SC now leads nation in book bans, largely due to one Beaufort County parent

South Carolina became the nation’s leader for the most books banned in public schools Tuesday. Over half of the books now banned in the state have come from one Beaufort County parent.

The South Carolina Board of Education voted to remove 10 more books after tabling the discussion last month to clarify the review process. The state now has 22 books banned from all public school classrooms and libraries, beating Utah as the former nation’s leader in book bans, according to PEN America, a nonprofit organization advocating for freedom of expression. At least 14 of the books banned have come from Beaufort County parent Elizabeth “Ivie” Szalai, sparking controversy over whether one individual should have the power to influence reading access for all public school students.

Szalai, who previously sought to remove 97 books at the district level, has argued that while these books explore important themes, they contain explicit sexual descriptions inappropriate for K-12 students.

Under Regulation 43-170 of the board’s guidelines, books can be banned in South Carolina public schools if they contain descriptions or visual depictions of sexual conduct. With local school officials declining to act on Szalai’s challenges within the required 90-day period, the decision now rests with the state.

Only two of the 17 board members, Dr. David O’Shields and Rev. Tony Vincent, voted against the removals at Tuesday’s meeting.

Total books banned

The books listed below are banned in all South Carolina elementary, middle and high schools unless noted otherwise.

• “Collateral,” Ellen Hopkins*

• “Empire of Storms,” by Sarah J. Mass*

• “Half of a Yellow Sun,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie*

• “Hopeless,” by Colleen Hoover*

• “Identical,” by Ellen Hopkins*

• “Kingdom of Ash,” by Sarah J. Mass*

• “Last Night at the Telegraph Club,” by Malinda Lo*

• “Living Dead Girl,” by Elizabeth Scott*

• “Lucky,” by Alice Sebold*

• “Tricks, by Ellen Hopkins*

• “Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky*

• “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson*

• “Flamer” by Mike Curato*

• “Push” by Sapphire*
• “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins (Restricted to high schools)

• “Normal People” by Sally Rooney

• “Damsel” by Elana Arnold

• “Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover

• “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas

• “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas

• “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas

• “A Court of Frost and Starlight” by Sarah J. Maas

The asterisk indicates the titles Beaufort County resident Szalai brought to the attention of the state review board in an effort to get them banned throughout South Carolina public schools.

This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM.

Isabella Douglas

The Island Packet

Isabella Douglas is the accountability reporter for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette. A graduate of the University of Florida, she has spent time reporting for The Independent Florida Alligator, Fresh Take Florida and New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a concentration in criminology.