(NEW YORK)— PEN America today called it “a dark day” for the freedom to read in Utah after the state Board of Education released a “No-Read List of 13 book titles it has banned in all public schools to comply with a new law that requires every district to remove books banned in at least three districts.

The list released on Friday includes six popular titles by romance and fantasy author Sarah J. Maas and critically acclaimed titles by Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood. The list was published in compliance with Utah’s HB 29 and will likely be updated as more books begin to meet the law’s criteria. 

“It is a dark day for the freedom to read in Utah,” said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America. “The state’s No-Read List will impose a dystopian censorship regime across public schools and, in many cases, will directly contravene local preferences. Allowing just a handful of districts to make decisions for the whole state is antidemocratic, and we are concerned that implementation of the law will result in less diverse library shelves for all Utahns.”

Guidance from the state requires public schools to dispose of the 13 titles if they are currently on shelves, but stipulates that the banned books “may not be sold or distributed.” The board had initially considered language requiring schools to “destroy” the books, prompting board member Brent Strate to say, “I don’t care if it’s shredded, burned, it has to be destroyed one way or another.” 

“To make matters worse, the implementation guidelines are vague and will undoubtedly result in dumpsters full of books that could otherwise be enjoyed by readers,” said Meehan. “While the final guidance stops short of calling for book burning, the effect is the same: a signal that some books are too dangerous, and that the state has the authority to prohibit them. We disagree. We stand with individuals and organizations across Utah in our opposition to the government-mandated No-Read List and call on leaders to stop playing political football with the freedom to read.”

The 13 banned titles include the following:

  • “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas 
  • “A Court of Frost and Starlight” by Sarah J. Maas 
  • “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas
  • “A Court of Silver Flames” by Sarah J. Maas
  • “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas
  • “Empire of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas
  • “What Girls are Made of” by Elana K. Arnold 
  • “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur
  • “Forever” by Judy Blume
  • “Tilt” by Ellen Hopkins
  • “Fallout (Crank, Book 3)” by Ellen Hopkins
  • “Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood
  • “Blankets” by Craig Thompson

A petition to stop banning books and amend HB 29 has been posted by Let Utah Reads, a coalition of Utah community members, educators, parents, librarians, and advocacy organizations, including PEN America, dedicated to preserving Americans’ freedom to choose what we read. To sign the petition, visit: https://letutahread.org/stopbookbans 

About PEN America

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.

Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057