Banned or Challenged
“Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us” is the theme of Banned Books Week 2022, observed from September 18 to 24 this year. Committed to intellectual freedom, Books We Read joins the American Library Association’s annual event, which has brought together the entire book community to support the freedom “to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”
- ALA Statement on CensorshipStatement from ALA, "due to a dramatic uptick in book challenges and outright removal of books from libraries." 11/29/2021
- Academic FreedomDefinitions, statements, policies, publications, and articles.
- Banned Books Q&AFrom the American Library Association
- Challenged ClassicsA fascinating list of classics challenged or banned from ALA - with detailed history and reasons.
Books We Read: posts related banned books and intellectual freedom
- Banned or ChallengedA personal recollection of books banned or restricted for political reasons or language, from classics to contemporary.
- The Library BookA book review of Susan Orlean’s title telling the story of the fire that engulfed the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986, consuming 400,000 books and damaging an additional 700,000 volumes.
- The Judy Blume Rest AreaA post honoring New Jersey author Judy Blume, whose works are often listed among the most frequently banned and challenged books.
- Intellectual Freedom Stories from a Shifting LandscapeBook review about a volume with stories related to intellectual freedom in libraries and beyond. Includes a story about Rutgers.
- Slaughterhouse Five: Recreational Reading to Research PaperAn inspirational recollection of a challenged book and its impact on a reader from her childhood to advanced studies.