Author Stephen King criticizes Utah after statewide ban of 'Different Seasons'

Stephen King criticizes Utah after 'Different Seasons' is banned from public schools under state book law

Author Stephen King has criticised Utah after his 1982 novella collection Different Seasons was added to the state's list of books banned from all public schools.

The collection, which includes the stories that inspired the acclaimed films Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption, was removed under Utah's sensitive materials law. The legislation, which took effect in 2024, requires a book to be banned statewide if it has been determined to contain "objective sensitive material" by at least three school districts or by two school districts and five charter schools.

Responding to the decision on X, King questioned the reasoning behind the ban.

"They banned Different Seasons in Utah. Contains Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption, stories of friendship and courage. Readable by teens, too. What's wrong with these people?" the author wrote.

Different Seasons contains four novellas: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, The Body, Apt Pupil and The Breathing Method. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption was adapted into the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, while The Body became the 1986 coming-of-age classic Stand By Me.

According to reports, Different Seasons was added to Utah's statewide banned books list after being removed by the Davis, Jordan, Washington County and Tooele County school districts. Review documents from the Davis School District reportedly cited passages describing sexual content when determining the book met the state's definition of sensitive material.

The decision adds Different Seasons to a growing list of books removed from Utah public schools under the state's book restriction law, which has drawn national attention from authors, educators and free speech advocates.