The Florida Freedom to Read Project has criticized the new measures, claiming they have caused significant censorship driven by conservative groups, limiting students' access to diverse literature.

Recent actions by the Florida Department of Education have led to the removal of several renowned books, including 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison and 'Slaughterhouse-Five' by Kurt Vonnegut, from school libraries.

PEN America reported that Florida and Iowa have the highest number of book bans in the U.S. for the current school year, with over 4,500 bans in Florida alone.

Despite the widespread removals, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education has denied that books are being banned, framing the actions as efforts to eliminate sexually explicit materials.

Books by prominent authors such as Maya Angelou and Richard Wright, as well as LGBTQ+ themed works like 'All Boys Aren't Blue' and 'Gender Queer', have been among the top targets for censorship.

These changes stem from House Bill 1069, effective mid-2023, which mandates school districts to establish a process for parents to object to content they deem inappropriate.

Florida has emerged as a leading state in book removals from school libraries, with significant involvement from organizations like the American Library Association and PEN America, which argue that these restrictions limit freedom to read.

New state laws now enable parents and residents to challenge school library books, resulting in hundreds of titles being banned across Florida's elementary, middle, and high school libraries.

Critics, including Stephana Farrell from the Florida Freedom to Read Project, argue that the official reports likely underestimate the total number of removed books, reflecting a troubling trend against certain literature.

The current list of banned books also includes notable works dealing with sensitive topics, such as Holocaust literature and a graphic novel adaptation of Orwell's '1984', raising concerns about censorship.

Stephen King has publicly criticized the removal of his works, urging readers to support libraries and bookstores amidst these restrictions.

In a notable case, Nassau County settled a lawsuit in September 2024, agreeing to return several previously removed titles, including 'And Tango Makes Three', to school libraries.