News Summary
South Carolina has officially become the state with the highest number of banned books in public schools, with a total of 22 titles recently removed. The decision followed a vote by the state Board of Education after challenges from advocate Elizabeth Szalai. Many of the banned titles, which include works by popular authors, were deemed inappropriate due to sexual content. This move has sparked controversy and discussions about intellectual freedom and reading promotion among advocacy groups.
Columbia, South Carolina – South Carolina has officially claimed the title of the state with the highest number of banned books in public schools across the United States, following a recent decision by the state Board of Education. In a meeting held in May 2025, the total number of banned books rose to 22 after the board voted to remove an additional 10 titles previously tabled for discussion in April.
The majority of these bans can be traced back to challenges made by Beaufort County resident Elizabeth “Ivie” Szalai, who has been particularly active in advocating for book removals. Szalai had previously sought to have a list of 97 books removed from Beaufort County School District libraries. Her challenges included a significant number of titles containing explicit sexual descriptions, which she deemed inappropriate for a K-12 educational setting.
Regulation 43-170, which is effective as of 2024, facilitates the banning of books that include visual depictions and descriptions of sexual conduct. Complaints regarding specific books can begin at the district level and, if necessary, be escalated to the state board for a final verdict. Due to delays, the Beaufort County School District forwarded Szalai’s challenges to the state board without acting within the mandated 90-day review period.
Mary Foster, a member of the advocacy group Families Against Book Bans (FABB), clarified that the responsibility for the decisions made regarding book complaints lies with the state Board of Education and not solely with individual complainants. Foster expressed disappointment in the majority vote that approved the recent removals, highlighting the organization’s mission to advocate for intellectual freedom in educational settings.
Many of the banned books are not core instructional materials but rather intended for students’ recreational reading. Foster pointed out that removing these books runs counter to the goal of promoting reading among students. Discussions are currently underway among FABB members regarding potential amendments to the regulation that could help prevent excessive book bans moving forward.
Of the 17 board members present, only two voted against the ban of the 10 books: Dr. David O’Shields and Rev. Tony Vincent. The specific books banned in this recent vote include:
- “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins
- “Collateral” by Ellen Hopkins
- “Identical” by Ellen Hopkins
- “Lucky” by Alice Sebold
- “Living Dead Girl” by Elizabeth Scott
- “Last Night at Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo
- “Kingdom of Ash” by Sarah J. Maas
- “Empire of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas
- “Hopeless” by Colleen Hoover
- “Half of a Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Prior to this recent meeting, the board had reviewed 17 other books, resulting in the removal of 11 titles, including popular works such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “Normal People.” A dedicated committee reading process exists for patrons challenging library materials, involving a staff review before any decisions are made regarding book removals. Moreover, 2023 was noted as a record year for book challenges, predominantly involving books with LGBTQ+ themes, although very few challenges were ultimately successful.
The established process for submitting book complaints consists of a user form, committee review, followed by the opportunity to appeal to the library board if the initial decision does not meet the complainant’s expectations. Despite these controversies surrounding book bans, libraries continue to strive to reflect the diversity of their communities and have resumed purchasing books that adhere to their established guidelines.
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HERE Resources
South Carolina Leads Nation in Public School Book Bans
South Carolina Leads Nation in School Book Bans
Additional Resources
- Greenville Online
- Wikipedia: Book Banning
- Herald Online
- Google Search: South Carolina Banned Books
- WYFF4 News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Book Censorship
- SC Daily Gazette
- Google News: South Carolina Book Bans
- WACH News
- Live 5 News
