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Cover of The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel

The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel

by Margaret Atwood

ISBN: 9780385539241National Geographic Books

In Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future, environmental disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women. Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of Gilead’s commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive.

Genres

FantasyGraphic NovelLiterary FictionScience Fiction

Banned or challenged 6 times across 6 jurisdictions.

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Related Laws

This book has been banned or challenged under these laws.

⚠ Challenger signal

Also flagged by 2 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.

7 law events6 ban events
  1. 23

    Jun 13, 2023

    LawTexas HB 900

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 24

    Aug 14, 2024

    Banreinstated

    Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, AK

    Returned to library shelves per Judge Sharon Gleason's August 7, 2024 preliminary injunction order (to be completed by 2024-08-14). The November 4, 2024 settlement confirmed this return + a $89,000 payment to plaintiffs, with 7 of the original 56 titles staying permanently off district library shelves.

  3. 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.'

  4. 25

    Jun 20, 2025

    LawTexas SB 12

    Signed by the Governor

  5. 25

    Sep 26, 2025

    Bantemporarily removed

    Leander ISD, TX

    Paused from classroom instructional use by Leander ISD under Texas SB 12 review.

  6. 25

    Oct 15, 2025

    Banreinstated

    Leander ISD, TX

    Reinstated after administrative review (mid-October 2025 estimate).

  7. 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.

  8. 26

    Mar 2, 2026

    LawUtah HB 0029

    The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood meets statewide 3-district threshold (districts: Davis, Granite, 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

    Granite School District, UT

    Removed by Granite 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).

  9. 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.

  10. 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 (6)

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 Mar 2, 2026

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 Mar 2, 2026

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

Granite 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 Mar 2, 2026

Leander ISD, TX

school · school district

ReinstatedThe book was previously removed but has been returned to shelves.

Paused from classroom instructional use by Leander ISD to comply with Texas SB 12 (parental rights in public education / DEI / sexual-orientation-instruction law, effective 2025-09-01). Initial evaluation used AI-assisted rubric; final pause decision made by district administrators.

Reported Sep 26, 2025

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, AK

school · school district

ReinstatedThe book was previously removed but has been returned to shelves.

Challenged by school board; reviewed per court order in Case 3:23-cv-00265-SLG