The Latest Breaking News from PEN America

US book bans in public schools reach record annual high of 12,000

Texas tops list with 8,100 bans while Stephen King is again most banned author, PEN America finds

The Guardian - US · 1h ago

PEN America: Nearly 12,000 school book bans in a year, a record high

A new study from PEN America reveals that there were nearly 12,000 book bans in public schools over the past year, the highest since tracking began five years ago

The Independent UK · 2h ago

Free Speech Groups Say the FCC's Disney/ABC Investigation 'Reeks of Political Pretext'

FIRE, Cato, PEN America, and others take on the broadcasting police.

Reason · Sep 22

Free speech group calls foul play at prosecutors using Comey novel in case against him

PEN America condemns lawyers using passage from thriller to bolster claim ex-FBI director intended to harm Trump

The Guardian - US · Aug 22

Why not just ban all the books?

Keyword searches for "justice" and "pride" drive what ideas are being kept from kids

Salon · Jun 20

From her bookstore in Nashville, Ann Patchett drives the literary conversation

Ann Patchett often finds ways to help others, whether it's promoting a fellow author's book or supporting emerging writers

The Independent UK · Jun 1

Author Ann Patchett urges a 'breath' for books as PEN gala raises $2M amid ban surge

Author Ann Patchett and film producer Jason Blum are among those who spoke at PEN America's annual gala, which raised more than $2 million for the century-old literary and free expression organization

The Independent UK · May 15

China remains the biggest jailer of writers worldwide, report finds

Report finds Iran witnessed sharpest increase in arrest of writers last year

The Independent UK · May 12

‘They’re trying to narrow the worldview of young people’: how book bans are on the rise in the US

Rising tide of censorship is spreading, reshaping what students are permitted to read, learn and think

The Guardian - US · May 9

Report shows banned non-fiction books doubled over last school year in US

New PEN America report analysed 3,743 unique titles removed from libraries and classrooms and found books about activism and social movements were targeted

The Guardian - US · May 7