For a writer who has spent his life exploring fear, Stephen King probably didn’t expect to become a headline in a very different kind of horror story. Yet here we are: King is now the most banned author in U.S. schools, according to PEN America’s latest report. More than 200 of his books were pulled or restricted in the last school year alone, not because of politics, but largely due to “mature content” labels applied to a wide range of topics, including violence and supernatural themes.

Here’s the real twist: many of the bans weren’t triggered by complaints. Some schools removed his books quietly, almost defensively, making it appear as though an attempt was being made to avoid trouble before it even arrived. It shows how nervous institutions have become about what young people read, and how easily nuance gets lost in the rush to “protect.”

The irony? King’s novels are rarely about gore for gore’s sake. They’re about courage, childhood, grief, small towns, moral choices, and the shadows people carry. When we take these stories away, we don’t just censor horror; we flatten the emotional range young readers can explore.

It’s a reminder that banning books rarely solves a problem. It only limits how openly we talk about the world.

Five Stephen King Books Commonly Banned
(All verified by PEN America’s 2024–2025 book ban data)

1.It – Banned for violence, disturbing themes, and portrayals of childhood trauma.
2.Carrie – Removed for scenes of bullying, violence, and sexual content.
3.The Shining – Restricted for psychological horror, violence, and mature themes.
4.Misery – Challenged for violent scenes and “harmful” psychological content.
5.Different Seasons – Pulled due to stories involving abuse, assault, and dark emotional themes.