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“WE NEED TO TELL THE STORY”: LITERARY ADVOCATES NATIONWIDE
REFLECT ON FIVE YEARS OF RELENTLESS ATTACKS ON THE FREEDOM TO READ  
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Kelly Jensen
September 18, 2026
Book Riot

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_ “We Need To Tell The Story”: Literary advocates nationwide
reflect on five years of relentless attacks on the freedom to read. _

Photo credit: Book Riot,

 

This fall marks the start of year six of relentless book
bans—that’s MORE THAN HALF A DECADE. While the movement has
shifted since its start, there is little question that we’re in for
several more years of tireless advocacy on behalf of the right of all
people in this country to read and access diverse, inclusive library
collections. 

_[This week’s Literary Activism post is dedicated to a report pulled
together by the collaborative efforts of Kelly Jensen (Book Riot),
Tasslyn Magnusson, Sarah Lamdan (American Library Association),
Stephana Ferrell (Florida Freedom to Read Project), and Arielle
Haughee (Freedom to Read Project), as well as dozens of right to read
champions nationwide. This report reflects on five years of escalating
book censorship, including challenges, opportunities, and successes.
It does not cover prison censorship during this period; that will be
addressed in a future piece.]_

In early 2021, one year into a radically different way of living in
America thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, book bans began popping up
with a regularity not seen in quite a long time. It started in the
spring, continued to expand through the summer
[[link removed]], and became a full-blown
movement by the fall. Concerned individuals—a mix of those who were
parents and those who were not–flooded school board meetings with a
litany of now-familiar complaints over the “inappropriate” content
in books for children and teenagers. Many earned a moment or two of
viral fame in conservative media and on social media, encouraging
others to speak up in their schools about the importance of
“parental rights” regarding books. 

Book bans were but the next step in a movement that saw a small subset
of parents raising their voices at school board meetings, demanding
their rights be honored over mask and vaccination requirements during
a global pandemic. Many of these same people complained about the
rights of trans youth in public schools, whether that was over their
ability to use a bathroom or play interscholastic sports with the team
that aligned with their gender. Books were but another tool by which a
small, politically motivated contingent
[[link removed]]
could demand that their voices—and their power and money—be the
ones dictating who does and does not belong in public spaces. Books
became a common ground for both the political extremists and the
fringe groups seeking new ways to permit themselves distance from what
defines the public and the responsibilities therein.  

A September 2021 Fairfax, Virginia, school board meeting
[[link removed]]—where a public comment
about the content of _Gender Queer_ and _Lawn Boy_ was performed,
recorded, and widely shared
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on social media—is often cited as THE moment when it became clear
that the book banning trend was a full-blown, organized political
movement. 

From there, book censorship exploded. States across the country began
seeing a rise in local-level book challenges and removals, with
Florida [[link removed]] and Texas
[[link removed]] leading the nation in
their efforts to develop state legislation around the issue of books
in schools. Simultaneously, partisan interests began demanding
“educational choice,” pushing for state voucher programs
[[link removed]] that
would funnel public tax money into private education. Now public
schools were put in a position of standing up for the rights of all
students while simultaneously recognizing that such a commitment to
their mission could mean less funding—and more harm perpetuated on
those with the greatest need. 

It became increasingly clear in late 2021 and early 2022 that none of
this was by accident. Highly connected and coordinated groups like No
Left Turn in Education and Moms For Liberty, to name two, were being
supported by well-funded right-wing institutions to deploy such
censorious efforts on the ground while advocating for restrictive laws
across the country. The 2022-2023 era of book bans brought extremist
takeovers of school boards. By 2023, the noise had caught the
attention of federal legislators, who held a Senate Judiciary
Committee hearing on book bans
[[link removed]].
Just months before the hearing, though, Illinois would begin to change
the conversation by passing the first freedom-to-read/anti-book-ban
bill in the country. Twelve more states
[[link removed]] would
join that trend by mid-2026. 

What began seemingly on the ground level with individual book titles
only escalated. Books, libraries, library workers, and educators were
seeing themselves subject to numerous attempts–successful and
not–to state-level legislation. These laws included everything from
requiring ratings on books
[[link removed]] before
public schools could purchase them to year-long jail sentences for
librarians [[link removed]] whose collections
contained books that some entity somewhere may deem “harmful for
minors [[link removed]]”
(also known as librarian criminalization bills
[[link removed]]).
Some of these laws are on the books today, such as Arkansas’s Act
372 [[link removed]] and Iowa’s Senate File
496 [[link removed]], Texas’s Senate Bills 12
and 13
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and Florida’s House Bill 1467
[[link removed]]; others have failed to
pass–though not failed to fuel similar legislation elsewhere. 

Early attempts to develop partisan book rating and review systems,
such as BookLooks by Moms for Liberty
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sophisticated
[[link removed]]—and sometimes
pricey
[[link removed]]—endeavors.
Censors eager to make a buck have turned the fear of lawsuits or
funding cuts into an opportunity to champion their software or systems
as solutions to the manufactured crisis. They’ve also contributed to
and profited from the chilling effects
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in education and the raging quiet censorship happening in libraries
nationwide. 

The courts have played a significant role in shaping book bans, too.
Literary advocates like Leila Green Little
[[link removed]] fought local book bans
through the federal court system, seeking to take the case to the
Supreme Court. While she and her fellow plaintiffs did not achieve the
much-hoped-for success, their efforts highlighted the constitutional
crisis at hand. The same unwelcome outcome awaited in _Mahmoud v.
Taylor_, fundamentally altering what public schools could and could
not teach in the classroom without explicit parental opt-outs. While
all of this is about the restriction and outright removal of access to
materials for young people, it’s also about the systematic erasure
and eradication of anyone outside the narrow confines of white
supremacist ideals. The most commonly banned books mirror the very
people experiencing the most targeted personal and legislative attacks
in this country: people of color, queer people, young people, and
anyone of a marginalized gender. Other advocates pursuing literary
justice through the court system include school librarians in South
Carolina [[link removed]], as well
as partnerships between authors, publishers, the American Civil
Liberties Union, and ordinary taxpayers in Colorado
[[link removed]],
Idaho [[link removed]], Iowa
[[link removed]],
Florida
[[link removed]],
and Utah [[link removed]]. 

While numerous lawsuits over state book banning bills make their way
through the judicial system and numerous federal-level book ban bills
simmer in both the House and Senate, there is much to appreciate as
well. _The Librarians_, a documentary film about the targeted attacks
and abuses of library workers since 2021, won a Primetime Emmy Award.
The film, which saw screenings and discussion panels held across
America in 2025 and 2026, led to a richer understanding of what was
happening not in some faraway places, but right in the viewers’
backyards. 

Librarians who saw their careers upended for standing up against
censorship have also served as vital reminders of the need for
advocacy. They’ve also seen successful court cases over wrongful
termination
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Suzette Baker
[[link removed]],
Patty Hector
[[link removed]],
Rhea Young
[[link removed]],
Brooky Parks
[[link removed]],
and Terri Lesley
[[link removed]].
No one wants to be in this position, but every one of these librarians
stood up for their patrons’ rights and the ethical obligations of
their work. That is to be commended and to serve as a reminder that
the work of librarianship is never easy. It’s gotten only more
difficult in this moment of escalating censorship.

One of the most heartening things to come of this challenging decade
so far, though, has been the dedication of ground-level advocates
championing the right to read and their public democratic
institutions. From coast to coast, from red state to blue state, from
the formally organized to the scrappy, parents, students, and literary
advocates of all stripes have come together to say enough is enough.
They’re taking back _their_ rights to fully funded, well-supported
public schools and libraries. This includes not only holding those
institutions accountable for banning books, but also ensuring that
people in their communities know what’s happening, where it’s
happening, and how they need to show up to speak out. Their advocacy
is being seen and heard not only in America but across the globe. 

And that’s exactly what we’re bringing here in this Five Year
Report on Book Censorship in America. As with our 2025 Book Censorship
Wrapped [[link removed]], which
looked at last year’s trends in book bans, the Five Year Report aims
to not only explore the trends and themes of book censorship in the
2020s. It also puts the voices of those on the ground at the
forefront. What you’ll see here are the voices, stories,
experiences, and insights of nearly [two dozen] groups working to
support the freedom to read. They range from groups working at the
national level, such as Authors Against Book Bans and Brooklyn Public
Library’s Books Unbanned, to groups working on the local level,
including Annie’s Foundation in Iowa, the Texas Freedom to Read
Project, and so many more. 

The Five Year Report is a collaborative project from the American
Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, Book Riot, and
the Florida Freedom to Read Project. But rather than share only our
insights, the Five Year Report solicited input from countless groups
in early to mid-2026. These groups included folks whose work has been
more specific to prison censorship, too–and while you won’t find
that insight in this report, stay tuned for a special report that will
highlight the trends, insights, challenges, and opportunities for
prison literary advocacy later this fall. What you will find here is
an array of wins and challenges, roadblocks and opportunities, both
through the rearview mirror of the last five years and in the
driver’s seat for the next year or two or ten. 

This is in no way a comprehensive picture of book censorship in the
2020s so far. There’s no way any report could ever do that,
particularly as we understand the hurdles that make reporting and
recording censorship a Herculean task–the loss of local media, the
suppression and reimagining of factual information, and the pervasive
nature of quiet/soft/internal censorship to name just three. But the
insights here are robust, and they underscore the vital need for those
who champion the right to read to show up in their own
communities—it really makes a difference. It creates the kind of
sustainable change that turns advocacy efforts into democratic
infrastructure. 

On The National Level

When we look at book censorship in the national landscape, definitive
patterns emerge. Research from the American Library Association’s
Office of Intellectual Freedom
[[link removed]] tracked 5,668 books banned
from libraries and 920 restricted due to relocation or
parental-permission requirements in 2025. This hits two new
milestones: the highest number of titles censored in a single year,
and the highest percentage of challenged books resulting in censorship
since tracking began in 1990. 

Dr. Emily Knox, Interim Dean and professor in the School of
Information Sciences at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign—who testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee about book bans
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in 2023—also notes this increase in censorship. 

“Book banning is much more visible across the country,” she said.
Knox explained that the local nature of censorship efforts creates a
complex landscape. “There’s not a systematic way to get all
schools and libraries to update their policies at the same time. Each
community is uniquely vulnerable.”

There are trends with the type of books being banned over these last
five years. Marginalized identities are disproportionately being
targeted. PEN America [[link removed]] found
that of the 4,235 titles challenged in 2025, 44% targeted characters
or people of color and 39% represented the experiences of LGBTQ+
characters or people. There is also an increasing shift in censorship,
expanding from fiction into nonfiction. These include histories,
biographies, reference books, and science topics, removing access to
factual resources for young people. 

Arguably, the biggest national trend has been that censorship has
morphed from being individually-driven to special interests and
government actors. The American Library Association found that 92% of
book challenges in 2025 were initiated by pressure groups, elected
officials, administrators, boards, or other decision-makers, with
fewer than 3% originating with parents. 

State laws are also increasingly driving local censorship decisions.
Laws have been enacted that require the use of book rating systems,
establish criminal penalties for librarians, mandate statewide blanket
removals, and create review mandates. The result is often anticipatory
obedience or “soft censorship.” Titles disappear from shelves
without going through any formal challenge process. 

"I think much more of the public is comfortable with censorship that
we realize, and the current news climate makes breaking through with
these stories nearly impossible," says Maggie Tokuda-Hall

What looked like it began as local, grassroots efforts now leaves few
questions when it comes to the ultimate goal of these political
interest groups: federal laws that protect the partisan interests and
doctrine of one group at the expense of the First Amendment rights of
all nationwide. The Department of Defense
[[link removed]]
banned nearly 600 titles from DoD Education Activity schools last
year, while the Supreme Court ruled on one noteworthy case that
impacts book censorship. In _Mahmoud v. Taylor_
[[link removed]], parents
objected on religious grounds to their children encountering LGBTQ+
books in class. The Court ruled in their favor, saying that the lack
of an opt-out encroached on their religious freedom. This decision is
being weaponized to target inclusive policies
[[link removed]].
In _Little v. Llano County_
[[link removed]], an en
blanc panel in the Fifth Circuit found that a public library’s
decisions to remove contested books were not subject to First
Amendment protections. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case,
leaving the Fifth Circuit ruling in place, though the limitations of
the ruling at the Fifth—that it was applicable to only three
states—has not stopped other states from choosing to demand
censorship, citing _Little v. Llano County_ as justification. 

There is more censorship legislation on the horizon. Among the slate
of current federal bill
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proposals
[[link removed]]
is H.R. 7661
[[link removed]].
H.R. 7661, which has passed through committee and could be heard by
the full House, targets “sexually oriented material” for minors,
using federal education funding as leverage to guarantee compliance
with its restrictions. 

“I think much more of the public is comfortable with censorship than
we realize, and the current news climate makes breaking through with
these stories nearly impossible,” says Maggie Tokuda-Hall, author of
_Love in the Library_ and founding member of Authors Against Book Bans
[[link removed]], adds. 

Advocates across the nation are continuing to support the freedom to
read, no matter how much resistance they face. “The movement to
resist censorship has gotten more organized, grassroots activists in
different areas of the country have found more opportunities to talk
to each other, and our side’s legislative advocacy has improved,”
said Philomena Polefrone, who shared her insights while working as
Associate Director of American Booksellers for Free Expression.
“Stymying the 2025 bills in Florida and Texas would have been
impossible without tactical improvements on the legislative side of
things. Proactive freedom to read bills
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also been able to pass that have shown the effectiveness of our
messaging.” 

The next five years will be crucial for the freedom to read, and
advocates have no other choice but to continue to rise to the
challenge. No one is coming to save democracy for us. It’s our
responsibility to continue to do the work, build community and
coalition, educate people about what’s at stake, and encourage
advocacy and activism from every angle.  

On The State Level

READ FULL REPORT HERE
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* book bans
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* book burning
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* censorship
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* Freedom to Read
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* Libraries
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* Public Libraries
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* public schools
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* school boards
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* MAGA
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* Resistance 2.0
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* Elections 2026
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* 2026 Midterms
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