Banned Books Week 2025: Events, Significance, and Participation

Dates and Theme of Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week 2025 will take place from October 5-11, 2025, with the theme “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” This theme draws inspiration from George Orwell’s cautionary dystopian novel 1984. It highlights concerns that current censorship efforts mirror the oppressive regime depicted in the book.

Significance of Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores. The annual celebration emphasizes the importance of free and open access to information and the value of defending intellectual freedom.

In 2025, the event holds particular significance as book bans continue to escalate nationwide. According to data from the American Library Association, most book censorship attempts (72%) now originate from organized movements. These include pressure groups and government entities. This organized effort to restrict access to books makes the defense of the freedom to read more crucial than ever.

Notable Events and Activities

Several key events are planned for Banned Books Week 2025:

1. Let Freedom Read Day (October 11, 2025): A call to action day specifically focused on combating book bans.
2. Youth Advocacy Event: “A Fight for Our Rights: Youth Fighting Book Bans” – A conversation with student leaders moderated by Banned Books Week youth honorary chair Iris Mogul (October 8, 2025, 3:00 p.m. CT).
3. University and Academic Events: Syracuse University Libraries is hosting multiple events including:
   • Author presentations
   • Black and Banned SU Campus Read-Out
   • A Challenged Book Clinical Simulation
   • Banned Book Teach-In
   • Panel on Historical Perspectives on Book and Film Censorship
   • “Meet a Banned Book” interactive event
   • Banned Book Read-Out and Raffle
4. Right to Read Night: The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) is providing resources to help communities host one-night book clubs, designed to engage local networks in the fight for free reading.

Leadership and Honorary Chairs of Banned Books Week

Legendary actor, author, and activist George Takei has been named the honorary chair of Banned Books Week 2025. He’s joined by youth honorary chair Iris Mogul. The involvement of such high-profile figures highlights the importance of the events in the fight against censorship.

Most Banned Books in Focus

According to PEN America, the 10 most challenged books of the 2024-2025 school year were:

1. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess: This dystopian classic is famous for its graphic violence. It explores dark themes about free will and morality. Burgess’s nightmarish vision of a future society is often targeted for its depictions of youth violence. It also makes readers—and censors—uncomfortable due to its portrayal of sexual assault.
2. Breathless by Jennifer Niven: A candid coming-of-age tale, Breathless explores first love, sexual awakening, and family upheaval. Its frank portrayal of teen sexuality often leads to challenges in more conservative communities.
3. Sold by Patricia McCormick: This National Book Award finalist follows a 13-year-old trafficked into prostitution. It gives a devastating voice to the global crisis of child exploitation. The raw subject matter and vivid depictions of abuse are cited as reasons for removal.
4. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo: The story is set in 1950s San Francisco. This acclaimed novel tells the story of a Chinese American teenager. She discovers her sexuality in a lesbian bar. LGBTQ+ themes and honest discussions of identity often put this book in censors’ crosshairs.
5. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: This fantasy sequel blends romance, magic, and explicit sexual content. It draws challenges over its mature themes. These themes are especially notable within the popular “BookTok” audience of teens and young adults.
6. Crank by Ellen Hopkins: The novel is inspired by the author’s daughter’s struggle with addiction. Hopkins’ novel in verse pulls no punches about the realities of methamphetamine use. Violence, drug abuse, and sexual content fuel frequent bans.
7. Forever… by Judy Blume: This classic has faced bans for generations. Blume’s honest portrayal of teenage sexuality and relationships provokes debate. It continues to spark discussions among parents and school boards alike.
8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: This beloved coming-of-age novel tackles depression, sexual abuse, and LGBTQ+ issues. Its unflinching honesty about the darker sides of adolescence often leads to calls for removal from shelves.
9. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire: A reimagining of Oz, Wicked explores power, prejudice, and what it means to be “other.” Its adult themes and sexual content, along with political allegory, invite both praise and protest.
10. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson: This memoir-manifesto by a prominent Black LGBTQIA+ activist addresses gender, sexual identity, and race. It’s celebrated for its honesty—but often banned for explicit descriptions and themes some consider “inappropriate.”

Several titles, including All Boys Aren’t Blue, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Crank, and Sold also appeared on the American Library Association’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024 list. Each of these books invites readers to empathize, question, and grow. They don’t shy away from hard truths, and that’s what makes them both essential—and controversial. Most significantly, these stories often serve as lifelines for young readers, offering representation, understanding, and hope.

How to Participate

There are numerous ways for individuals and organizations to participate in Banned Books Week 2025:

1. Attend or Host Events: Check the Banned Books Week events calendar at BannedBooksWeek.org/events to find local events or add your own.
2. Host a Right to Read Night: Use the step-by-step guide provided by the National Coalition Against Censorship. Organize a one-night book club focused on banned books.
3. Share Books via Little Free Libraries: The Little Free Library, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, and PEN America highlight censorship hotspots. They show key areas of concern, and they pinpoint Little Free Library locations. Here, banned books can be shared with the Little Free Library World Map.
4. Apply for Programming Grants: Libraries, schools, and nonprofit organizations planning to participate can apply for a Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grant from the Freedom to Read Foundation.
5. Use Free Resources: The American Library Association offers a variety of free downloads. They also provide resources and materials. These support Banned Books Week activities at www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned.
6. Read and Discuss Banned Books: One of the most direct ways to participate is to read banned books. Discuss them with others. This highlights the importance of intellectual freedom.
7. Create Displays: Libraries, bookstores, and schools can create displays featuring banned books to raise awareness about censorship issues.

Banned Books Week 2025 represents an important opportunity. It allows you to celebrate the freedom to read. This year’s events hold special significance as organized censorship efforts continue to threaten intellectual freedom across the United States.