Full Breakdown
Utah Bans Stephen King's *Different Seasons* Collection from All Public Schools
7/15/2026, 3:54:15 AM
Core Event
In July 2026 Utah’s State Board of Education added Stephen King’s 1982 novella collection Different Seasons to the statewide list of prohibited titles. The ban applies to every public school in the state, raising the total number of removed books to 36. The collection contains four novellas—“Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: Hope Springs Eternal,” “Apt Pupil: Summer of Corruption,” “The Body: Fall from Innocence,” and “The Breathing Method: A Winter’s Tale”—two of which inspired the films *The Shawshank Redemption* (1994) and *Stand by Me* (1986).
Legal Basis and Procedure
Utah law mandates that a title be withdrawn statewide when a sufficient number of districts label it “objective sensitive material,” defined in state code as “instructional material that constitutes pornographic or indecent material.” The collection was first removed in four districts before the statewide directive was issued.
Scope of the Ban and Prior Banned Titles
The latest action brings the cumulative count of banned books to 36. Earlier removals include five entries from Sarah J. Maas’s *Court of Thorns and Roses* series, a title from her *Throne of Glass* series, George R.R. Martin’s *A Clash of Kings*, and King’s own *Bag of Bones*.
Official Rationale
The Davis School District’s website cited explicit content, stating that the book contains “sexual stimulation, arousal, and masturbation.” State officials rely on that district assessment to justify the statewide removal under the objective-sensitive-material provision.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A collection of Stephen King novellas that inspired two landmark films is the latest book banned from all Utah public schools.” — Carmen Nesbitt, journalist
- “[t]here is sexual stimulation, arousal, and masturbation in the book.” — Davis School District website
- “According to the Utah State Board of Education website, this is the latest of 36 book bannings from Utah public schools, including five books in Sarah J.” — Utah State Board of Education website
