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Novelist John Green caught in the crosshairs of Trump-era censorship
John Green’s novels are among the books targeted by a sharp rise in US school and library bans. The best-selling author says the restrictions challenge free expression and reflect a political climate in which, he believes, some people fear the empathy and knowledge literature can encourage.
PEN America recorded 7,370 banned titles in 2025-26, up from 3,743 the previous year, with Florida and Texas especially affected. Green’s *Looking for Alaska* and *The Fault in Our Stars* are regularly challenged, and some Indiana libraries have moved his books from youth to adult sections. His new novel, *Hollywood, Ending*, follows young actors navigating trauma and social media, and is due in France in January 2027.
In short
- US book bans rose to 7,370 titles in 2025-26.
- John Green’s novels are repeatedly targeted.
- His new novel is due in France in January 2027.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Book restrictions can limit students’ access to literature that explores difficult experiences and may prompt empathy, curiosity and self-understanding. Moving books out of youth sections or removing them from libraries can also narrow readers’ choices and raise concerns about political pressure on schools and free expression.
The case against
Schools and libraries have a responsibility to consider whether material is appropriate for the ages of the readers they serve, and families may reasonably expect a say in that judgement. Supporters of restrictions can argue that moving a book to an adult section, rather than removing it entirely, preserves access while helping institutions respond to community concerns.
Explained simply
Book challenges in the United States are efforts to remove titles from school or public library collections, or to limit who can access them. Decisions may be made by school boards, library authorities or other local bodies, and rules vary between states and communities.
John Green is an American novelist whose books, including Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, have been challenged in some schools and libraries. PEN America, a group that monitors restrictions on books, records bans across the country; its figures show a rise in titles reported as banned in 2025–26.
The debate involves parents, educators, librarians, authors and public officials, with disagreements over age suitability and access to literature. It matters because the decisions affect what young people can read and how communities balance local oversight with access to a broad range of ideas.
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