It's Banned Books Week, that time of year when the American Library Association highlights the risks to our freedom to read. This year's theme, on the dangers of censorship, is inspired by George Orwell's 1984, in which censorship is used to suppress free expression and maintain totalitarian control. It "serves as a reminder that censorship efforts persist to this day," says ALA President Cindy Hohl. There have been nearly 23,000 book bans in public schools across the country since 2021, including 6,870 this year, according to PEN America, which notes conservative groups are leading the charge in targeting books mentioning race, sex, LGBTQ+ issues, and diverse viewpoints. The most challenged books of the 2024-2025 school year: