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Banned Together

Our Fight for Readers' Rights

ebook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 6 weeks
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 6 weeks
A dazzling YA anthology that spotlights the transformative power of books while equipping teens to fight for the freedom to read, featuring the voices of 15 diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators.
Books are disappearing from shelves across the country. 
What does this mean for authors, illustrators, and—most crucially—for young readers? 
This bold collection of fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and other genres explores book bans through various lenses, and empowers teens to fight back. From moving personal accounts to clever comebacks aimed at censorship, fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators confront the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens. 
Contributors include Elana K. Arnold, Nikki Grimes, Ellen Hopkins, Kelly Jensen, Brendan Kiely, Maia Kobabe, Bill Konigsberg, Kyle Lukoff, MariNaomi, Trung Lê Nguyễn, Ashley Hope Pérez, Isabel Quintero, Traci Sorell, Robin Stevenson, and Padma Venkatraman; the collection is a star-studded must-read that packs strength and power into every last word. 
Striking illustrations from Ignatz-nominated artist Debbie Fong pair perfectly with the searing, impactful narrative. Resources include tips from the Vandegrift Banned Book Club and other teen activists, as well as extensive recommended book lists, a How to Start Your Own Little Free Library flier, and more.
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  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      Starred review from January 1, 2025
      Sixteen prominent writers for young people offer teens a comprehensive picture of what's at stake when books disappear from schools and libraries. Effectively combining essays, graphic narratives, and short stories, this anthology offers young adults the tools they need as they advocate for their right to read. Maia Kobabe lays the groundwork with graphic representations of book censorship by the numbers, highlighting the exponential increase over the last several years. The subsequent section, "Book Ban FAQs," provides important background knowledge and common language. A recurring theme is the power of books to help us realize we're not alone in the circumstances we face. Elana K. Arnold's autobiographical "The Things, the Things That Happened, the Things That Happened to Me" is a heart-wrenching example, cutting through the silence of rape culture. Isabel Quintero and Ellen Hopkins muse on knowledge as power while Traci Sorell takes on the erasure of Native peoples from history and literature. Kyle Lukoff connects book censorship to efforts to erase problematic history. Kelly Jensen's "Our Whole Radical Anatomy" introduces readers to the legalities of book censorship. Robin Stevenson touches on the effects of self-censoring. Brendan Kiely's and Padma Venkatraman's short stories offer fictionalized accounts of teens affected by censorship efforts. Editor P�rez introduces readers to teens around the country who are taking action to ensure their freedom to read and provides tips, reading suggestions, and other resources. Together these diverse contributors' voices form a potent whole. An empowering and critically timely blueprint for action. (select sources)(Anthology. 13-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Booklist

      Starred review from February 1, 2025
      Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* In response to record-breaking book challenges, P�rez's anthology brings together essays, comics, poetry, and more from over a dozen authors whose books have been challenged and sometimes outright banned. Authors including Maia Kobabe, Kyle Lukoff, and Nikki Grimes explain not only the challenges their books have faced but why they wrote their books and the needs fulfilled by those books being on library shelves. Powerfully, they also address the overall effect book bans, challenges, and general vitriol from those targeting their books have on them personally. Interspersed among the authors' contributions are statistics about book banning, brief lists of titles, and concrete advice for supporting both authors of banned books and the libraries being targeted. Many authors here emphasize that the frequently targeted books share common themes and topics: racism, LGBTQIA+ experiences, bodily autonomy and sexual health, and other subjects that some people wrongly believe teens are unable to handle. Serving as as a manifesto against book banning delivered by the authors whose livelihoods are on the line, this collection movingly reminds readers of the power they have against censorship. The authors' encouraging, candid voices teach readers how to stand up to book bans by supporting challenged titles in communities and schools and helping the community see the value in being open to learning about issues they may fear or not understand. Powerful reading for a crucial moment.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  • English

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