Banned Books

Last week was Banned Book’s Week.  Yesterday was Let Freedom Read Day. In order to highlight the importance of the day and week, today’s blog is more of a list than an essay.  

• (Book Riot)  Most of the books being banned are not new books .  Most were at least 15 years old.  Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, books are a form of free speech. 
• (We Need DIverse Books)  Diverse books help build compassion by allowing people to understand another’s point of view.  
• (From PEN America) Book Bans were found in 23 states (Texas and Florida are at the top of the list.) and in 87 public school systems.  There were 6,870 instances of book banning in the 2024-2025 school year.  

How to help fight against banning books

1. Register to vote.  Ask candidates their stances on book banning and vote accordingly
2. Write letters
   1.  Senators/Represenatives…  
   2. Both Federal and State.  
   3. Include the governor. 
   4. Write an op ed to the local newspaper.
3. Check out a banned book. Inquire at the library to order a banned book that is not on the shelves
4. Identify examples of censorship and share the verified information
5. Donate to the library (town/school) needed books included banned books
6. Buy a banned book
7. Volunteer at your library
8. Attend school, community, library meetings to share your opinion
9. Join an organization that works against Banning Books
   1. Unite Against Book Bans https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
   2. BookRiot’s Censorship News  https://bookriot.com/category/censorship/
   3. We Need Diverse Books https://www.diversebooks.org/
   4. Unite Against Book Bans https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
   5. PEN America https://pen.org/book-bans/
   6. Authors against Book Banning https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/
   7. National Coalition Against Censorship https://ncac.org/resource/book-challenge-resource-center
   8. We Are Stronger Than Censorship https://www.wearestrongerthancensorship.org/

Both Elise and I were busy this week reading.  Elise sent in a review for the book Falling for his Nashville Nurse by Janice Lynn.  Elise interviewed Erika Robuck with her book and her newest book,The Last Assignment.  The book is a Biographical Fiction (story is based on true facts, but some of the characters and the dialogue are fiction.)  about the photojournalist, Georgette “Dickey” Meyer Chapelle.  

Take the time to read!