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Cover of Oryx and Crake

Oryx and Crake

by Margaret Atwood

ISBN: 9781400078981Random House Digital Inc.

Oryx and Crake is at once an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future. Snowman, known as Jimmy before mankind was overwhelmed by a plague, is struggling to survive in a world where he may be the last human, and mourning the loss of his best friend, Crake, and the beautiful and elusive Oryx whom they both loved. In search of answers, Snowman embarks on a journey–with the help of the green-eyed Children of Crake–through the lush wilderness that was so recently a great city, until powerful corporations took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride. Margaret Atwood projects us into a near future that is both all too familiar and beyond our imagining.

Genres

Literary FictionScience Fiction

Banned or challenged 7 times across 7 jurisdictions.

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Related Laws

This book has been banned or challenged under these laws.

⚠ Challenger signal

Also flagged by 3 challenger groups

These groups have publicly targeted this book for removal. This is NOT a confirmed ban — it’s a signal that the book is on one or more challenger lists, which often precedes formal challenges in specific districts. See methodology for how we distinguish targeting from enforcement.

Timeline

Unified view of laws affecting this book and jurisdictions where it’s been removed or challenged, in chronological order.

13 law events6 ban events
  1. 22

    Mar 22, 2022

    LawFlorida H 1467

    Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

  2. 22

    Mar 25, 2022

    LawFlorida H 1467

    Approved by Governor

  3. 23

    May 3, 2023

    LawFlorida H 1069

    Ordered enrolled

  4. 23

    May 16, 2023

    LawFlorida H 1069

    Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

  5. 23

    May 17, 2023

    LawFlorida H 1069

    Approved by Governor

  6. 23

    Jun 13, 2023

    LawTexas HB 900

    Signed by the Governor

  7. 24

    Jun 30, 2024

    Banremoved

    Bay County School District, FL

    Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.

    Banremoved

    Manatee County School District, FL

    Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.

  8. 24

    Aug 1, 2024

    Banremoved

    Katy ISD, TX

    Removed from Katy Independent School District libraries under TX HB 900.

  9. 24

    Aug 2, 2024

    LawUtah HB 0029

    Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood meets statewide 3-district threshold (districts: Davis, Jordan, Washington).

    Banremoved

    Davis School District, UT

    Removed by Davis School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).

    Banremoved

    Jordan School District, UT

    Removed by Jordan School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).

    Banremoved

    Washington School District, UT

    Removed by Washington School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).

  10. 24

    Sep 17, 2024

    LawUtah HB 0029

    Canyons School District (UT) adopts revised Policy 600.06 implementing HB 29 and HB 374 requirements. Policy establishes dual-track review for objective and subjective sensitive material, 10/45/60/45-day timelines, 2-challenge-per-parent-per-year limit, 3-strikes rule for unsuccessful challengers, 5-year cool-down after successful defense, and HB 29 statewide removal threshold. Notable: 'The District will not give deference to sensitive material reviews conducted by other educational entities.'

  11. 25

    Aug 13, 2025

    LawFlorida H 1069

    Federal Judge Carlos Mendoza (U.S. Middle District of FL) rules in Penguin Random House v. Gibson that HB 1069 provision targeting "descriptions of sexual conduct" is unconstitutionally overbroad. Named 23 books and stated "none of these books are obscene." The mandate to remove books with even a single reference to prohibited subject matter violates students' First Amendment right of free access to ideas. Parts requiring a process for challenging books were NOT struck down.

  12. 26

    Jan 6, 2026

    LawUtah HB 0029

    ACLU of Utah files federal lawsuit on behalf of authors Elana K. Arnold, Ellen Hopkins, Kurt Vonnegut estate, and two Utah high schoolers. 59-page complaint calls HB 29 "modern-day book burning" and challenges it as violating First Amendment rights. Defendants: USBE, AG Derek Brown, Salt Lake City/Davis/Washington County school districts.

  13. 26

    Mar 13, 2026

    LawUtah HB 0029

    Proposed expansion HB 197 (School Materials Amendments) fails in Senate. Would have required automated content filters and immediate bans on "plausible" complaints. See law #140.

  14. 26

    Apr 8, 2026

    LawFlorida H 1069

    Jacksonville group proposed banning three books from Duval County Public Schools, citing violation of state law regarding sexual content

  15. 26

    Apr 17, 2026

    LawUtah HB 0029

    Utah statewide banned book list grows to 32 titles under HB 29's 3-district threshold. Four new books added: The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison), Life is Funny (E.R. Frank), The Haters (Jesse Andrews), and People Kill People (Ellen Hopkins). Reported by Davis and Jordan districts (all four); Washington County SD reported 3 of 4; Tooele County reported People Kill People. The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison) is the most historically significant addition — a Nobel laureate's Pulitzer-Prize-nominated work now on Utah's statewide prohibited list.

Platform availability

11 platforms tracked

Availability at online retailers and library platforms, refreshed by our daily scanner. “Pending review” means the scanner saw the title unavailable but a human hasn’t confirmed whether it’s a stockout or a real removal.

All ban records (7)

Washington School District, UT

school · school district

RemovedThe book has been formally removed from the library or curriculum.

Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).

Reported Aug 2, 2024

Fort Worth ISD, TX

school · school district

Under ConsiderationA board or committee is actively reviewing whether to remove this book.

Under review by committee of master-certified librarians per FWISD book review process.

Reported Aug 28, 2023

Bay County School District, FL

school · school district

RemovedThe book has been formally removed from the library or curriculum.

Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.

Reported Jun 30, 2024

Davis School District, UT

school · school district

RemovedThe book has been formally removed from the library or curriculum.

Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).

Reported Aug 2, 2024

Jordan School District, UT

school · school district

RemovedThe book has been formally removed from the library or curriculum.

Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).

Reported Aug 2, 2024

Katy ISD, TX

school · school district

RemovedThe book has been formally removed from the library or curriculum.

Removed from Katy ISD libraries to comply with Texas HB 900 (READER Act, 2023), which requires book vendors to assign content ratings to library materials and prohibits 'sexually explicit' content in school libraries. Some sections of HB 900 were partially struck down by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Reported Aug 1, 2024

Manatee County School District, FL

school · school district

RemovedThe book has been formally removed from the library or curriculum.

Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.

Reported Jun 30, 2024