(MIAMI)—PEN America today expressed alarm over Duval County, Florida Public Schools’ removal of dozens of books without a clearly defined or transparent review process. Titles removed include books by notable authors like The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
PEN America called on Duval County Public Schools to explain its review process and criteria, follow transparent and consistent procedures moving forward, and restore books removed without proper review.
According to reporting by Jacksonville Today, the district’s public list of “not-approved” books has grown significantly in recent months, with many titles removed not through formal challenges but through a sweeping internal review of more than 1.6 million books in the district’s collection. The Duval County removals appear to be driven largely by an internal compliance review tied to evolving state guidance, rather than by formal objections from parents or community members.
“These removals raise disconcerting questions,” said PEN America Florida Director William Johnson “Who decides what students can read, and under what standards? Without transparency, there is no accountability. And without accountability, the door opens to arbitrary censorship.”
“These authors have shaped generations of readers through works with clear literary and educational value, and Duval County’s decision to remove their books threatens students’ freedom to read,” Johnson said.
Stephana Ferrell, co-founder of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, also criticized the removals, warning that Duval County’s decision to pull dozens of books without a formal, transparent process should concern every parent, student, and educator in Florida. “Students deserve open access to ideas, not censorship carried out behind closed doors,” Ferrell said. “Parents, educators, and students deserve a clear process, clear standards, and the ability to understand how and why districts make these decisions.”
While Florida law allows for book challenges, established best practices and constitutional standards require that materials be evaluated in their full context rather than removed wholesale through opaque administrative processes.
In addition to the removal of books by Angelou, Atwood and Picoult, titles by other notable authors, Bernard Malamud and E. E. Cummings, were swept from shelves, underscoring the sweeping nature of the district’s actions.
PEN America also warned that districts conducting massive internal reviews without clear timelines, public reporting, or consistent standards push trained educators and media specialists aside in favor of bureaucratic overreach.
The situation in Duval County reflects a broader pattern across Florida, where rapid policy changes and expansive interpretations of state law have led districts to remove or restrict access to books, often without the robust review processes that protect students’ First Amendment rights.
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