Celebrate the Freedom to Read!
Join us in celebrating the 40th anniversary of…
Banned Books Week 2022
Sunday, SEPT. 18 – Saturday, SEPT. 24
All year long, Books & Books is a proponent of free expression and the freedom to read!
What is Banned Books Week?
Launched in 1982, Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community and is typically held each year during the last week of September. Given the onslaught of book challenges and bannings this year, the American Booksellers Association’s theme for this year’s Banned Books Week event is the timely and catchy, “I Read Dangerously.”
Banned Books Week spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
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What’s Going on?: Banned Books Week
Saturday, September 17:
THE ASSAULT ON BLACK THOUGHT:
BOOK BANNING IN FLORIDA
An Evening with Darryl Pinckney and Danez Smith moderated by Nadege Green
presented by Books & Books, Miami Book Fair and PEN America
RSVP HERE TO ATTEND
Tuesday, September 20:
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY WITH FLORIDA RISING
presented by Books & Books, Florida Rising and Book the Vote
RSVP HERE TO ATTEND
Saturday, September 24:
FAMILIES AGAINST BANNED BOOKS
Books & Books is thrilled to partner and host an afternoon with Families Against Banning Books during the 40th anniversary of Banned Books Week. Join us in protecting the opportunity for our children to enjoy literature and to pursue their own American dream.
RSVP HERE TO JOIN
Don’t miss this event post
Banned Books Week!
Thursday, September 29, 2PM ET
Writers for Democratic Action and Book the Vote present…
A VIRTUAL AFTERNOON WITH MARGARET ATWOOD
in conversation with WDA national steering committee member Rachel DeWoskin
discussing Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces, 2004 to 2021
REGISTER TO WATCH HERE
Most Banned Books of 2021:
The American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Of the 1597 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe: Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison: Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson: Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and profanity and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez: Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity and violence and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews: Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison: Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson: Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sex education and LGBTQIA+ content
Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin: Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.