Author Stephen King stunned to learn Florida’s banned 23 of his books
Horror master Stephen King was shocked to learn that 23 of his books have been banned in Florida, while his publisher joins a massive lawsuit against the state.
âWhat the f**k?â the famed author wrote on X in response to the news.
Hundreds of books have been removed from schools as a result of Florida’s law known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Some of King’s novels that have reportedly been withdrawn from circulation include Carrie, It, The Gunslinger, The Running Man, and The Long Walk.
King’s publisher, Simon & Schuster, along with five other major publishers, filed a lawsuit last week challenging the Florida law.
Stephen King was shocked to learn that 23 of his novels – including Carrie and It – have been banned in Florida
The other publishers that have joined are Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers and Sourcebooks.
Others who have joined the lawsuit include bestselling authors Julia Alvarez, Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Jodi Picoult and Angie Thomas, as well as the Authors Guild, two students and two parents.
The list of banned books includes classics such as Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, the publishers said.
“We, publishers, are committed to protecting freedom of expression and the right to read. The increase in the number of banned books across the country calls for collective action,” the group said in a joint statement.
âFighting unconstitutional laws in Florida and across the country is a high priority.
“We continue to support teachers, librarians, students, authors, and readers. Everyone deserves access to books and stories that showcase different perspectives and points of view.”
In 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law known as the âDonât Say Gayâ Act, which restricts access to materials depicting âsexual behaviorâ in classrooms
In 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the âDonât Say Gayâ bill into law, restricting access to materials depicting âsexual behaviorâ in classrooms.
In May 2023, the Florida Legislature passed an expanded version of the law, restricting the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation in the classroom for all public schools through the college level.
In addition, the law makes it easier for parents to remove books they find inappropriate from the school bookcase.
Anyone can challenge a book for any reason within their county. Once a challenge is filed, the book in question must be removed from the shelves during the review process, which can take weeks or months.
PEN America recorded 3,135 bans in 11 Florida school districts from July 1, 2021, to December 23, 2023.