(AURN News) — A new report is raising questions about the surge in book bans across the country.
According to the American Library Association, more than 4,200 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2025, one of the highest levels ever recorded.
Ninety-two percent of those challenges did not come from parents but from organized pressure groups and government officials pushing coordinated campaigns.
A large portion of these books reflect Black, LGBTQ+ and diverse lived experiences, with at least 1,600 titles centered on those perspectives.
Among the books at the center of this fight is “Sold” by Patricia McCormick, a novel about a young girl trafficked into sexual slavery, and it is now one of the most frequently challenged books in the country.
Critics say it is too graphic. Educators say it reflects a global crisis affecting millions and opens the door to real conversations about exploitation and survival.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
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