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.

 

SHOP OFFICIAL MERCH

 


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.

 


PEN America Report:

BANNED IN THE USA: RISING SCHOOL BOOK BANS THREATEN FREE EXPRESSION AND STUDENTS’ FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS

READ HERE