Overview

• The American Library Association's 2025 report reveals 72% of book challenges in 2024 were initiated by organized groups, elected officials, and administrators, while only 16% came from parents.
• George M. Johnson's memoir 'All Boys Aren't Blue' was the most challenged book in 2024, followed by Maia Kobabe's 'Gender Queer' and Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye.'
• Despite a drop in reported challenges from 1,247 in 2023 to 821 in 2024, the ALA cautions that underreporting and preemptive removals may obscure the true scale of censorship.
• Challenges predominantly targeted books with LGBTQ+ themes, racial topics, and issues of social justice, reflecting broader cultural and political conflicts.
• State laws in places like Texas, Florida, Iowa, and Utah are shaping library policies, leading to restrictions on book acquisitions and increased legal concerns for librarians.