New report finds a coordinated rise in attempted book bans

The Bluest Eye, The Hate U Give and Queer, There and Everywhere are among the books that have faced bans around the country. (Meghan Collins Sullivan/NPR)

Throughout the 2021-22 school year, more than 1,600 book titles were banned, according to a new report by the group PEN America, which advocates for freedom of expression.

According to the report, the surge in book bans is a result of a network of local political and advocacy groups targeting books with LGBTQ+ characters and storylines, and books involving characters of color.