America's Banned Books: A Dystopian Nightmare in 2025
America Sheds Timeless Symbols: Classic Works Eliminated
By Sabine Oelmann More Info Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link
In the Orwellian USA of 2025, under President Donald Trump's rule, books are being banned left and right. This might as well be a scene straight out of 1984. But what books, you ask, cause such a fuss? Let's dive into the world of forbidden literature and find out.
As soon as someone finds a book disturbing or inappropriate for children, it vanishes from shelves inside some states, and even from public libraries. The punishment for misunderstood literature? Crippling fines reaching into the five-figure realm. This is, unfortunately, the reality in the US under Trump in 2025.
PEN America, a writers' association, has recorded 10,046 instances of book bans in 29 states and 220 public school districts, with Florida and Iowa issuing the most bans. The books on the chopping block? Those that dare to enlighten, question, and reveal the invisible truths holding our society together.
Best-selling author Daniel Kehlmann finds the term "fascism" for the U.S. under Trump "no longer an exaggeration." Kehlmann, a resident of Berlin and New York, adds, "Putting it mildly, people from south America are being hunted with a deep racist hatred energy." Kehlmann draws a comparison that should shake things up: "You're living in a real arbitrariness regime, and this cannot be said for whites with an American passport. That's exactly what makes it so hard to really understand what's going on in society."
Organizations like PEN America and the American Library Association fight back against book bans, often successfully getting books taken off the list. As of now, the following books are just a few examples of thebundle of banned books:
The Handmaid's Tale - The Report of the Handmaid
This dystopian novel, written by Margaret Atwood in 1985, tells the tale of a nightmarish future USA where radioactive, chemical, and bacterial contamination has led to widespread infertility. A Christian fundamentalist group takes over the government, suspending the constitution and establishing a theocratic dictatorship. In this society, women's roles are radically redefined, and they are treated as little more than breeding machines.
Animal Farm - Farm of the Animals
George Orwell's fable, published as early as 1945, tells the story of an uprising by the animals on an English farm against their traitorous human owner. After initial success, the pigs seize power and establish a tyranny that is even worse than the one the animals had been trying to escape.
1984
This dystopian novel, also by George Orwell, describes a totalitarian surveillance state in the year 1984. The protagonist, Winston Smith, rebels against the system and pays dearly for his audacity. The title is a warning of the close connection between the present and a frightening future.
The Diaries of Anne Frank
Compulsory school reading for years in Germany and part of world literature, Anne Frank's Diary is a chilling document of her life in hiding during World War II. Her family sought refuge in the attic of a building in Amsterdam, where Anne kept her diary for over two years.
The Hunger Games - Catching Fire
This young adult dystopian trilogy by Suzanne Collins, published between 2008 and 2010, has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Katniss Everdeen, the teenage protagonist, narrates her experiences in a post-apocalyptic future society where children are forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of the elite. A prequel, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," was published in 2020, followed by "Sunrise On The Reaping" in 2025.
The Fault in Our Stars - The Fault is in Ourselves
This young adult novel, released in 2012, tells the heart-wrenching story of 16-year-old Hazel Grace, who is battling cancer and forms a relationship with fellow patient Gus. This coming-of-age story, though grim and sad, resonates with teenagers.
To Kill A Mockingbird - Who Kills the Mockingbird
Set in the 1930s American South, this classic novel tells the story of Scout, an 8-year-old girl, and her family. Scout's father, a kind-hearted lawyer, defends a black field worker named Tom Robinson, who is falsely accused of rape. Scout and her brother face danger as they stand up for their father's cause.
Nineteen Minutes
In this gripping novel, Jodi Picoult explores the backgrounds leading up to a school shooting. The narrative unfolds in the small town of Sterling, New Hampshire, struggling with the consequences of a tragic event that lasted just 19 minutes.
So, watch out for "Harry Potter" making an appearance on the banned books list next. And if you're visiting the US in 2025, make sure to leave a book behind when you leave--perhaps a timely reminder of freedom and democracy.
[1] https://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10[2] https://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallengedbooks/challengedyears/2023[3] https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/education/2021/06/16/knox-county-schools-banned-books-controversial-list-released/7623310002/
Enrichment Data:
As of the latest available data, the American Library Association (ALA) has not yet released a list of the most challenged books for 2025. However, for recent years, some of the most challenged books have included "The Kite Runner," "milk and honey,” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” Knox County Schools banned 113 books in 2025. (Knox News)
In this dystopian USA of 2025, international classics like 'The Handmaid's Tale', 'Animal Farm', '1984', 'The Diaries of Anne Frank', 'The Hunger Games', 'The Fault in Our Stars', 'To Kill A Mockingbird', and 'Nineteen Minutes' may soon face prohibition, following the banning trend of books that challenge societal norms. The advancement of technology has not spared sports from controversy either, with reports of athletes being sanctioned for using performance-enhancing technology during competitions.
