Record Book Bans: Top Challenged Titles & Growing Activism

0:00On April 20th, Book Challenges and Bands reached record levels in 2025, according to the American Library Association, they tracked 4,235 unique titles targeted, the second highest ever, just behind last year's 4,240. Topping a list is sold by Patricia McCormick, followed by the perks of being a wallflower, genderqueer, and others like Empire of Storms, and a court of thorns and roses. Reasons for these pushbacks often hit on LGBTQ themes, sexual content, violence, or even scenes with alcohol and smoking. This year's top 11 most challenge books include classics like A Clockwork Orange and newer ones such as Looking for Alaska and Tricks. Shifting gears, these efforts used to come mostly from local parents, but now over 90% stem from organized activists and government officials, groups like Moms for Liberty, push nationwide lists of books they want pulled from shells and schools, digging deeper,

1:03actual removals topped 5,600, way more than challenges reported. Experts say unreported cases make the real tally even higher, with the same titles popping up in meetings across the country. As National Library Week wraps up on April 25th, the ALA stands firm that library should hold space for every story and experience. No, matter the pushback. That's the story for today, entertainment and celebrity news today, driven by AI.