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Book bans, censorship, erasure, fear, control, fascism. Banning books is on the rise. In fact, it's more prevalent than ever. Listen in as Raquel and Jennifer talk about why and what can be done about it.

Inspiration for and/or mentioned in this episode:
Book banning in U.S. schools has reached an all-time high: What this means, and how we got here

Banned books: Which titles are being targeted and why

“Here are the 10 most challenged books of 2021, according to the ALA: 

1. “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”

“What’s being done to combat book banning?

American Library Association: Every year, the ALA and libraries across the country celebrate Banned Books Week..."

Brooklyn Public Library: Earlier this year, the Brooklyn Public Library gave teens anywhere in the U.S. access to its collection of hundreds of thousands of e-books with a special “Books Unbanned” e-card. As of late June, more than 4,000 cards were given out to youth ages 13 through 21.

Nashville Public Library: This Southern library protested banned books this year with a limited edition library card with the special message: "I read banned books." The bright yellow cards are part of the library's Freedom to Read campaign celebrating the "right to read." 

Banned Books Week

American Library Association, https://www.ala.org/

The Stacks Podcast, Banned Books in The Stacks series
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/day-1-banned-books-in-the-stacks-with-katrina/id1362164483?i=1000550281729

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/day-2-banned-books-in-the-stacks-with-alison/id1362164483?i=1000550411873

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/day-3-banned-books-in-the-stacks-with-ghazala/id1362164483?i=1000550528607

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/day-4-banned-books-in-the-stacks-with-timya-wright/id1362164483?i=1000550650960

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/day-5-banned-books-in-the-stacks-with-kiese-laymon/id1362164483?i=1000550771538


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