Banned Books Week! (October 1st - 7th)

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Happy Banned Books Week to you! This upcoming week marks an important time for libraries and schools to remind everyone how important it is to be able to have the freedom to read - hence for this year's theme, "Let Freedom Read!" 

(c) 2023 Banned Books Week

According to the Banned Books Week official webpage, the formal description of this week is as follows:

"Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas."

The top 10 books that were challenged last year were:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 
1. Reasons: depiction of sexual abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content

4. Flamer by Mike Curato 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

5. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content

5. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual abuse, drugs, profanity

7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit

8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity

9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit

10. (TIE) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit

10. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs

10. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews 
1. Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity

10. (TIE) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson 
1. Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit

How many of the above have you read? I've read two so far, and watched two movie versions of others. I read the backgrounds on all of them, but I think I am going to make it a point for each year to read at least one banned/challenged book going forward. I was lucky enough this past year to be able to read a poem from one of my favorite childhood books at the American Library Association conference - so you may see me on YouTube this week!

What else can you do to show your support?

• Check out the Celebrate Banned Books Week Handbook for ideas on how to celebrate!
  
• Attend your city’s local school board meetings and voice your concerns about book bans.
• Advocate for your local library! Sign up for a library card (if you don't already have one) and become an active visitor.
• Send emails to your local senators expressing your support for educators, librarians and booksellers.
• Read banned/challenged books and support the right to read!

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead full of interesting and fun books. Until next time - happy reading!