Florida has again been rated No. 1 in the nation for book bans.
The state had more than 4,500 instances of book banning in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, according to a new report from national free speech group PEN America. That’s a dramatically higher number than the year before: 1,406 bans.
With just over 10,000 book bans recorded nationwide — and over 4,000 unique titles removed — that means nearly half originated in Florida. Iowa followed with the second-highest count, exceeding 3,600 bans.
Nearly half of school districts in Florida banned books last school year, according to PEN America.
Escambia County saw the most, with nearly 1,600, according to the data. Its school district has been hit with a couple of federal First Amendment lawsuits over the issue.
Orange County is No. 2, with more than 700, and Clay County has 462.
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen and “Fallout” by Ellen Hopkins were the most targeted books in Florida, with 14 bans each. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky got banned 13 times and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood 11 times.
These in-state book removals have been catalyzed by active local chapters of Moms for Liberty, a conservative parental group that commonly targets books its members view as inappropriate, and multiple Gov. Ron DeSantis-signed laws. Those laws have prompted local school leaders across the state to pull books in wildly varying ways, fearing running afoul of state law.
Of the 4,231 individual titles banned last school year, 39% included LGBTQ characters, according to PEN America. In addition, 44% included characters of color and 57% had sex or sex-related content.
PEN America considers a ban to be when books get removed from school or classroom libraries, removed pending a review, or restricted based on grade or a parent’s permission.
“This crisis is tragic for young people hungry to understand the world they live in and see their identities and experiences reflected in books,” said Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, in a statement. “What students can read in schools provides the foundation for their lives, whether critical thinking, empathy across difference, personal well-being, or long-term success.”
Many conservatives, including DeSantis, have disagreed with the term “book banning” and maintained that’s not happening in Florida.
“Exposing the ‘book ban’ hoax is important because it reveals that some are attempting to use our schools for indoctrination,” DeSantis said last year. “In Florida, pornographic and inappropriate materials that have been snuck into our classrooms and libraries to sexualize our students violate our state education standards.”
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule is based in Tallahassee, Fla. He can be reached at [email protected]. On X: @DouglasSoule.
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