The American Library Association has announced the 2024 theme for Banned Books Week: “Freed Between the Lines.”
The theme makes me think of the recent Time Magazine ‘Icon’ speech given by the American Library Association Executive Director Tracie D. Hall, who said, “I am here as a librarian standing with thousands of librarians—warriors— across this country, who, despite bomb threats and threats of jail time are fighting to ensure that these words that stand as a vision of the American Library Association will always ring true:
Free People Read Freely
Free People Read Freely
Free People Read Freely.”
It makes me think, too, of my colleague Denise Neujahr, who recently won this well-deserved ALA Award, and librarian Amanda Jones, who appears in this recent New York Times article, and who recently published a book, That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America (Neujahr is mentioned in the book, too! We’re so proud that she works here at Spokane Public Library).
These librarians are heroes who fight every day for the children they help serve, and it breaks my heart to hear them called anything other than “brave,” than “warrior,” than “adored public servant.” To support the fight against book bans, to stand up for your libraries and their intrepid staff members, visit Banned & Challenged Books (American Library Association) and Unite Against Book Bans. To engage in the fight locally, contact the ACLU of Idaho, and keep your eyes peeled for future Idaho Authors Against Book Ban events (Idaho authors just held one in August in Boise). You can also support what the ACLU is doing nationwide to fight book banning on their website.
Here is a list of recently banned and challenged books in the Spokane Public Library catalog:
Picture Books and Middle Readers
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
Sulwe written by Lupita Nyong’o; illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham & Charles Waters; illustrated by Sean Qualls & Selina Alko.
Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag written by Rob Sanders; illustrated by Steven Salerno
Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, illustrated by Mike Curato
Melissa by Alex Gino
Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU a book about bodies feelings and YOU by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth
YA/Teen
YA/Teen
This One Summer: A Graphic Novel by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez
This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, illustrations by Spike Gerrell, introduction by David Levithan
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
Adult
That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
The Bluest Eye: A Novel by Toni Morrison
Oryx and Crake: A Novel by Margaret Atwood
