Utah Public Schools Enforce Statewide Ban on 'Wicked' and Other Titles

Utah public schools have officially banned Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, *Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West*, along with two other titles: *The Perks of Being a Wallflower* by Stephen Chbosky and *Nineteen Minutes* by Jodi Picoult. This decision, made by the Utah State Board of Education on January 5, 2026, follows the removal of these books from the Davis County, Tooele County, and Washington County School Districts. Under Utah's Sensitive Materials Law, if three school districts or a combination of two districts and five charter schools deem a book to contain "objective sensitive materials," it is banned statewide.

‘Wicked’ added to Utah’s statewide school book ban list as total rises to 22KUTV Salt Lake CityThe IndependentKSL News Radio - Salt Lake CityUtah Schools Ban ‘Wicked’ Novel Behind Musical and Films

The Sensitive Materials Law, initially passed in 2022 and amended in 2024, aims to identify and remove materials considered pornographic or indecent. The law has led to a total of 22 books being banned in Utah's K-12 schools, reflecting a growing trend of book censorship across the United States. According to PEN America, over 6,700 novels have been banned in school districts nationwide since 2021.

The Independent

Gregory Maguire has publicly stated that *Wicked* is "completely not for children," emphasizing that he included mature themes intentionally. He noted in a 2024 interview that he aimed to illustrate the complexities of "evil" through his narrative. Similarly, Chbosky and Picoult have expressed surprise and concern over the bans of their works, which tackle serious issues such as sexual abuse and school shootings. Chbosky remarked on the frequent challenges to his book, while Picoult defended her work against claims of indecency, arguing that objections often focus on isolated passages.

‘Wicked’ added to Utah’s statewide school book ban list as total rises to 22

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Utah has filed a lawsuit challenging the state's book-banning efforts, asserting that these actions violate the First Amendment rights to free speech and access to literature. Tom Ford, an attorney with the ACLU, stated, "The right to read and the right to free speech are inseparable." This legal challenge highlights the ongoing debate about censorship and educational freedom in Utah.

The Independent

The statewide ban on these titles raises significant concerns regarding literary access and educational freedom. While students may still possess personal copies of the banned books, they cannot be used for class assignments or accessed in school libraries. This policy shift reflects broader national conversations about the role of literature in education and the implications of censorship on students' learning experiences.

The Independent

• “I purposefully put somewhat raunchy material in the first few pages of Wicked, the novel, to show what people were getting into.” — Gregory Maguire, Author

The Independent

• “The right to read and the right to free speech are inseparable.” — Tom Ford, ACLU of Utah

The Independent

The recent additions to Utah's banned book list underscore a contentious climate surrounding educational content and the rights of students and educators in the state.

KUTV Salt Lake City