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Book bans and censorship have surged in recent years, particularly in the United States, where challenges to literature in schools and libraries have intensified. While the UK has not witnessed book bans on the same scale as the United States, concerns over censorship and ideological control of literature remain pertinent. The underlying motivations for these bans reveal that discrimination within society is still very much present. This raises crucial questions about inclusivity, education, and the role of literature in shaping public discourse.
In the United States, book bans have become a highly politicised issue and are driven primarily by local scale groups (sometimes reaching the Supreme Court), who argue that certain books promote inappropriate themes, particularly concerning race, gender, and sexuality. According to PEN America’s 2023-2024 report, over 10,000 instances of book bans have occurred in public schools, with 4,231 unique titles affected. The vast majority of these books feature marginalised voices, including people from ethnic minority groups (44%), LGBTQ+ authors and characters (39%), as well as ones addressing themes related to systemic racism, gender identity, and social justice. Such banned titles include The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, but these are only 5 of the 10,046 books banned between 2023 and 2024.
Legislative action has played a crucial role in facilitating these bans. States such as Iowa and Texas have implemented policies that allow parents and school boards to challenge and remove books from libraries and curricula with increasing ease. Iowa’s Senate Bill 496 (which contains similar sentiments to the “Don’t Say Gay” laws) has led to increased efforts to restrict books that discuss LGBTQ+ identities. Similarly, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law in 2023 requiring booksellers to rate texts based on their sexual content before they can be sold to schools. Books that were deemed as sexually explicit had to be removed from schools altogether.
Regarding the above, two books that have been banned from U.S. classrooms include Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, a novel that explores themes of racial identity and trauma, and Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, a memoir detailing non-binary and asexual identity. Those opposing these book bans argue that these narratives are essential for representation and for amplifying voices that have historically been silenced. Meanwhile, supporters of the bans claim that these books contain explicit material that is inappropriate for young readers.
While the UK has not experienced book bans on the same scale as the U.S., instances of censorship and book removals have still raised concerns. The UK does not have the same legal framework for outright banning books in primary and secondary schools, but pressures from political groups, educational institutions, and public complaints have led to covert suppression of certain titles. The 2024 Index on Censorship survey found that 53% of school librarians had been asked to remove LGBTQ+ titles from their shelves, following similar patterns to that of the U.S.. One school librarian said that she could “scarcely believe that because one book was challenged [by a parent], the whole collection was removed.”. While parents and guardians should feel confident to voice their opinions over what books their children have access to, there should also be concerns raised when opinions reflect discriminative attitudes towards certain groups of people.
However, book banning is not always negative. In December 2024, Wales saw the removal of the classic American novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, from the WJEC exam board due to “concerns about racism and the use of racial slurs.”. While book bans in the U.S. have been widely regarded as concerning, this has been seen as a progressive move, taking into account the voices of those who have been caused harm as a result of this text. Through “safeguarding the wellbeing of children” directly impacted by classroom discussions of this text, the UK has demonstrated how banning books can be progressive, but what is truly alarming is the fact that the U.S. is not targeting these voices of prejudice, but instead silencing those that expose it.
Additionally, the rise of “sensitivity readers” in publishing has led to debates about whether editorial changes to classic and modern works amount to censorship, or if it is necessary to alter written word that is either inaccurate or may be considered offensive to a contemporary readership. For example, revisions made to Roald Dahl’s works in 2023 – one example being the removal of words such as “fat” and “ugly” – sparked widespread debate over whether such changes compromise artistic integrity. Ultimately, these changes have been “small and carefully considered” so that readers can continue to enjoy these works without having them removed from the shelves entirely.
Book bans and censorship have profound implications for education, literature, and democratic values. Restricting access to diverse perspectives prevents critical thinking and considered discussions on important topics, while also limiting exposure to a range of experiences. Voices risk being silenced not only through formal censorship but also through self-censorship, as authors and publishers avoid topics that may be perceived as controversial to prevent being targeted. With the celebration of Black History Month in the UK (October) and the U.S. (February) and Banned Books Week (September in the U.S.), we come together to illustrate the importance of having marginalised narratives heard. However, with book bans still having such a detrimental impact on the voices of ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, and other marginalised authors, there is a risk that we may be regressing to the past.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you” – Dr. Maya Angelou.
Edited by Nikol Kutsovska
Image: Banned Books Display At the Lacey Library, by Timberland Regional Library, 2013 // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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