BANNED

Yes, City of Ghosts Is Banned!

by Victoria Schwab · Scholastic Press · 2018

ISBN: 9781338111002

4 documented challenges

City of Ghosts follows Cassidy Blake, who nearly drowned and came back changed. She can now pull back the Veil between the living and the dead, crossing into a gray, ghost-filled world. When her parents (hosts of a ghost-hunting TV show) take her to Edinburgh, Scotland, Cass encounters spirits far more dangerous than any she’s met before.

A bestselling middle-grade novel by the author of the Shades of Magic series, it has been challenged for occult themes and depictions of violence. The fact that a middle-grade ghost story aimed at 8-to-12-year-olds has been banned speaks to the breadth of the current wave of book challenges.

Why Was It Banned?

Where Was It Banned?

Texas Keller ISD 2022
Florida Brevard County Public Schools 2023

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Ghosts banned?

Yes, City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab has been banned or challenged in 4 documented instances across 2 states in the United States, including Texas, Florida. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.

Why was City of Ghosts banned?

City of Ghosts has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Occult/Witchcraft, Violence. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.

Where is City of Ghosts banned?

As of 2025, City of Ghosts has been banned or challenged in Texas, Florida. Notable bans include Keller ISD (2022), Brevard County Public Schools (2023).