Censorship

Here we go! Readers let loose on the selection available in middle grade titles as well as disinvited authors.

These titles with book banning and censorship themes are good to share with students and patrons of all ages during Banned Books Week and all year round.

The censorship-related legal battles continue as Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Club, Harper Collins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Sourcebooks, The Authors Guild, Julia Alvarez, John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jodi Picoult, and Angie Thomas sue Florida; and the Department of Justice files a brief in support of the lawsuit against the Cobb County (GA) School District.

These titles include the background for the current state of book banning, as well as ideas to help librarians respond proactively and reactively. Turn to these titles for information and inspiration for the fight.

While book bans and other efforts to curtail free expression in schools have made headlines, canceled visits have gone relatively unmarked. SLJ spoke with authors about their experiences. 

The nonprofit advocacy group's week-long virtual event will be a celebration of libraries, reading, and the First Amendment with author panels, advocacy education sessions, and more.

The Francis Howell School District in O'Fallon, MO, passed a new policy to allow the removal of certain books and restrict gender identity conversation. Meanwhile in Texas, one district is considering banning books about gender fluidity and another seeks to alter its policy after Advanced Placement titles are removed from libraries.

New Jersey school librarian Elissa Malespina outlines the steps for using AI to create social media posts for Banned Books Week and more.

A reader tries to make sense of book banning legislation and more.