Guiding Question- When books are banned, what is the content of those books? Which states engage in banning books at the highest rates?
PEN America is a nonprofit organization that works at the intersection of literature and human rights. PEN’s mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible
Founded in 1922, PEN America is the largest of the more than 100 centers worldwide that make up the PEN International network. The organization works to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to access the views, ideas, and literature of others.
With more than 7,500 members nationwide, including novelists, journalists, nonfiction writers, editors, poets, essayists, playwrights, publishers, translators, agents, and other writing professionals, as well as devoted readers and supporters, PEN America draws strength from its diverse community. The organization has chapters in ten regions across the country, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
PEN America has recently been in the news for its work in monitoring and responding to the growing trend of banned books across the United States. Using data from PEN America’s own research, I created data visualizations to illustrate the content of banned books and the states that are banning them.
