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. More
PEN America Index of School Book Bans – 2022-2023
PEN America's 2022-2023 Index of Banned Books found 3,362 instances of individual books banned. This searchable banned book list includes each documented book ban in the 2022-23 school year. More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of September 11
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
PEN America Criticizes U.S. Human Rights Record at the U.N. Human Rights Committee
PEN America submitted a report to the United Nations Committee on Civil and Political Rights, criticizing the human rights record of the United States on free expression, discrimination, and… More
Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaigns Lead to Broad Crackdown on Free Expression
A broad attack on LGBTQ+ rights in Lebanon reflects a larger trend of attacks on free expression in the country and the region. More
It’s Not Just Florida: 4 New ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Laws Passed in 2023
Teachers in North Carolina, Arkansas, Iowa, and Indiana are beginning their school years newly stripped of their right to say “gay.” More
As Hollywood Strikes, PEN America Lends a Hand
As the writers’ strike stretches on and many film and television writers struggle to pay their bills, PEN America is creating a Screenwriters Emergency Financial Assistance Fund to address… More
Teachers and Librarians Describe a Climate of Fear Stoked By New Laws
new 'educational intimidation' Laws lead to classroom censorship By: Lisa Tolin | August 22, 2023 In her 30 years as a school librarian, Jill Blake fielded the occasional request from parents… More
PEN America: ‘Distressing’ That Indiana Library Is Moving Teen Books to the Adult Section
PEN America expressed distress over the decision by Indiana’s Hamilton East Public Library to move more than 1,300 Young Adult books to its adult section under a new policy… More
These Books Are Banned in Urbandale, Iowa School District
PEN America sent an open letter to the Urbandale, Iowa school district to reverse an order to remove a list of nearly 400 titles. Here are some of the… More
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