Book bans in US schools and libraries surged to record highs in 2023

Though the list is broad, many of the 4,240 books were targeted because they related to issues of LGBTQ+ communities or race

More books were banned in 2023 in US schools and libraries than any other year for which records have been kept, the American Library Association (ALA) reported on Thursday.

Many of the books were targeted because they related to issues of LGBTQ+ communities or race, though the list was broad, including commonly taught novels such as Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mockingbird.