Happy First Week of Fall (and almost start of Banned Books Week)!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Fall is upon us! Last Monday marked the start of a new season, and while some of the weather still has some remnants of summer, the cool mornings and evenings definitely feel like autumn. The leaves are starting to change colors, our pets are happier walking in the cool breeze, and the weather is perfect to find a good spot in nature and read! Also, today is National Coffee Day, so I hope you had some reading and coffee sipping time to yourself today!

Photo by ALA

This upcoming October 5th - 11th marks Banned Books Week! This year's theme is "Censorship Is So 1984. Read For Your Rights." It is a theme taken from George Orwell's cautionary tale 1984, a warning about the dangers of censorship, while also reminding us that the right to read belongs to all of us, so defend your right to do so! While many of the top challenged books for 2024 are similar to those of previous years, the week is a reminder to not allow censorship to influence your views. It is important to have items in the public that you may not agree with, whether it be politics, religion, or just a world point-of-view, in order to broaden your own horizon, your viewpoint, and to allow for open discussion. If we were in a world where we all thought and talked the same, how boring would that be? Open discourse is what drives us to strive for more, brings upon change and innovation, and teaches us new things each day. 

Below are the top 10 most challenged books of 2024, along with an updated information page, detailing the statistics and censorship trends. 

Photo by ALA

Photo by ALA

I was reading a very informative post by librarian Judi Moreillon online, which listed ways the community could become involved themselves with this week. If you are interested in participating in Banned Books Week, aside from reading books that are/were challenged and supporting your local pubic library, you could also:

• Sign up for the weekly post from the American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom (www.oif.ala.org)
• Sign online petitions and write letters to representatives, schools, and public library boards
• Advocate online using the hashtags: 
• #BannedBooksWeek 
• #DefendResearch
• #FreeSpeech
• #FirstAmendment
• #IntellectualFreedom
• #UniteAgainstBookBans
• Attend a Banned Books Week Event (https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/public-school-strong-partnership-will-connect-banned-books-week-events-to-advocates-nationwide/)
• Volunteer with the American Library Association
• ALA Council Intellectual Freedom Committee: www.ala.org/alsc/aboutalsc/coms/pg1childadv/als-if
• ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom: https://www.oif.ala.org/
• ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/
• Authors Against Book Bans: https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/
• Defend Research: https://defendresearch.org
• EveryLibrary: https://www.everylibrary.org/
• For the People: https://www.librariesforthepeople.org
• Freedom to Read Foundation: https://www.ftrf.org/
• Intellectual Freedom Round Table: www.ala.org/ifrt
• PEN America: https://pen.org/
• Unite Against Book Bans: https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
• United for Libraries: www.ala.org/united
• We Need Diverse Books: https://www.diversebooks.org/

Some fun book news:

• Do you know someone who is blind, but enjoys to listen to movies and television? I just found out about this neat website run by volunteers called AudioVault. The website requires a login to download any materials and you are limited to 25 a day. Each item is uploaded by volunteers, some of whom are the ones providing the audio description! The website makes it easy for those who cannot see to hear their favorite shows or movies with the audio descriptions narrating along with the actors. AudioVault also tries to upload entire series, so it is easy to continue to binge listen. 

• Reading Rainbow is returning! The new host is none other than *insert drumroll here* MYCHAL THREETS! I personally think this is so cool, first to reboot a favorite show and also one of my school's alumni librarians will be hosting it! :D

• If you enjoy authors Ali Hazelwood, Christina Lauren, J.T. Geissinger, Ruby Dixon, Katee Robert, and/or Kimberly Lemming (all fantastic romance/science fiction/fantasy authors!), there is a new Amazon Original Stories section where each author wrote a creepy romantic fantasy novella! It is a series titled Scared Sexy, available free to Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited members! If you are not a member of either, you can still buy the entire collection for $5.94 online from Amazon. 

• As of this month, the Associated Press is no longer offering weekly book reviews. More details here. 

• If you remember reading The Baby-sitters Club, you'll be happy to hear there will be an official Baby-sitters Club Musical, with a score composed by the same composer of K-Pop Demon Hunters! I'm excited for it - if it is anything like the trending movie, we will be bopping to new music (that is hopefully faithful to the books)! Read more here from Deadline.

I am thinking of using Substack as a way to post in-between things and blog updates. What do you think? Do any of you have a Substack and like the experience?

I am currently reading Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. I am enjoying it, as a music lover and romance novel enthusiast. What are you reading this lovely fall season? Anything you look forward to? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

Summertime is here!

Hello My Fellow Bookworms,

I hope you are all having a glorious summer so far! Long time, no see! I apologize for my not keeping on top of my blog. I find myself starting posts, but never finishing them. I hope to start my habit again of posting at least once a month. Life has been a little busy, but whose has not?

I had started hosting a memoir writing group workshop at my local library for women. It is an endeavor I never thought I would do on my own, but once asked by my manager last year, I gave it some serious thought. It was a scary thing for me, as English was never my best subject, but it is also a human thing. Personal stories are so interesting, more so in the fact that women over a certain age are "forgotten" by society, and it should never be that way! Everyone is interesting and has purpose. As it is a workshop for women, I started it in March, in honor of Women's History Month. It has been a fun and yet emotional journey. I found myself writing memoir pieces along with them, and it has been challenging. I enjoy writing for myself, rather than only an academic purpose. Will I ever publish my pieces, though? Only time will tell. 

This year has been a crazy storm of news, both good and bad, that affects libraries, museums, and publishing in general. This year has been hard so far for libraries, with the cut of federal grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services ("IMLS"), the dissolution of the Special Libraries Association ("SLA"), and continuous book challenges. If you would like to say, "Hey, I love my library!," you can do so by letting your library know with a heartfelt card or letter, advocating on social media through hashtags such as #DrawnToFreedom or #FundLibraries, or even reaching out to your local representatives and letting them know you love your library! The ALA has a wonderful webpage filled with fact sheets, resources, and even your local representatives' contact information, which can be found here. 

If you are curious as to what the IMLS funded for Illinois, here is a lovely flier that the ALA created on a per-state basis:

(c) ALA, 2025

Want even more of a reason to love libraries? There is a new documentary that was released earlier this spring titled Free For All, and it is now up on YouTube for free via PBS! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this short history into the people who made libraries what they are today. You can also watch a conversation PBS had after you watch the film, if you would like more information into the film:

Miscellaneous book news:

• As of June 27th, the Supreme Court ruled to protect federal broadband programs. What does this mean for you? This decision preserves the current E-Rate program, funding for affordable, high-speed internet at libraries and schools across the country. With all the cutbacks that have been happening in libraries and grants, this win is quite a lot! You can find out more information from ALA here. 

• If you are an author, especially a self-publishing author, this will affect you! Publishers' Weekly no longer accepts books for review submission for free, as it had for over 100 years. Instead, it now costs $25 for each book you submit. More information can be found here.

• Be careful when purchasing new books on Amazon. There are AI clones of books that are floating around, which the original authors are not getting paid for. The covers are being swapped with a fake cover image, AI changes the original language of the book and rewrites the story using a different language, the name of the author is changed - but kept just close enough to confuse people buying the book, and the list of Bad Things AI does grows. Check out the original article from CBC here, if you are interested in learning more. 
  
  
• If you are a teacher or school librarian, you could be receiving audiobooks for free from Libro.fm! Libro.fm is giving away ALC's, or Advanced Listening Copies, to teachers or school libraries who work with students between the ages of 5-18. Interested? Check out the program details here (and also to sign up)!

• An interesting new app that I still need to test is out on the market, promoting that it can read any of your PDF articles out loud for you. It is called ElevenReader Plus and is free to download for both Android and Apple, and although you can pay for a subscription, you can use it for free for up to 2 hours of listening per week. Depending on usage, this is a pretty nice app for those who may need someone to read out loud to them!

• Feeling stressed? Too much "doomscrolling," or scrolling non-stop through social media and/or the news? The Calm app recently had an article stating how we should take a nature break - go outside, breathe the air, embrace the sunlight, go for a walk. All these things can lead to a better mood, less stress, and better cognitive function, and physical health. Bringing a book helps! I enjoy reading in the grass with my cat surveying the sights, or just lounging in the forest and watching deer pass by. It is summer, so enjoy the most of it while you can! (This is not sponsored, this is just something I think is very important for all of our mental health at this time - I am guilty of doomscrolling video shorts!)

I do not have a book review at the moment, but I am in the middle of several books right now. One of which is called Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier. It feels like a cross between Moana and How to Train Your Dragon. 

Also, I also am being sent a book in the mail that requires a review, so please look forward to it!

I hope you are having a fantastic summer filled with adventures both in your life and on the page. If you would like to, please let me know what you are reading in the comments!

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

(c) 2025, Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

Freed Between the Lines! (Banned Books Week, Sept 22nd - Sept 28th)

Hi my fellow bookworms,

This month marks the annual Banned Books Week, beginning on Sunday, September 22, 2024 through Saturday, September 28, 2024. The theme this year, as stated by the American Library Association ("ALA"), is Freed Between the Lines. What a great way to promote the freedom to read!

A few statistics, from the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom ("OIF") to breakdown this past year's challenges on banned books (and it has been a year!):

• Challenges of unique titles surged 65% in 2023, compared to 2022

• This past year had the highest level of challenges ever recorded by the ALA

(c) ALA, 2024

• OIF documented 4,240 unique book titles for censorship
  
  
• There were 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023
• Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens to hundreds at a time, started this uptick in challenged materials

• Public libraries were targeted more, in addition to school libraries, in 2023 than previous years

• Titles tagged for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% in 2023, accounting for approximately 46% of all book challenges in 2023

• 76% of items challenged were books and graphic novels, 5% displays, 4% access (bomb threats, library closures), 4% hate crimes (vandalism, theft of materials representing marginalized groups), 3% programs, 2% films, and 6% other

• School libraries saw an 11% increase in challenged materials, compared to 2022

• In total, 54% of censorship attacks attack public libraries, 30% attack school libraries, 5% schools, and 2% higher education/other

• 47% of the censorship attempts targeted LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals

• The highest groups initiating censorship attempts have been patrons, or those who visit the library, with 28% of censorship attempts, followed by 24% parents, and 21% pressure groups

• Attempts to censor more than 100 titles were recorded in the following 17 U.S. states:
• Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin

(c) ALA, 2024

How does ALA compile its data? Through book challenge reports filed by library professionals throughout the United States, in addition to news stories. This doesn't cover all the data required for a full picture, though, as some reports never make it to ALA, so the above is

just a snapshot of the censorship that occurred over the previous year. 

So, what is a challenge? ALA states that 

"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict access to materials or services based upon the objections of a person or group. A challenge to a title may result in access to it being retained, restricted, or withdrawn entirely" (n.d.). 

Previous book challenges have resulted in a book intended for a younger audience being removed from that section and placed in an older section of the library, requiring a parent's permission, being given a rating warning, or even requiring an older age to check the book out. These challenges are an attempt to remove materials from the public view, removing the public's ability to access them, their views, their ideas, their voices. (I'm imagining Ariel and Ursula as I write this.)

A formal challenge to a book means the start of a long process in which everyone involved with the library becomes involved, typically with the policy of the library and the library board who ultimately decides if the book meets the library's mission and criteria set in it's policy. ALA also states that

"A book is banned when it is entirely removed from a collection in response to a formal or informal challenge. Any reduction in access to library materials based on an individual or group's believe that they are harmful or offensive is an act of censorship" (n.d.). 

Here are the Top Ten Books that were challenged in 2023, along with their reasons why (You may see some repeat offenders from 2022):

(c) ALA, 2024

How can you help? 

• Check out the website Unite Against Book Bans, they have lots of ways to participate against censorship, as well as free tools to help you succeed in doing so.
• VOTE! This is an election year, we must make sure our votes count, so no more challenges or censorship continues - let's bring the above statistics back down!
• Read challenged books. Understand why they were challenged. Make your own decisions. Check out book resumes hosted on Unite Against Book Bans, if you do not have time to read all of them at the moment. 
• Attend your local library board and school board meetings. Make YOUR voice heard!
• Visit your library! If you don't have a library card yet, get one - they're free! You can check so many more things out than just books, including music, audiobooks, movies, and sometimes, even technology (e.g., sewing machines or VHS to DVD converters)!
  
• Create your own Little Free Library and offer challenged books for those in your community to read.
• Read the ALA's Intellectual Freedom Blog to stay up-to-date on all things banned books related.
• Alert ALA of any book ban attempts in your community through the OIF office.
• Sign on the Freedom to Read Statement, and state your support in the belief of the freedom to read!

I support everyone's right to read. Until next time, I hope you "Freed Between the Lines!" 

Happy reading (banned books)! :)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

ALA. (n.d.). Book ban data. https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data

United Against Book Bans. (n.d.). Get involved. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/get-involved/ 

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!

Happy August - here are some book links for you!

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Happy August my fellow bookworms!

The 1st of August marks the end of summer reading for the year in my neighborhood, is it the same for yours, too? The summer has sure flown by. While I cannot wait for my favorite season to come, I still want to have some more summer fun! I have not yet visited the beach yet, or read by the pool. May everyone have some more warm days ahead to finish their summer bucket list plans!

That said, I have some book news and links for you: 

• Need something good to listen to to help finish up your summer on a thrill? Amazon released a set of original stories you can read and listen to for free if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. Authors include: Nita Prose; B.A. Paris; Minka Kent; Chris Bohjalian; Alyssa Cole; and Julie Clark.
  

• A mystery story come true, a group of tourists were trapped while visiting author Agatha Christie's holiday home due to a fallen tree blocking the only exit, prompting the visitors to compare the incident to the book And Then There Were None. No one was actually hurt during the incident, but they did play croquet and drink tea!
  

• Ever want to visit the White House, but have not been able to secure a tour? Well, now you can visit from the comfort of your home! Check out this link from The White House Association, where you can find a virtual tour.
  

• With school coming, it may be helpful for you to have the link to access JSTOR, a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources, for free, to use for your research papers and so forth.

• If JSTOR does not have what you are looking for, you should try the DOAB, or the Directory of Open Access Books.
  

• One more free resource for you to check out is the Open Library, where you can check out electronic books to read (quite similar to your local library, but this may have more older books for you to reference!).
  

• Many celebrities, politicians, and lawmakers have come forth to defend the freedom to read. Recently:
• Barack and Michelle Obama recently released a thank you letter to librarians
  

• Jay-z and the Chief Executive Officer of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, stated they are launching a campaign against book bans along with scholarships for minority students producing artistic works
  

• U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks issued an injunction this past Friday that blocks a law set to go into effect tomorrow, August 1st. This law would allow librarians and booksellers to be prosecuted for providing "harmful" material to minors. This past year has had the highest number of attempts at book bans and restriction to books than it has been in the last 20 years, according to the American Library Association.
  

• As mentioned previously on this blog, if you would like to be a part of the fight against book banning, please visit the American Library Association's website Unite Against Book Bans, where you can join the campaign, find out information on how you can help, see current statistics, and more. 

Until next time! I hope to catch up on my reading, and I hope to hear from you on what you are currently reading! 

I will leave you with this quote from Barack Obama's letter to librarians:

"Finally, to every citizen reading this, I hope you’ll join me in reminding anyone who will listen — and even some people you think might not — that the free, robust exchange of ideas has always been at the heart of American democracy. Together, we can make that true for generations to come."

Book Challenges and Resources

 Hi my fellow bookworms!

As I am in school, I wanted to bring to your attention the fact that libraries are currently undergoing many challenges, one of the larger ones being book challenges. As of 2022, the American Library Association ("ALA") reports that book challenges have nearly doubled since 2021. In fact, it has been at the highest reporting number since data about censorship in libraries was first collected more than 20 years ago. 

(c) 2023, Unite Against Book Bans, Shareable Graphic

Most recently, the Associated Press released an article detailing book bans and school restrictions, which the ALA reports then prompted a group of advocates in the library community to use this news as a platform to write letters to the editor supporting the freedom to read. National Library Week is from April 23, 2023 to April 29, 2023 this year, and you can help join the fight against censorship at your local library through a variety of different resources:

• Join the Unite Against Book Bans campaign and use their toolkit to become a voice in the campaign
  

• Report censorship to the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom ("OIF")
  

• Fight censorship through sharing social media tools, participating in webinars, providing support for library workers, or even checking out your state and local resources!
  

• Host a house party and talk about what is happening in your local area with resources from Unite Against Book Bans
  

• Join the Freedom to Read Foundation and read up on the legislative action that is actively occurring regarding book bans

(c) 2022, Unite Against Book Bans, Shareable Graphic

I hope that you will join me in the fight against censorship, even if it is a small action such as sharing an image on your social media or supporting your local library. We should all have the freedom to read what we choose for ourselves and have access to those materials.

Until next time - happy freedom to read!

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!!

B_nn_d B__ks?

It is that period of time between September 24 and September 30. Have you guessed it? 

It is Banned Books Week! 

Image from American Library Association Press Kit

The display at one of my local libraries to celebrate the awareness this week!

It is the time of the year that we can reflect and celebrate our access to information, why it is important, and to challenge those who challenge the right to read certain titles! Censorship is harmful to everyone, and books (and other media) continue to be banned and challenged even to today. Thanks to those who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read and enjoy such works, we have Banned Books week, an event that celebrates our freedom to read!

So why have certain books been challenged in the past? Some of the reasons have been due to gender roles, violence, religious viewpoints, racism, drugs, political viewpoints, LGBT, and inaccuracy. Who challenges the books? The two largest groups have been the people who buy and read them and also the parents of those who the books may influence (31% and 42%, respectively). 

The breakdown: 

Statistics and information per the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Here is a short list of books that are a) controversial, b) banned, or c) have been banned (you may have read a few of these in the past!):

• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God: Further Confessions by Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
• Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• Carrie by Stephen King
• The Fighting Ground by Avi
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
• A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
• The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Are any of them surprising? Even if something is offensive/bad/insensitive, it is good to read and see another viewpoint. You may not agree with it, but you can see why and how others think the way they do. Others may not agree with your viewpoint, either! It is an avenue for all of us to come together and learn from each other. 

The American Library Association has a lovely description of intellectual freedom that I would like to share with you (to the left), and also ask you:

"Why is the freedom to read important to YOU?" 

Be sure to celebrate your freedom and right to read with a good book this week! (I'll be reading Edgar Allan Poe!)