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.

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.

JOIN US

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.

READ THE STATEMENT AND SEND A LETTER

United States House Of Representatives Chamber

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.

SEND A LETTER

Banned In The USA Featured Image September 2023

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.

READ THE REPORT

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.

GET INVOLVED

I Read Banned Books Shirt Photo For Website

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!

SHOP NOW

A Month of Banned Book Events

PEN America at the 2023 Brooklyn Book Festival

Join us at the 2023 Brooklyn Book Festival! #FreeTheBooks

The National Hispanic Media Coalition Presents: The Burning of Democracy | A Banned Books Discussion (Virtual)

This panel will discuss the power of literature and its unique ability to inform important narratives in our society.

More than Empty Shelves: How Book Bans Undermine Identities and Restrict Information

The ACLU of New Jersey will bring together leading experts for a discussion on how book bans threaten the very foundation of our democracy.

From Howl to Now: Book Bans in the U.S. (Virtual)

City Lights and PEN America bring together authors, librarians, and student activists to discuss the alarming rise in book bans across the country.

Book Bans and Censorship

Panelists will discuss the impact of book banning and censorship on society and especially upon traditionally marginalized communities.

Freedom to Write | Freedom to Read with Suzanne Nossel (Virtual)

As part of Banned Book Week 2023, this talk will examine the current movement to ban books in public schools playing out across the United States.

Resisting Censorship: The Children's & Young Adult Book Banning Crisis

Join us for a conversation to discuss the movement to ban books by and about LGBTQ people, particularly books aimed at younger audiences.

Carmen Maria Machado on Banned Books

Join PEN Utah as Carmen Maria Machado joins the Tanner Humanities Center for a Banned Books Week conversation.

The Freedom to Read Panel: A Discussion with Sigal Ben-Porath, Kasey Meehan, and Samantha Hull

This discussion will address how the practice of book banning affects our schools, our libraries, our families, and our society as a whole.

ICUJP Forum: Banned in the U.S.A

Join PEN America and the Interfaith Communities for Justice and Peace in conversation about further research into book bans.

Banned Books Week | Panel Discussion & Trivia

The Woodhull Freedom Foundation and NYC Book Club for Book Hoes are pleased to present a night in celebration of Banned Books.

Beaverdale Books Banned Books Festival

The Beaverdale Books Banned Books Festival will be a fun-filled day featuring readings, fascinating panel discussions, and more.

Banned Camp Presents: The Magic Power of Reading

PEN America Austin will celebrate Banned Book Month 2023 by demonstrating the magical power of reading.

Maus, Banned Books, and the First Amendment

The Public Library of Mount Vernon & Knox County's Banned Books Week co-chair Alyssa Gomez Lawrence will lead a lively discussion of 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman

Dave Eggers | Banned Books Week Reading and Screening

The evening will feature a community conversation on book banning and censorship with Arthur Bradford and Dave Eggers along with Fargo-Moorhead community members.

Free Expression and Schools

PEN Arizona assembled thought leaders to discuss the torrent of book bans overtaking free expression in schools and libraries nationwide.

The Troubled History of Book Bans

This in-person conversation will examine the history of book bans in the United States and offer strategies for navigating our current censorious moment.

Cultural Erasure & Restoration

A discussion centering on poetry's vital role in pushing back against cultural erasure and censorship inspired by the work of Natalie Diaz.

Let’s Read: A Free Expression Halloween Party

Join PEN Utah and the Let Utah Read Coalition for a family-friendly day of food, fun, and spooky stories supporting the freedom to read!

Celebrating BIPOC and LGBTQ Books

Join PEN Piedmont to celebrate BIPOC and LGBTQ Books at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, NC.

Building Bridges: A Conversation About Book Banning

Learn more about what communities can do to combat a growing movement to silence voices and stifle important histories.

Banned! A Panel Discussion on Book Bans, Censorship, and Citizenship

A panel discussion hosted by UC Irvine which highlights author and organizer perspectives on book banning.

Reading Between the Bars: A Report Release Event

Join PEN America’s Prison and Justice Writing Program at the EFA Project Space as we release our report, “Reading Between the Bars: An In-Depth Look at Prison Censorship.”

The 11 Most Banned Books of the 2022-2023 School Year

These were the 11 most banned books of the 2022-2023 school year, according to PEN America's Index of Banned Books.

The Most Banned Picture Books of the 2021-2022 School Year

These are the most banned picture books of the 2021-2022 school year. Several are nonfiction, including histories of civil rights and gay pride. Others are lighthearted fiction about animals or babies.

Florida Book Bans: Why Are There Empty Shelves in Florida Schools?

You may have seen pictures of empty bookshelves in Florida classrooms, or heard about book bans across the state. What’s happening now is that new laws passed last year in Florida are having a clear chilling effect on classroom teachers and librarians.

Banned in the USA Spotlight: Maia Kobabe

Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer is a coming-of-age graphic novel that has been the most banned in U.S. schools. Kobabe tells PEN America what books like hers mean.

Banned in the USA Spotlight: George M. Johnson

George M. Johnson, author of one of the most banned books in America, is now one of the author plaintiffs in PEN America et al v. Escambia County School District, a federal lawsuit that says book bans are unconstitutional.

Banned in the USA Spotlight: Mike Curato

Mike Curato's Flamer was tied for the most banned book in the fall of 2022 in PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans. He tells PEN America why he wrote it.

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.

#FreeTheBooks

PEN America's Book Ban Index

PEN America tracks book bans in libraries and classrooms across America in our Index of School Book Bans.

VIEW THE INDEX

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

READ THE LIST