US saw record high of 5,668 books banned in libraries in 2025, says agency

Most-banned book was Sold, a 2006 novel by Patricia McCormick about sex trafficking in India

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The American Library Association (ALA) has reported a record high in the number of books banned in US libraries.

In 2025, 5,668 books were banned – representing 66% of the total number challenged – with an additional 920 censored through access restriction, such as relocation on the library shelves.