![Banned Books Week 2023 Hero Image](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Banned-Books-Week-2023-Hero-Image.png)
Banned Books Week 2023
Banned Books Week is October 1 – 7, 2023. Book bans and restrictions are on the rise in classrooms and libraries across the country. We invite readers, authors, educators, librarians, and everyone who opposes censorship in America to get involved during Banned Books Week 2023. Learn more about PEN America’s groundbreaking research, this year’s events, and how you can help us #FreeTheBooks!
What is a banned book? Learn the basics of book banning with our FAQ.
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Stand with the Banned
Join this group of bestselling authors who are joining PEN America in fighting for the freedom to read in Florida by building a presence on the ground.
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SEND A LETTER TO STATE OFFICIALS
For Banned Books Week 2023, PEN America and We Believe gathered a consortium of publishers and nonprofit organizations to rally behind the freedom to read with this open letter. Send a letter to your state legislators using our form.
![United States House Of Representatives Chamber](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/United_States_House_of_Representatives_chamber-450x335.jpg)
SEND A LETTER TO CONGRESS
Ask your congressional representatives to co-sponsor and vote for the Book Ban Resolution (H.Res. 773/S.Res. 372) currently in Congress.
![Banned In The USA Featured Image September 2023](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Banned-in-the-USA-Featured-Image-September-2023-450x350.png)
Our Research: Banned in the USA
Book bans in public schools and libraries have recurred throughout American history, and have long been an issue of concern to PEN America as a literary and free expression advocacy organization.
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Take Action
As writers and artists, we know stories matter. That’s why the Writers Guild Initiative, PEN America, and Unite Against Book Bans have teamed up with actors, writers, and artists of all stripes to bring attention to the urgent crisis around book banning in the United States on the 2023 Banned Book Week Day of Action, October 7.
![I Read Banned Books Shirt Photo For Website](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/I-Read-Banned-Books-Shirt-Photo-For-Website.png)
Wear Your Support
The PEN America shop has tee shirts, sweaters, tote bags, puzzles, onesies, and works of original literature which highlight our free expression advocacy. Show your support for the freedom to read today with exclusive designs by Todd Parr, Mike Curato, Art Spiegelman, Lingua Franca, and more!
A Month of Banned Book Events
![PEN America at the 2023 Brooklyn Book Festival](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-Brooklyn-Book-Festival-Header-3-300x200.png)
PEN America at the 2023 Brooklyn Book Festival
![The National Hispanic Media Coalition Presents: The Burning of Democracy | A Banned Books Discussion (Virtual)](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NHMC-1-300x200.png)
The National Hispanic Media Coalition Presents: The Burning of Democracy | A Banned Books Discussion (Virtual)
![More than Empty Shelves: How Book Bans Undermine Identities and Restrict Information](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/More-than-empty-shelves-300x200.png)
More than Empty Shelves: How Book Bans Undermine Identities and Restrict Information
![From Howl to Now: Book Bans in the U.S. (Virtual)](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/From-How-to-Now-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
From Howl to Now: Book Bans in the U.S. (Virtual)
![Book Bans and Censorship](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Book-bans-and-censorship-event-300x200.png)
Book Bans and Censorship
![Freedom to Write | Freedom to Read with Suzanne Nossel (Virtual)](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Freedom-to-Write-Freedom-to-Read-with-Suzanne-Nossel-300x200.png)
Freedom to Write | Freedom to Read with Suzanne Nossel (Virtual)
![Resisting Censorship: The Children's & Young Adult Book Banning Crisis](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Copy-of-Banned-Books-Month-2023-event-page-graphic-template-1-300x200.png)
Resisting Censorship: The Children's & Young Adult Book Banning Crisis
![Carmen Maria Machado on Banned Books](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Carmen-Maria-Machado-on-Banned-Books-300x200.png)
Carmen Maria Machado on Banned Books
![The Freedom to Read Panel: A Discussion with Sigal Ben-Porath, Kasey Meehan, and Samantha Hull](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Freedom-to-read-panel-300x200.png)
The Freedom to Read Panel: A Discussion with Sigal Ben-Porath, Kasey Meehan, and Samantha Hull
![ICUJP Forum: Banned in the U.S.A](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ICUJP-300x200.png)
ICUJP Forum: Banned in the U.S.A
![Banned Books Week | Panel Discussion & Trivia](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/banned-books-panel-and-trivia-featured-300x200.png)
Banned Books Week | Panel Discussion & Trivia
![Beaverdale Books Banned Books Festival](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Beaverdale-banned-books-fest-300x200.png)
Beaverdale Books Banned Books Festival
![Banned Camp Presents: The Magic Power of Reading](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Magic-Power-of-Reading-300x200.png)
Banned Camp Presents: The Magic Power of Reading
![Maus, Banned Books, and the First Amendment](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maus-Banned-Books-and-the-First-Amendment-300x200.png)
Maus, Banned Books, and the First Amendment
![Dave Eggers | Banned Books Week Reading and Screening](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dave-Eggers-Banned-Books-Month-2023-event-page-graphic-300x200.png)
Dave Eggers | Banned Books Week Reading and Screening
![Free Expression and Schools](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Arizona-Event-Page-300x200.png)
Free Expression and Schools
![The Troubled History of Book Bans](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Troubled-History-of-Book-Bans-BBW-2-300x200.png)
The Troubled History of Book Bans
![Cultural Erasure & Restoration](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cultural-Erasure-Restoration-Event-Page-Graphic-black-300x200.png)
Cultural Erasure & Restoration
![Let’s Read: A Free Expression Halloween Party](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Lets-Read-w-Shannon-Hale-300x200.png)
Let’s Read: A Free Expression Halloween Party
![Celebrating BIPOC and LGBTQ Books](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Celebrating-BIPOC-and-LGBTQ-Books-300x200.png)
Celebrating BIPOC and LGBTQ Books
![Building Bridges: A Conversation About Book Banning](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Building-Bridges-300x200.png)
Building Bridges: A Conversation About Book Banning
![Banned! A Panel Discussion on Book Bans, Censorship, and Citizenship](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Banned-300x200.png)
Banned! A Panel Discussion on Book Bans, Censorship, and Citizenship
![Reading Between the Bars: A Report Release Event](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Prison-Banned-Book-Report-Release-Event-300x200.png)
Reading Between the Bars: A Report Release Event
Discover Banned Books
![The 11 Most Banned Books of the 2022-2023 School Year](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Top-Banned-Books-List-Featured-Image-1-300x200.png)
The 11 Most Banned Books of the 2022-2023 School Year
![The Most Banned Picture Books of the 2021-2022 School Year](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Top-Banned-Picture-Books-2021-2022-300x200.png)
The Most Banned Picture Books of the 2021-2022 School Year
![Florida Book Bans: Why Are There Empty Shelves in Florida Schools?](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Copy-of-pen.org-Featured-Image-Template-2-300x200.png)
Florida Book Bans: Why Are There Empty Shelves in Florida Schools?
Hear From Banned Authors
![Banned in the USA Spotlight: Maia Kobabe](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Maia-Kobabe-Featured-Image-02-300x200.png)
Banned in the USA Spotlight: Maia Kobabe
![Banned in the USA Spotlight: George M. Johnson](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/George-M.-Johnson-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
Banned in the USA Spotlight: George M. Johnson
![Banned in the USA Spotlight: Mike Curato](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mike-Curato-Featured-Image-02-1-300x200.png)
Banned in the USA Spotlight: Mike Curato
Take Action: #FreeTheBooks
In classrooms, school districts, and libraries across the country, the freedom to read is under assault by restrictions and bans on books. PEN America needs your help to #FreeTheBooks.
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PEN America's Book Ban Index
PEN America tracks book bans in libraries and classrooms across America in our Index of School Book Bans.
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Read Banned Books
In this reading list, we chose to spotlight the most banned books in U.S. schools. It is the books that have long fought for a place on the shelf that are being targeted. Books by authors of color, by LGBTQ+ authors, by women. Books about racism, sexuality, gender, history. Read banned books, and fight for the right to read