
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Book Bans and Censorship

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

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

Carmen Maria Machado on Banned Books

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

ICUJP Forum: Banned in the U.S.A

Banned Books Week | Panel Discussion & Trivia

Beaverdale Books Banned Books Festival

Banned Camp Presents: The Magic Power of Reading

Maus, Banned Books, and the First Amendment

Dave Eggers | Banned Books Week Reading and Screening

Free Expression and Schools

The Troubled History of Book Bans

Cultural Erasure & Restoration

Let’s Read: A Free Expression Halloween Party

Celebrating BIPOC and LGBTQ Books

Building Bridges: A Conversation About Book Banning

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

Reading Between the Bars: A Report Release Event
Discover Banned Books

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

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

Florida Book Bans: Why Are There Empty Shelves in Florida Schools?
Hear From Banned Authors

Banned in the USA Spotlight: Maia Kobabe

Banned in the USA Spotlight: George M. Johnson

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.

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

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