Nearly 600 books were banned from Florida schools last year

A newly released report from the Florida Department of Education shows about 600 books were removed, restricted or discontinued from public schools across the state during the 2025-26 school year.

The removals were reported in just 10 of Florida’s 67 school districts.

Three are in Central Florida: Orange, Polk and Sumter counties. Sumter, which is largely rural outside The Villages retirement community, removed 22 books from high school libraries. Polk banned 32, while Orange had only one.

Clay County, north of Central Florida, reported more than 260 removals.

For most districts, the department says the books were challenged by parents or community members and then reviewed by school districts under state laws governing what materials students can access.

In Sumter County, the district reviewed the books under state laws restricting materials considered sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate for students.

The list includes works by Stephen King, Jennette McCurdy and Sarah J. Maas, along with popular titles including “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” and “The Freedom Writers Diary.”

William Johnson, director of PEN America’s Florida office, which advocates against book censorship, said the consequences of removing books can be different in rural communities.

Students in larger metropolitan areas may have access to public libraries, bookstores and other places to find a book that is no longer available at school. Johnson says those alternatives can be harder to reach in rural areas.

“The options are fewer and farther away in rural communities, so removing a book from a school library can have a greater practical effect on whether a young person can obtain it,” he said.

Johnson said rural districts can also have fewer librarians and media specialists available to review challenged books, along with smaller library collections and fewer institutions where students can access books.

He said that creates an “undue burden” for the people conducting the reviews, while also potentially limiting students’ access to books.

The process comes from changes to Florida law governing materials available in public schools. Under state law, HB 1467, parents or guardians can challenge books or other materials, which school districts then review under state requirements.

Johnson said some challenges focused on individual passages, particularly those involving sexual content, rather than the book as a whole.

“When you do that, when you don’t understand literary merit, context, you are unfortunately removing books that have real, true literary and cultural value,” he said.

Each county’s list, added all together, comes to 200 more entries than last year’s total.

The big picture

The American Library Association documented 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, the second-highest number it has recorded. The organization says 5,668 books were ultimately banned from all libraries that year, while another 920 faced access restrictions.

The ALA also found that 92% of book challenges in 2025 were initiated by pressure groups, government officials or decision-makers. Less than 3% originated with individual parents, according to the organization.

Here’s a list of the books removed from Central Florida schools in the 2025-2026 year:

Sumter County Grades 9-12

A Court of Mist and Fury — Sarah J. MaasA Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. MaasBreathless — Jennifer NivenBronxwood — Coe BoothCollateral — Ellen HopkinsEmpire of Storms — Sarah J. MaasHomegoing — Yaa GyasiHouse of Earth and Blood — Sarah J. MaasKingdom of Ash — Sarah J. MaasLike a Love Story — Abdi NazemianLonesome Dove — Larry McMurtryMilk and Honey — Rupi KaurRed Hood — Elana K. ArnoldSold — Patricia McCormickStorm and Fury — Jennifer L. ArmentroutThe Freedom Writers Diary — Erin GruwellThe Glass Castle — Jeannette WallsThe Nowhere Girls — Amy ReedThe Pact: A Love Story — Jodi PicoultTilt — Ellen HopkinsWater for Elephants — Sara GruenWicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West — Gregory Maguire

Polk County Grades 9-12

Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls — Lynn WeingartenThe Porcupine of Truth — Bill KonigsbergThe Scammer — Tiffany D. JacksonThis Boy — Lauren MyracleThis Is Why They Hate Us — Aaron H. AcevesWhen It’s Real — Erin WattYes Please — Amy PoehlerYou Before Anyone Else — Julie CrossBlood & Honey — Shelby MahurinBrightest Night — Jennifer L. ArmentroutBronxwood — Coe BoothCulpa Nuestra — Mercedes RonDeadline — Chris CrutcherDid I Mention I Need You? — Estelle MaskameDifferent Seasons — Stephen KingEvery Last Breath — Jennifer L. ArmentroutExtremely Loud & Incredibly Close — Jonathan Safran FoerGods & Monsters — Shelby MahurinGrace and Glory — Jennifer L. ArmentroutHere We Are: Feminism for the Real World — Kelly JensenI’m Glad My Mom Died — Jennette McCurdyKingdom of the Cursed — Kerri ManiscalcoLush — Natasha FriendMe Being Me Is Exactly as Insane as You Being You — Todd Hasak-LowyNow I Rise — Kiersten WhiteRabbit and Robot — Andrew SmithSerpent & Dove — Shelby MahurinSomeone I Used to Know — Patty Blount100 Sideways Miles — Andrew Smith11/22/63: A Novel — Stephen King9 Days & 9 Nights — Katie CotugnoAs She Fades — Abbi Glines

Orange County Grades 9-12