On April 7, 2025, the American Library Association released data and statistics about book bans in the United States in 2024. While the number of titles banned or challenged decreased from 2023's record, a new trend emerged: organized movements are leading the charge to censor books in schools and libraries.
The Data
2,452 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2024, a decrease from 2023's record-shattering 4,240 titles but still the third-highest number ever documented by ALA and significantly exceeding the annual average of 273 unique titles over the period from 2001-2020.
ALA documented 821 total demands to censor library books and resources in 2024.
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Unique titles targeted in 2024
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Demands to censor library materials in 2024
ALA cites multiple factors that contributed to a decrease in censorship reports:
Underreporting – Many book challenges are not publicly reported or covered by the press; therefore, ALA’s year-end data only represents a snapshot of censorship in America. In many cases, reporting censorship poses significant risk to a library worker’s professional livelihood and personal safety.
Censorship by Exclusion – This occurs when library workers are prohibited from purchasing books, or required to place books in restricted or less accessible areas of the library due to fear of controversy.
Legislative Restrictions – Several states have passed laws restricting the type of materials available in libraries and schools based on the ideas or topics addressed in the materials. This impairs young readers’ freedom to read and the ability of parents to guide their students’ reading free from political or religious interference.
Organized Movements Are Driving Censorship
New data reported to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements.
Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. Parents only accounted for 16% of demands to censor books, while 5% of challenges were brought by individual library users.
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of demands to censor books in schools and public libraries came from pressure groups and government entities.
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of demands to censor books in schools and public libraries came from parents.
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of demands to censor books in schools and public libraries came from other individuals, including library users, teachers, librarians, and staff.
Top 10 Most Challenged Books
The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books.
These were the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024:
1) All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
2) Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
3) (TIE) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
3) (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
5) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
6) (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green
6) (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
8) (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
8) TIE) Sold by Patricia McCormick
10) Flamer by Mike Curato
“The movement to ban books is not a movement of parents, but a movement of partisans who seek to limit our freedom to read and make different choices about things that matter. All who care about libraries and personal liberty must stand together and join the movement to halt this assault on the freedom to read."
- Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
What can you do about it?
JOIN the campaign. Already signed up? Help a friend or family member join.
REPORT CENSORSHIP. Reporting censorship and challenges to materials, resources, and services is vital to defending library resources and to protect against challenges before they happen.
MAKE A PLAN to attend your library or school board meeting. Most book ban battles are being fought on the local level, and attending these meetings is one of the most critical actions you can take to fend off book bans.
Use the Unite Against Book Bans ACTION TOOLKIT to organize your community against censorship and defend the freedom to read.
SHARE the statistics on this page on your social networks. Check out our shareable graphics below.
Data Metholodogy
ALA compiles data on book challenges from reports filed with its Office for Intellectual Freedom by library professionals in the field and from news stories published throughout the United States. Because many book challenges are not reported to the ALA or covered by the press, the 2024 data compiled by ALA represents a snapshot of book censorship throughout 2024. A challenge to a book may be resolved in favor of retaining the book in the collection, or it can result in a book being restricted or withdrawn from the library.