By HILLEL ITALIE<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Book bans and attempted bans remain at record highs, according to the American Library Association.<\/a> And efforts to have titles removed have never been more coordinated or politicized.<\/p>\n The ALA on Monday issued its annual list of the books most challenged at the country\u2019s libraries, part of the association\u2019s State of America\u2019s Libraries Report. Patricia McCormick\u2019s \u201cSold,\u201d a 2006 novel about sex trafficking in India, topped the list for 2025. Others targeted include Stephen Chbosky\u2019s high school novel \u201cThe Perks of Being a Wallflower,\u201d Maia Kobabe\u2019s graphic memoir \u201cGender Queer\u201d and Sarah J. Maas\u2019<\/a> romantasy favorite \u201cEmpire of Storms.\u201d<\/p>\n The ALA usually features 10 books, but this year has 11, with four tied for eighth place: Anthony Burgess\u2019 dystopian classic \u201cA Clockwork Orange,\u201d Ellen Hopkins\u2019 sibling drama \u201cIdentical,\u201d John Green\u2019s<\/a> boarding school narrative \u201cLooking for Alaska\u201d and Jennifer L. Armentrout\u2019s paranormal romance \u201cStorm and Fury.\u201d<\/p>\n Objections include LGBTQ+ themes (\u201cGender Queer,\u201d \u201cThe Perks of Being a Wallflower\u201d), sexual violence (\u201cSold\u201d and \u201cA Clockwork Orange\u201d) and use of alcohol and cigarettes (\u201cLooking for Alaska\u201d). Overall, the ALA\u2019s Office for Intellectual Freedom recorded challenges to 4,235 different works, topped only by 4,240 in 2023 since the association began keeping track more than 30 years ago.<\/p>\n The association defines a challenge as \u201can attempt to have a library resource removed, or access to it restricted, based on the objections of a person or group.\u201d Monday\u2019s list arrives during National Library Week, which runs through April 25.<\/p>\n \u201cLibraries exist to make space for every story and every lived experience,\u201d ALA President Sam Helmick said in a statement. \u201cAs we celebrate National Library Week, we reaffirm that libraries are places for knowledge, for access, and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n The ALA compiles its survey through media accounts and submissions from libraries. The actual numbers are likely much higher because many incidents are never reported, the association acknowledges.<\/p>\n For decades, challenges to a given book came from a parent or another member of a local community. But in recent years, the ALA has found, the trend has shifted sharply to government officials and such conservative activists as Moms for Liberty, who advocate \u201cparental choice\u201d in deciding what schools and libraries should make available.<\/p>\n Florida, Texas and Utah are among the many states that have called for books to be banned or passed restrictive legislation. In Iowa, an appellate court ruled earlier this month that the state can enforce a law that limits<\/a> teachers from talking about LGBTQ+ topics with students in kindergarten through the sixth grade and bans some books.<\/p>\n Last year, more than 90% of challenges arose from activists and government officials, according to the ALA, compared to 72% in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2025, book bans were not sparked by concerned parents, and they were not the result of local grassroots efforts,\u201d Sarah Lamdan, executive director of ALA\u2019s Office for Intellectual Freedom, said in a statement. \u201cThey were part of a well-funded, politically-driven campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n