Report: Florida leads nation in school library book removals
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During the 2024–2025 school year, Florida schools pulled 2,304 books from library shelves — more than any other state for the third year, according to PEN America's annual "Banned in the USA" report.
Why it matters: In recent years, Florida has gained national attention for its laws limiting classroom discussions and the rise of book challenges across the state's school districts.
- The number of removals in the state decreased from the previous year (4,561 removals in the 2023–24 year), but advocates argue the continued campaign to remove books disproportionately impacts minority groups and furthers self-censorship.
What they're saying: The "vast numbers" of books removed nationwide came "as a result of fear of legislation by school boards, administrators and educators" or "pressure imposed from the presence or threat of state laws," according to the report.
How it works: PEN America's Index of School Book Bans monitors instances in which a title is either temporarily or permanently removed from school libraries and classrooms in the U.S.
- To compile the index, the organization gathers information from sources that include local news outlets, school district official websites and school board meeting records.
- Texas and Tennessee followed Florida, pulling 1,781 and 1,622 books, respectively.
Zoom in: Miami-Dade County Public Schools was not included in the report's annual findings.
- According to Florida Freedom to Read, a nonprofit that tracks book bans in the state, there were no confirmed book removals last year.
Yes, but: Three Florida school districts ranked among the top 10 in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans: Hillsborough ranked second, Union County sixth and Clay County eighth.
- The review found that Hillsborough County Public Schools removed 608 books from their shelves. Titles include Colleen Hoover's "It Ends With Us" and Rainbow Rowell's "Eleanor and Park."
Between the lines: Statewide, "A Clockwork Orange" and "Wicked" were among the most targeted books.
The other side: A Hillsborough County Public Schools spokesperson told Axios that Florida law requires every school district to review books removed elsewhere in the state to maintain "system-wide compliance."
- PEN America's "total count includes books that were under review as well as those that were removed — treating them the same."