I doubt I’d find King in a K-6 library, maybe not even a Jr High school one. Whether or not it’s formally banned, librarians have limited shelf space to use and they have to select what is most useful or wanted.

According to PEN America, Stephen King is the most banned author in U.S. schools, not because his horror themes are the central target, but because his prolific body of work frequently contains elements—such as "violence and sexual violence" and "adult" content—that trigger bans during a sweeping push for censorship
. The bans often occur during broad challenges targeting numerous books at once, particularly in states with new laws that make removing books easier.
Key reasons for the high number of bans on Stephen King's books include:

Catch-all removals: As schools or districts face pressure to purge "adult" or "sexually explicit" material, the sheer volume of King's books means they are frequently caught up in these large-scale removals. He has published dozens of novels, and 87 of his works were affected during the 2024-2025 school year alone.

Broader culture wars: Book bans are often part of a wider effort targeting topics like LGBTQ+ themes, racial identity, sexuality, and violence, particularly in conservative states. King's novels contain violence and sexual content, causing them to be flagged and removed in this climate.

Fear of controversy: Many book removals are done preemptively, in anticipation of pressure from politicians or the community. Fearful of legal challenges or criticism, some school districts "obey in advance" by pulling potentially controversial books from their shelves.

Prolific output: King's large catalog of work increases his exposure to censorship. Even if only a portion of his work is banned, the high number of titles makes him the most-censored author in terms of raw count. During the 2024-2025 school year, his books were censored 206 times.

State legislation: In some states, such as Florida, new legislation has streamlined the process for challenging and removing books from school libraries. Much of the book-banning activity documented by PEN America originates in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee.