Students at the University of Kassel have conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the PEN America List of Banned Books 2024/25. Read on to discover what they found. The dataset can be accessed in the Excel file titled “PEN America Book Bans_Analysed.”
Do you believe books are permanently and freely available to you? Do you assume you can simply walk into your local library and borrow To Kill a Mockingbird or All Boys Are Blue? While this may still be possible in Germany, a troubling new trend is emerging: book bans, book burnings, and the systematic removal of literature. These developments evoke the darkest chapters of our shared history.
Even today, in the United States—the world’s oldest modern democracy—these events are undermining democratic values. As students at the University of Kassel, we are confronting a reality that no longer feels democratic. For several years now, the number of book bans has risen sharply, particularly in public schools and libraries across the U.S.
But what exactly is being banned—and why? Let’s begin with an initial observation: current book censorship in the U.S. appears opaque and often arbitrary. Yet, there seems to be a clear political agenda behind it—though this agenda remains undisclosed. There is no official list of banned books that explains the reasons for censorship. Such a list could help parents understand which works have been deemed problematic for children and why.
Even that would only be the beginning of a necessary, open, and critical debate: Is it sensible—or even harmful—to ban certain books simply because a small group of adults, often organized into activist movements, finds them objectionable? We ask: Wouldn’t it be better to engage with books together, to encourage children and young people to think critically, and to raise them as responsible, reflective adults?
Current Book Censorship: On the Rise
Since 2021, PEN America has documented nearly 23,000 book bans in public schools across the United States. Never before has the U.S. experienced such widespread and systematic censorship. These bans are driven primarily by so-called “book challenges” initiated by right-wing conservative groups, which are closely aligned with and supported by the current U.S. administration.
Organizations such as Moms for Liberty are advancing a political agenda under the guise of protecting minors. Under this banner, books in schools and school libraries are being targeted. This creates widespread uncertainty among parents when choosing the next children’s book—and, by extension, when considering their child’s well-being. The underlying message is clear: it is dangerous for children to form independent ideas, to question school curricula, value systems, or attitudes toward life. In this way, fears and insecurities in an increasingly diverse society are being exploited.
The consequences for freedom of expression are devastating. Freedom of speech is inextricably linked to the freedom to read. And when civil liberties are under threat, it is always marginalized groups who suffer first. Censorship disproportionately targets books about people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and works addressing racism, discrimination, and social injustice.
Our Project: Analyzing PEN America’s 2024/25 List of Book Bans
PEN America has documented over 6,500 book bans in schools for the 2024/25 academic year.
We, a group of students at the University of Kassel, downloaded this publicly available dataset in May 2026. We have added the titles to the Kasseler Liste, where they can now be searched: simply enter “PEN America 2025” under “source.”
We also conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the list. We tagged each title with specific keywords, categorized them as fiction or nonfiction, identified their genres, and noted the relevance of gender and race. The full analysis is available as an Excel file titled “PEN America Book Bans_Analysed.” For some aspects of quantitative counting and aggregation, we used the ChatGPT tool.
Our goal is to highlight how, in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, people are being deprived of the right to read—and thus of the freedom to form their own opinions. We aim not only to identify what has been banned and where, but also why—and with what underlying motives.
A Few Findings in Numbers
The list contains 5,780 documented entries involving 3,661 distinct book titles. Of these, 822 titles appear more than once—accounting for a total of 2,119 instances where a single title was banned in multiple school districts.
4,554 cases (78.8%) are listed as “Banned.” 1,215 cases (21%) are listed as “Banned by Restriction.” “Banned by Restriction” means the book has not been fully removed but is accessible only to certain grade levels or with permission.
The scope and nature of book bans vary significantly across U.S. states and school districts. While Illinois reports no book bans according to the PEN America list, Florida alone has documented over 1,400 bans. Book bans are concentrated primarily in Republican-led states, which have significantly tightened guidelines for school libraries and instructional content in recent years (https://pen.org/report/beyond-the-shelves/).
Our analysis confirms this geographic concentration: in 2024/25, approximately 80% of all book bans occurred in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Texas hat 1,779 entries, Tennessee 1,621 entries and Florida 1,429 entries. This totals 4,829 of the 5,780 entries examined—over 83% from just these three states. Additionally, there are 590 entries labeled “Nation,” which appear to pertain primarily to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).
The Question of Reasons—Tagging by Relevant Topics
Why would anyone ban a book for children and young adults? At first glance, one might assume that youth protection—often cited as justification by censorship proponents—should focus on books with clearly problematic themes: those glorifying violence, promoting inhumane ideologies, inciting hatred, or threatening democratic values.
Yet, in practice, it is often entirely different books that are targeted. The reasons are not always clear, and causal relationships are difficult to prove. To avoid speculation, we deliberately refrain from labeling these as “reasons for banning.” Instead, we objectively describe the banned titles and their content using keywords organized into specific categories. A single book may be assigned multiple keywords.
This approach allows us to identify topics that are frequently challenged and banned—and to ask: Are there recurring patterns in censorship?
Here are our keywords:
GENDER, SEXUAL CONTENT, BODY (gender, sexual content, body, body image, nudity, LGBTQ+, feminism, abortion, sexuality, birth control, reproduction)
POLITICS, HISTORY, RELIGION (politics, history, religion, racism, systemic critique, revolutions, dystopias, fascism, the Holocaust, slavery, colonialism, war, anti-Semitism, Native Americans, classicism, anti-racism, critical race theory, otherness, language)
PSYCHOLOGY, MENTAL HEALTH (psychology, mental health, health, illness, family, outsider status, grief, suicide, death, neurodivergence, friendship, power struggles, adolescence)
SCIENCE, ART (science, art, environment, philosophy, mythology, magic, sorcery, biology, knowledge, ethics, cultural knowledge)
CRIME, VIOLENCE (crime, violence, drugs, murder, horror, dark themes, [sexual violence, physical violence], pedophilia, revenge, mass shootings, true crime, cybercrime, rape, kidnapping, accidents)
In the “keywords” column, you’ll also find a few other words that some of us considered very important, but they aren’t statistically relevant.
Analysis of the Keywords
Which keywords appear most frequently? We emphasize again that this does not imply these topics are the actual reasons for bans—but they suggest strong correlations.
The quantitative analysis reveals clear patterns:
“Violence” appears 1,570 times
“LGBTQ+” appears 1,378 times
“Family” appears 1,224 times
“Gender” appears 1,180 times
Other frequently occurring keywords include:
“Religion”: 382 times
“Systemic critique”: 374 times
“Racism”: 345 times
Moreover, “gender” was noted as relevant in approximately 45% of all entries, and “race” in about 16.7%.
The results are diverse and revealing. A vast number of banned books feature LGBTQ+ content. Sexual diversity appears to be something young Americans are supposedly not supposed to be exposed to—spanning nonfiction, novels, autobiographies, and graphic novels. Yet it becomes clear that censorship is not limited to gender and race, as often reported in the media. Themes such as violence, family, mental health, friendship, and death also appear frequently.
Fantasy Forbidden
Censorship particularly targets fantasy literature, with 761 entries on the list. This genre is especially popular among children and young adults. These books often explore power dynamics, critique of authority, social conflict, identity, and diversity. Could the focus on fantasy be linked to these thematic concerns?
Given the rapid evolution of genres like fantasy and romance, we also question the timeliness and completeness of book ban lists. Is censorship even possible in an era where BookTok, fan fiction communities, and social media continuously produce and disseminate new works at an unprecedented pace? The endless creation of new content—and the near-unlimited availability of older titles in digital and print formats—makes comprehensive cataloging nearly impossible. It seems unrealistic for censorship authorities to keep up.
Sex and Drugs: Nonfiction Is Also at Risk
It’s not only novels that are targeted—nonfiction books are frequently banned too. Approximately 74.2% of entries are fiction, while 22.5% are nonfiction. This means nonfiction accounts for more than one-fifth of all documented cases.
For example, nonfiction books on human biology—such as those covering sexuality and pregnancy—are being censored. Does this mean fundamental biological and health-related knowledge should no longer be taught in schools? To what extent does this deny children and adolescents access to factual information in favor of ideological views held at home?
In addition, nonfiction books addressing the consequences of drug use in various contexts are also banned. While some parents may reasonably object to novels portraying drug use uncritically, we cannot justify banning educational books that aim to inform and prevent abuse. If a book describes life with a drug-addicted parent, and children affected by such situations are denied access to it, we find this deeply problematic. These young people are being denied support and understanding.
Thus, certain topics are censored regardless of context. Sexual content is removed—even from biology textbooks, art history books, or psychological self-help guides. Knowledge about drugs is suppressed, even when it serves a preventive and educational purpose.
Biographies—Not Just Exemplary CVs?
Beyond fiction and nonfiction, several biographies appear on the list. Since biographies focus on real individuals, objections often stem from the person portrayed—whether their views, background, or social role challenge dominant norms. Affected individuals include those who defied societal expectations of their time or did not conform to traditional gender roles, such as Maria Sibylla Merian. The list also includes biographies of queer and non-white individuals who are not part of the social majority.
Norms—and Nudity
Many bans require deeper explanation. Cookbooks, art books, and seemingly unremarkable children’s books are also included. Examples include poetry collections for children, books for learning to count, and stories about a cat visiting the veterinarian.
In such cases, the reason for objection is not always immediately clear. In some instances, a single phrase, a depiction that deviates from societal norms, or an illustration of unclothed people or animals is enough to trigger a ban or restriction.
Even financial education books are not immune. One high school-level book, which includes basic money management and interactive workshop elements, was challenged. Knowledge of financial planning and responsible money management is crucial—especially for young people. Yet the objection likely stemmed from the book’s content not aligning with certain religious values. This example illustrates how closely many book bans are tied to political and religious norms.
We repeatedly observed that works considered unproblematic in a European context are often challenged in certain U.S. school districts. This includes depictions of Egyptian art or Michelangelo’s David. The treatment of nudity is particularly striking. Even well-established representations in art history can become subject to restrictions. This reveals a tension between the protection of traditional family and moral values on one hand, and access to art, education, and cultural knowledge on the other.
Perspectives
We cannot claim our analysis is fully representative. We provide a foundation for further research, but gaps remain: we did not have access to all the books, and in some cases, we analyzed only covers, content descriptions, excerpts, or reviews. As a result, the reasons for bans remain unclear sometimes. Consequently, our keyword list remains open to critique—and can and should be expanded. For example, by those who have read the books thoroughly—or who will still have the privilege of reading them in the future.
Take, for instance, the picture book Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins. At first glance, there is no obvious reason for a ban. The cover and blurb offer no clues. Only when examining the illustrations do things become clear: the book features characters from many different cultures. Diversity is clearly a reason for banning books in today’s America.
And so is criticism of censorship: We noticed that among the banned titles is Ban This Book by Alan Gratz—a novel that directly addresses book bans. The story follows a fourth-grader (a non-white protagonist) who creates a secret library to ensure other children can still access banned books. Banning a book that critically examines the very practice it condemns is profoundly contradictory.
Self-Reflection: What Has This Project Done to Us?
At first, we were often speechless and horrified. Time and again, we encountered well-known, celebrated books we had read—or still wanted to read. How can it be that such books are no longer accessible to young people in U.S. schools and libraries?
Romance, fantasy, mythology…? We never thought this could happen in a democracy.
Or history books about the Holocaust. Or nonfiction on puberty, bullying, or mental health. Cookbooks. Coloring books. Craft books.
The longer we studied the banned lists, the more we began to recognize the structures and patterns of censorship. But we also grew increasingly desensitized. We started to accept it: “Ah, LGBTQ+ again—okay, makes sense, check it off.” We realized we were being manipulated by the sheer volume of it all.
Yet, we also noticed a positive side effect: our own list of books we want to read has grown significantly longer. The promotional effect of censorship has worked—powerfully.
Kassel, October 2026