Censorship

As censorship efforts continue, here's a look at some of the latest developments in schools and public libraries around the country.

In the main, awards season will celebrate honored books and their creators. Yet such a high-profile occasion presents a unique opportunity to celebrate and honor, too, the right of kids and teens to read and access content.

As we head into the new year with heightened concerns about books being removed from classrooms and libraries, listen to these five podcast episodes that discuss censorship and book banning historically and now.

As attacks on library collections escalate, school boards and parents circumvent the established process.

Despite dangers, school and public librarians continue to push back against efforts to censor books. 

The most challenged graphic novel this fall: Gender Queer. And the award-winning Maia Kobabe memoir remains a frequent target nationwide. Graphic novels are more vulnerable, says Jonathan Friedman of PEN America, as older people simply are less comfortable with them. 

SLJ rounds up censorship news around the country, with reports of books threatened with removal in Arizona, Iowa, Missouri, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

SLJ is reporting on the surge of book challenges across the country and telling the library's perspective on this important story. What is your story? Responses can be anonymous. 

The Front Desk author tweeted a call to action to her colleagues, as she tries to "motivate and mobilize" people to fight coordinated efforts to remove books from schools and libraries.