Patricia McCormick Novel Topped 2026 Book Ban List
The novel Sold was the most frequently banned book in American schools during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Books
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PEN America reported that Patricia McCormick’s 2006 novel, Sold, was the most banned book in U.S. school classrooms and libraries during the 2025-2026 school year. The book was removed in 25 documented instances amid a broader landscape of 11,982 total book bans.
Why it matters
The author wrote the novel to shed light on the realities of child trafficking by incorporating her own personal experiences with childhood sexual abuse and interviews conducted in Kolkata and Kathmandu. The book consistently appears in discussions regarding library and classroom access.
The novel Sold topped the American Library Association yearly ranking of books targeted for removal, and it previously ranked third on the PEN America list for the 2024-2025 school year. It also holds the ninth position on the American Library Association list of most challenged books from 1990-2025.
The players
Patricia McCormick
She is the author of the novel Sold who conducted extensive field research in India and Nepal to write the book.
PEN America
This nonprofit organization works to defend free expression and has been tracking book challenges in U.S. schools since 2021.
American Library Association
This national organization provides resources for libraries and tracks annual rankings of books targeted for removal from public and school collections.
The details
Patricia McCormick researched the book through interviews with girls in brothels in Kolkata and a trafficker in Kathmandu. The narrative serves as a tool for the author to expose systemic child exploitation.
Timeline
1990-2025 covers the period for the ALA most challenged books list.
2006 was the year Patricia McCormick published the novel Sold.
2021 was the year PEN America began tracking book challenges.
2024-2025 served as the previous school year reporting period.
2025-2026 was the reporting period for the most banned books.
Industry Dynamics
The increased frequency of book challenges follows the trends documented by the PEN America book ban tracking initiative. This story reflects a larger cultural shift in the governance of school libraries and the ongoing debates surrounding age-appropriate content in public education.
The categorization of this novel as a target for removal means students in specific districts may face difficulty accessing the book in their local school libraries. Readers may instead find the title available through public library systems or retail booksellers.
The takeaway
The sustained visibility of this title in reports suggests that themes regarding child exploitation remain central to national debates over school content. Readers interested in these topics can investigate the author's research methods to better understand the context behind the book.
Further reading
For more information on national literary trends and access, visit our Books section.
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