About This Project

What This Is

BannedBooks.app is a reading-freedom tracker. We track where books are being challenged and removed from schools, libraries, and public institutions across the United States. We explain why they're being targeted. And we help you find, read, and buy those books.

This is not an academic database. It's not a protest sign. It's a useful tool for curious readers who want to know what's happening to books in America—and want to do something about it.

Challenged vs. Banned

A challenge is a formal request to remove a book from a library, school curriculum, or classroom. Not every challenge succeeds.

A ban is when a book is actually removed from shelves, curriculum, or circulation. Some bans are temporary. Some are permanent.

A restriction means the book is still available but with limitations: parental permission required, moved to a different section, or removed from recommended reading lists.

We track all three. We label them clearly. We don't overstate claims.

Our Sources

Every challenge event on this site is backed by at least one source. We prioritize:

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  PEN America — Index of School Book Bans and broader research on literary freedom.
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  American Library Association — Annual lists of most challenged books and challenge tracking data.
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  Verified news reporting — Coverage from outlets like NPR, The Washington Post, The Texas Tribune, and local newsrooms.

Accuracy & Updates

Book challenges are a moving target. New challenges happen weekly. Statuses change as school boards vote, courts rule, and communities respond. We do our best to keep this data current, but if you spot an error or have a correction, we want to hear about it.

We are careful not to overstate claims. If we're unsure about a detail, we note the uncertainty. If a source conflicts with another, we reference both.