Jodi Picoult’s novel Nineteen Minutes, once lauded as essential reading for young adults, now leads PEN America’s list of the most-banned books in U.S. schools. The novel, published in 2007, explores the aftermath of a school shooting and was previously included in school curricula. “It was recommended for young adults and taught in classrooms where it’s now banned,” Picoult shared in a recent interview.
On November 1, PEN America released a report that expanded on figures shared earlier in the year during Banned Books Week. The report highlighted a dramatic rise in book bans in the 2023-2024 academic year, with over 10,000 documented cases of books being either temporarily or permanently removed from schools — a sharp increase from the 2,500 recorded in the 2021-2022 year. Approximately 4,200 unique titles were affected, more than double the 1,600 banned two years prior. The majority of these bans, over 80%, occurred in Iowa and Florida, states that have enacted legislation restricting certain books. In Florida alone, around 4,500 books were removed, with another 3,600 taken out in Iowa.
Kasey Meehan, director of PEN’s Freedom to Read program, emphasized the impact of such bans: “What students can read in schools shapes their critical thinking, empathy, and future success. Defending the freedom to read, learn, and think remains essential to public education.”
In addition to Nineteen Minutes, other frequently banned titles include John Green’s Looking for Alaska, Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, and several fantasy novels by Sarah Maas. Common themes among these banned works include discussions on race, gender identity, and trauma. According to Picoult, the objections to her novel specifically focus on a single page referencing date rape. “There’s nothing gratuitous about it,” she explained. “It’s not porn. But some people don’t want to look at the world differently, and that’s often what these bans are really about.”
Picoult’s sentiments reflect a growing debate in the U.S. over the role of literature in education and how controversial themes are presented to young readers. Critics argue that banning these books denies students the opportunity to engage with complex issues and perspectives. Meehan and other advocates at PEN stress that such limitations on reading access can restrict students’ intellectual and emotional development. As book bans rise, the conversation around the value of challenging literature in schools is more relevant than ever, underscoring the need to defend the freedom to read and learn.
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