Defense officials plan to prohibit a substantial number of books. Here are some of the most peculiar book titles on the list.
In a move that has sparked controversy and legal challenges, the Defense Department has banned 596 books from schools serving military families. The decision, primarily due to the implementation of an executive order issued during President Donald Trump's administration, is aimed at removing materials perceived to promote "gender ideology," "radical social justice narratives," or "racially divisive content" from federal educational settings[3].
The banned list includes a wide range of titles spanning various topics such as racism, democracy, feminism, puberty, and LGBTQ+ issues. Examples include books addressing racial history and identity like Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You and White Fragility, as well as LGBTQ+ themed works such as When Aidan Became a Brother and graphic novels like Heartstopper.
Among the banned books are Megha Majumdar's literary novel A Burning, a thought-provoking exploration of gender, class, and political extremism, and Ann Braden's novel Flight of the Puffin, which promotes small acts of kindness and addresses bullying. The Lumberjanes series, a popular comic book about punk-rock preteens who solve mysteries and fight monsters at their summer camp, often compared to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Gravity Falls," is also on the list, despite being considered unobjectionable[1].
The ban has faced opposition from families and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who argue that military children have First Amendment rights to access diverse viewpoints. The removal of these books, they claim, constitutes censorship driven by political motives rather than educational considerations[2].
In a surprising twist, Julie Andrews has lent her voice to Kai Cheng Tom's children's book, From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea, a book affirming gender-queerness and gender-questioning, which is now banned[4]. Other books facing the chopping block include counter or contextualizing histories that challenge white supremacy, like Paul Ortiz's An African American History and Latinx History of the United States.
The Trump administration's censorship effort reflects a broader agenda aimed at curbing discussions around diversity and inclusion within government-run schools[1][2]. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has come under fire for this decision, with many questioning the rationale behind the bans and the impact they will have on the education and understanding of military children.
Sources: [1] The New York Times, "Trump Administration Bans Hundreds of Books from Military Schools," 1st February 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/trump-books-banned-military-schools.html [2] American Civil Liberties Union, "ACLU Sues Department of Defense Over Book Bans," 15th February 2025, https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu-sues-department-defense-over-book-bans [3] The Washington Post, "Trump's Executive Order Bans Diverse Books from Schools Serving Military Children," 1st March 2025, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/03/01/trump-executive-order-bans-diverse-books-schools-serving-military-children/ [4] Publishers Weekly, "Julie Andrews Narrates Kai Cheng Thom's From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea," 15th February 2025, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-audio/article/81993-julie-andrews-narrates-kai-cheng-thoms-from-the-stars-in-the-sky-to-the-fish-in-the-sea.html
- The banned list includes Megha Majumdar's literary novel, A Burning, a thought-provoking exploration of gender, class, and political extremism.
- Ann Braden's novel Flight of the Puffin, which promotes small acts of kindness and addresses bullying, is also on the list.
- The Lumberjanes series, a popular comic book about punk-rock preteens who solve mysteries and fight monsters at their summer camp, is also found on the list of banned books.
- In a surprising turn of events, Julie Andrews has lent her voice to Kai Cheng Tom's children's book, From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea, a book affirming gender-queerness and gender-questioning, which has unfortunately been banned.
