WRE News: Florida Tops U.S. in Book Bans as Schools Face Rising Censorship Battles

Miami, FL – November 3, 2024 – Florida has become the epicenter of book bans in the United States, surpassing every other state in the 2023-24 school year.

A new report by PEN America reveals that 10,046 books were banned across the U.S. this past school year—a 200% increase from the previous year—with Florida alone accounting for 4,561 of those bans.

The surge is largely attributed to new legislation, like Florida’s House Bill 1069, which empowers parents to challenge books for “sexual conduct” and allows districts to restrict access during review processes. PEN’s report highlights the growing influence of “parental rights” groups in driving book challenges, especially targeting works featuring sexual themes, people of color, and LGBTQ+ characters.

Florida’s approach reflects a national trend as book bans continue to climb, with states like Iowa and Texas also reporting high numbers. Frequently banned titles include Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and Looking for Alaska by John Green, while authors like Ellen Hopkins and Sarah J. Maas face significant challenges across multiple books.