Banned Books and Censorship

Hello my fellow bookworms!

I've been anxiously planning for a book-related conference, and cannot wait to share photos and news after I attend it! I would like to discuss the serious topic of censorship and banned books, but wanted to give you a couple of lighter book news for the summer, as well:

• If you want a one-of-a-kind wedding experience, the Boston Public Library is offering wedding ceremonies in their historic Guastavino Room at the Central Library. The original story can be found here via Boston.com, and for more information on ceremonies, you should take a look at the Boston Public Library's website here. 

• Andrews McMeel KIDS is hosting a Summer Reading Challenge inspired by author Dustin Brady's series Trapped in a Video Game and Escape from a Video Game! You can start here, with the instructions, and print out the game map in which your only escape is through reading! Once you (or your kids) read up to your specialization, you can print out a special certificate that shows you escaped this summer!
  

In the United States, the topic of banned books and censorship has become a huge issue in the media, within libraries and schools, politics, and other places. The banning of books due to a difference in interest, beliefs, or feelings of discomfort, is against our First Amendment rights.We should fight to uphold these rights, for equal access to knowledge and intellectual freedom. Censorship is wrong, and banning books is not the answer to what the politicians (and others) think they are "fixing" in our society. See below for some articles and links as to what different sources around the country are doing in protest of such censorship:

• Congress recently held a second hearing on censorship within the classrooms. Claire Kirch of Publishers Weekly talks about this in detail through her article here. 
  

• The Nashville public library released 5,000 limited edition library cards stating "I read banned books" for those who would like to take part in the library's "Freedom to Read" campaign. For more information, see The Guardian's article here.

• Macmillian Publishers released an email with a Banned Books collection, stating that:
  

"Macmillian stands against censorship and condemns the book banning taking place at schools across the country. With this collection, we've highlighted banned titles to fight censorship and to share our love of these books with the world."

          Books listed include:

1. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
2. When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors & Asha Bandele
3. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
4. Lobizona by Romina Garber
5. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
6. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
7. The 57 Bus by Daska Slater
8. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

• The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has an article highlighting teens across the country that have been fighting censorship with "banned-book clubs" and lawsuits!

• The American Library Association (ALA) hosts a blog titled "Intellectual Freedom Blog," with posts by bloggers, guest contributors, news editors, and employees/staff from the ALA. A post titled Present Day Musings on Manga Censorship by Victoria Rahbar touches on the issue that even comics and manga are not unscathed by book banning and censorship in today's libraries.

• The ALA also has enlightening infographics about Censorship by the Numbers, as well as the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021.  

          The top 10 books are:

1. 

   (c) American Library Association, 2022
   

   Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
2. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
3. All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
4. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
8. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
9. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
10. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin
    

(c) American Library Association, 2022

(c) American Library Association, 2022

(c) American Library Association, 2022

(c) American Library Association, 2022

There are so, so many more articles and news stories that touch on censorship and/or book banning. I cannot list them all here, but I welcome everyone to contribute what they find interesting, personal to them, etc., and post it here for a friendly conversation. Or just to post! I don't mind either way. My blog is a safe space and censorship is becoming such a prevalent issue within the United States that it needs to be addressed. I cannot wait to attend the book-related conference and see what sort of causes I can join to help combat it at a higher level. (If you know of any, please share!)

Until next time, happy reading, including banned books!!