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Banned and Challenged Books

“This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials. Readers, particularly students, are losing access to critical information, and librarians and teachers are under attack for doing their jobs.��
- Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community �� librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types �� in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.

In a time of intense political polarization, library staff in every state are facing an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom ALA documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, most were by or about LGBTQIA+ persons and Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

The theme for Banned Books Week 2023 is "Let Freedom Read." When we ban books, we're closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives. But when we stand up for stories, we unleash the power that lies inside every book. We liberate the array of voices that need to be heard and the scenes that need to be seen. Let freedom read!

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How many banned or challenged books will you read this week?

Let us know how many books and which ones.

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

El Deafo by Cece Bell

I am planning on this one for sure! May try for 2...
Felix Ever After

I’m reading Brave New World now. I’ll pick another soon.

I plan on reading three:
1, Thirteen Reasons Why
2. Beloved
3. The Hate U Give

Karen wrote: "I plan on reading three:
1, Thirteen Reasons Why
2. Beloved
3. The Hate U Give"


The Hate You give is an excellent book. Good choice.

Martha wrote: "I’m reading Brave New World now. I’ll pick another soon."

This book was a very tough read for me. I hope you like it.

Never known it to be in October. I wish to read 3-6, will post TBR selections shortly.
From Most Challenged:
Gender Queer: A Memoir
All Boys Aren't Blue Audio
Lawn Boy audio
****
Additional:
Ace of Spades
Ace Notes NetGalley ARC Mount TBR
Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity NetGalley ARC Mount TBR
Delta of Venus
Apprenticed to Venus: My Secret Life with Anaïs Nin

On The Same Page

Group Announcements > Banned book week October 1-7, 2023

Completed 1/1

I'll start with this one.

4 stars READ 10-7-2023

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I'll join and read or re-read one, but not sure which yet. Will post when I figure that out.

I decided on just one The Perks of Being a Wallflowerby Stephen Chbosky

I'll read this one.



The Hobbit

Madeline wrote: "Karen wrote: "I plan on reading three:
1, Thirteen Reasons Why
2. Beloved
3. The Hate U Give"


The Hate You give is an excellent book. Good choice."

Thanks!!

I LOVE BB Week! <3

I will try and read the following:

1.) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
2.) Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
3.) The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I just finished Maus 1 & 2 in prep for banned books week.

Karen wrote: "I plan on reading three:
1, Thirteen Reasons Why
2. Beloved
3. The Hate U Give"

I am just starting The Hate U Give; I listened to Thirteen Reasons Why on audio years ago and I loved it!

Oh, that's great. I can't wait to read these books now.

Going to slot in one book as my reading has slowed down recently.

Potential books :
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
Native Son by Richard Wright

I don't think people understand what a huge problem this has become in the U.S.

Books are being pulled or placed behind the desk so you have to request assistance (and possibly permission).

Denise wrote: "I don't think people understand what a huge problem this has become in the U.S.

Books are being pulled or placed behind the desk so you have to request assistance (and possibly permission)."

I agree, Denise.

That’s why every year I post this thread so we can show our support.

I'm still trying to figure out which book(s) to read during Banned Books Week. In addition to a couple that people have mentioned, I also spent some time at the library reading a lot of the banned picture books (or checking them out briefly as eBook).

I've read a lot of banned books already this year. So often when I read about a banning, it makes me mad enough to read the book and post a review thanking the banners for drawing my attention to it. ;) In 2023, I've read:
Flamer
Gender Queer: A Memoir
All Boys Aren't Blue
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
Heartstopper: Volume One
Heartstopper: Volume Two
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe


Maybe I'll reread The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I LOVED it when I read it a few times when it first came out, but it's been a long time. ... or Sold or Crank ...

Last week, I went to a Goodwill and purchased 10-15 banned books for only $20. I put Post-It Notes on the covers wishing people Happy Banned Books Week, and have been putting them in local Little Free Libraries. I live in St. Paul, which is quite progressive, and not a book-banning hot bed, so I will also bring a few across the border to Wisconsin, to a district that has a few books currently on "review." I can't remember all of the ones I bought, but some I've already dropped off are:

Antiracist Baby
Monster
Thirteen Reasons Why
Looking for Alaska
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Wintergirls
Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!): The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls
It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health
Sold (This one will be delayed in its delivery into a Little Free Library until I read it! :)
Water for Elephants (one being challenged in the district in Wisconsin)

Of course, there are some important ones missing from my list, but in order to get the most bang for my buck, I decided to stick to Goodwill books. (And in case you're wondering, there are still plenty of good banned choices at the Goodwill - there were multiples of lots of these.)

I think I'll make this an annual tradition, because it's been fun freeing the books from the shelves and putting them out into the world!

Amy wrote: "Last week, I went to a Goodwill and purchased 10-15 banned books for only $20. I put Post-It Notes on the covers wishing people Happy Banned Books Week, and have been putting them in local Little F..."

what a great idea. We have had some trouble with our little free libraries where I live (people who do yardsales a lot just grabbing up the books to sell) but knowing my area they would not be grabbing up the "woke" sounding books.

Amy, that is a clever idea!

Amy wrote: "Last week, I went to a Goodwill and purchased 10-15 banned books for only $20. I put Post-It Notes on the covers wishing people Happy Banned Books Week, and have been putting them in local Little F..."

I love that! I have a little free library and love doing themes like that.

Amy wrote: "Last week, I went to a Goodwill and purchased 10-15 banned books for only $20. I put Post-It Notes on the covers wishing people Happy Banned Books Week, and have been putting them in local Little F..."

I read Monster and it’s a great book, the author gifted it to me, too.

For the end of Banned Book Week, I followed Amy's wonderful example and left my copy of Thirteen Reasons Why in my local Little Free Library this morning.

Karen wrote: "For the end of Banned Book Week, I followed Amy's wonderful example and left my copy of Thirteen Reasons Why in my local Little Free Library this morning."

Awesome

Wrap up Banned Week 2023

I started both How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America and Native Son.

Finished How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America on October 8. This was such an informative read. It was delivered calmly and heartfelt. Smith opted to dialogue with people with varying points of view.
I recommend this book for everyone. I know why it would be banned - but this is really a disservice if you want to really come to grips with slavery which has global effects.

Native Son - I am taking this at a much slower pace. This is the handbook for how not to fall victim to racism. Bigger is unlikeable, mainly because he chooses to act out in fear with anger even when he agrees with his friends.

I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower and liked it OK, not as much as I had hoped. Still, glad I participated in this important reading week.

I amended the title of this one. Just read an article in the Guardian about books being banned in Utah. Now I have to read them...

Bill wrote: "I amended the title of this one. Just read an article in the Guardian about books being banned in Utah. Now I have to read them...

..."

I read banned books every September. I certainly don’t want my books censored.

Madeline wrote: "Bill wrote: "I amended the title of this one. Just read an article in the Guardian about books being banned in Utah. Now I have to read them...

..."

Me either.

We need to do a post for this year. My thoughts are:

For Banned Book Week (Sept 22 - 28)
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Karen wrote: "We need to do a post for this year. My thoughts are:

For Banned Book Week (Sept 22 - 28)
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Dear Martin by Nic Stone"

Thanks for the reminder. I have posted one.

thanks!!