BANNED TOGETHER

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 Pérez 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.