Story perspectives

2025 ALA Report: Over 4,200 Library Titles Challenged

4/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

In 2025, the American Library Association (ALA) reported 4,235 unique titles challenged in U.S. libraries.
The most targeted title was "Sold" by Patricia McCormick, followed by "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "Gender Queer: A Memoir."
More than 90% of challenges originated from organized political groups such as Moms for Liberty rather than individual parents.
The ALA noted that actual removals exceeded 5,600, signaling growing coordination of these efforts.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 ruling in Board of Education v. Pico upheld students' rights to access diverse literature, a response to rising censorship efforts. In 2022, the American Library Association recorded 1,269 book challenges, the highest in over two decades. Today, organized groups like Moms for Liberty are driving a significant increase in book bans, threatening free expression in libraries nationwide.

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Story summary

In 2025, the American Library Association (ALA) reported 4,235 unique titles challenged in U.S. libraries.
The most targeted title was "Sold" by Patricia McCormick, followed by "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "Gender Queer: A Memoir."
More than 90% of challenges originated from organized political groups such as Moms for Liberty rather than individual parents.
The ALA noted that actual removals exceeded 5,600, signaling growing coordination of these efforts.

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