where children and young adults can easily access them, and in particular they often cite sex in books as a reason for removal. Some of these titles are award winning modern classics such as: Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. For a longer list of banned books you can read the CBS News article, ‘The 50 Most Banned Books in America.’
How can I support the Authors being impacted by book bans?
You can support these authors by reading their books! Checking banned books out of the library or buying them helps ensure these authors’ important stories are being spread, and shows institutions that there is a positive demand for these books. You may also live in an area where your library is celebrating banned books week or hosting an author who’s been impacted by banned books. Being aware of and participating in local actions is a great way to show your concern about the prevalence of book bans. For more information about book banning please visit, bannedbooksweek.org.
Laurel Stokes is a Backlist Director at Hachette Book Group and works across the organization to optimize Backlist sales and marketing opportunities. Previously Laurel was a National Account Manager at HarperCollins Publishers working with the adult imprints, Harper, William Morrow & Harlequin, to resolve any sales and operations issues with Amazon. Laurel also has experience as a Client Support Associate Manager for Penguin Random House Publisher Services. During her time there she was responsible for supporting several Client Publishers, and specialized in project management and solving operational issues. Laurel has a Masters in Library and Information Studies from McGill University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College. She lives in New York City and enjoys cooking, reading, exploring the city on foot, and playing with her cat.
