In response to hundreds of reported school book bans in Texas, some teachers and students have created underground libraries to provide access to banned books, particularly those featuring LGBTQ and minority characters. A Texas teacher has amassed around 600 banned books in her secret classroom library, aiming to expand students' access to diverse perspectives. However, the atmosphere in Texas has become increasingly hostile towards educators who support such initiatives, with some facing repercussions and even losing their jobs. Despite this, the teacher remains hopeful that book banning will eventually cease.
In a Texas public school, a secret bookshelf containing banned and challenged books has been created by a teacher and her students in response to state policies prohibiting certain books. The teacher and students remain anonymous due to fear of repercussions from far right-wing groups and state authorities. The books, including those featuring LGBTQ+ and diverse characters, have provided a sense of representation and empowerment to the students. The state's climate of fear and self-censorship among educators and librarians has escalated, with instances of teachers losing jobs for sharing controversial literature. While a recent court ruling blocked part of a bill related to book content ratings, concerns remain about vague language and enforcement.
The Escambia County school district in Florida has included dictionaries, encyclopedias, and "The Guinness Book of World Records" in a list of over 1,600 books that could be banned due to a new legislation, HB 1069, which restricts books depicting "sexual conduct" or deemed inappropriate for certain age groups. The district has already restricted and removed several books, including those by Alice Sebold and Sapphire, and is reviewing the remaining titles for compliance with the law. A lawsuit has been filed against the district, and a judge has ruled that it can move forward under the First Amendment.
Grammy-winning singer Pink has announced that she will be giving away 2,000 banned books during her upcoming concerts in Florida, in collaboration with free speech organization PEN America. Florida leads the country in book bans, with over 1,400 books removed from shelves. The bans often target female authors, LGBTQ authors, and authors of color. Pink aims to raise awareness and support for the importance of free expression and equality.
PEN America has released a list of the most banned or restricted books in the US prison system, which includes unexpected entries such as Amy Schumer's memoir and Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The common reasons for banning books are security and sexual content, but the terms are used loosely and often include books that are not actually threats. The group estimates that over 40% of all prison book bans occurred in Florida last year, and Texas has over 10,000 books on its banned-from-prison list. PEN argues that the censorship of books in prisons is excessive and calls for an end to this practice.
Communities in New Jersey are engaging in debates over free speech, appropriate content for children, and parental control as calls to ban or restrict access to certain books in schools and public libraries increase. Hoboken, Westfield, and Maplewood have designated their libraries as "book sanctuaries" ahead of Banned Books Week. Several school districts in the state have also faced complaints about access to certain books, with one high school librarian suing parents for defamation.
As attempts to ban books increase in Alaska, campaigns against censorship are also gaining momentum. The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is hosting a weeklong banned books reading event, featuring students, staff, and faculty, to raise awareness about the importance of free expression and the dangers of censorship. Out North Radio, in collaboration with the ACLU and the Alaska Bookmobile, is expanding its unAUTHORized series to include outreach events at bookstores in Wasilla and Anchorage. The program aims to celebrate reading, diversity, and the power of books to challenge dominant narratives. The American Library Association reported a record-high demand for censoring books in 2022, with many targeted books exploring topics related to equity, diversity, and identity.
The Des Moines Central Library hosted its first drag story hour led by Iowa Safe Schools and Supervisor Matt McCoy, who represents Polk County's First District. The event aimed to promote education, reading, and acceptance. Children who attended the drag story hour were allowed to pick one of three banned books read during the story hour. The event was met with a prayer circle outside the venue, but organizers and attendees emphasized the importance of diversity and love.
Nonprofit organization PEN America tracked school book bans in the 2022-23 school year and found that 874 unique titles were affected by 1,477 instances of individual book banning across 37 states, including Michigan. Most bans occurred to books by or about people of color or LGBTQ individuals. Michigan reported 18 book bans across five school districts, with 16 unique titles banned. The banned books include "Gender Queer: A Memoir" and "Push" by Sapphire, which is banned in three districts.
The American Library Association has reported a record high of 1,269 challenges to over 2,500 books in 2022, with 90% of challenges directed at multiple books and nearly a fifth made by political/religious groups. Seven of the 13 books on the "Most Challenged Books" list were challenged for having LGBTQ content, sending a message of exclusion to the LGBTQ community. Conservative lawmakers and activists have rallied around limiting LGBTQ issues being taught in schools, queer symbolism from being displayed in classrooms, and transgender athletes from participating in school sports. The group of books, as with all books, should remain on shelves without "fear or favor," according to the director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.
The American Library Association reported over 1,200 challenges to library books and resources last year, with nearly half resulting in outright bans or restrictions. The most challenged books include "Gender Queer: A Memoir," "All Boys Aren't Blue," and "The Bluest Eye." Challenges primarily target books that elevate marginalized voices, particularly those of LGBTQ+ and people of color. The ALA recommends that parents guide their child's reading and get involved at the local level to preserve the freedom to read.
The American Library Association has released a list of the most challenged books in US libraries, with titles featuring LGBTQ+ representation or sexually explicit content being the most frequently targeted. The list, which was expanded to include 13 titles due to multiple books receiving the same number of challenges, saw Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson take the top two spots. The ALA reported the highest number of calls to remove or restrict books since it began compiling data over 20 years ago, with most of the books targeted being written by or about members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of colour.
Author Judy Blume talks about the film adaptation of her classic coming of age story, "Are you there God? It's me Margaret," and recalls demonstrating the iconic "increase our bust" scene on set. Blume also discusses the appeal of the story and the challenges of banned books in schools. A new documentary about her life, "Judy Blume Forever," is currently streaming on Prime Video.
The American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom reported that the number of challenges to books doubled in 2022, with a nearly 40% increase in challenges to unique titles compared to 2021. The ALA's list of most challenged books includes 2,571 unique titles banned or challenged, with many claims of LGBTQIA+ or sexually explicit content. Despite the high challenge numbers, a library association poll shows a large majority of Americans don't believe in banning books.
The American Library Association is set to announce the Most Challenged Books of 2022, with sex and gender being the subject matter overwhelmingly attacked. The number of individual titles banned spiked more than 1,100% between 2020 and 2022, with school districts challenging books in 37 states. Moms for Liberty, a group that claims 275 chapters in 45 states, is driving many of the book challenges in local communities. Cartoonist Art Spiegelman and the Brooklyn Public Library are fighting back against book bans, with the latter issuing digital library cards to teenagers who can't find the material they want to read on the shelves of their school or public library.
