In Oregon, Sen. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) sponsored Senate Bill 1583 to prohibit book bans in schools, which successfully passed the Oregon Senate but ultimately failed in the House.

Powell's Books emphasizes that the act of banning books stems from a fear of ideas rather than the content of the books themselves, urging readers to exercise confident judgment.

The Banned Book list curated by Powell's includes over 150 titles, featuring popular works such as 'Hunger Games,' '1984,' 'Heartstopper,' and 'The Color Purple.'

A recent study by PEN America reveals that book bans in U.S. public schools skyrocketed to over 10,000 during the 2023-2024 academic year, nearly tripling from the previous year.

In stark contrast, the 2022-2023 school year recorded only 3,362 instances of book bans, highlighting a significant escalation in censorship.

In response to this alarming trend, Powell's Books is taking action by donating 20% of sales from its Banned Book list between September 22 and 28 to support lawsuits against book ban laws.

This initiative coincides with Banned Book Week, which aims to promote the importance of free expression and support the American Booksellers for Free Expression.

Frederick has warned that restricting access to books for children severely limits their understanding of the world, underscoring the importance of diverse literature in education.