Nearly 12,000 books were reportedly banned in public schools in the United States during the current school year, according to a study by PEN America. The organization said this was the highest number since it began tracking book bans in 2021. The restrictions concerned books on themes including race and LGBTQI issues, amid rules in several states governing what may be said and taught in classrooms. PEN America said most of the bans were in Texas and Florida, where Republicans hold a majority. The organization announced the figure at the start of Banned Books Week, held in the United States from October 4 to October 10.