Take Action and Read Banned Books by Allie Burton

Growing up, I could go to the school or public library and choose any book I wanted to read. Today’s kids don’t have the same choices because of book bans.

According to PEN America, more than 2,500 book bans across 32 states happened in the 2021-22 school year affecting more than 4 million students. Books about race, racism, gender, and sexuality are the most frequently banned books. Having choices and reading about others who mirror your own identity is critical. Forty percent of books banned have protagonists of color and 41% have LGBTQ characters and themes.

While I write young adult fantasy, I don’t live in a dream world. My books explore themes of equality, no matter if you're a witch, troll, fairy, black, brown, gay, bi, trans, or any other identity - everyone is important. It’s my hope that these motifs translate into the real world.

So what can you do?

1.      Read banned books

Here’s a link to a list of the most frequently challenged books: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

2.      Support Books Unbanned programs and the American Library Association

Brooklyn Public Library has a QR code to give away banned books across the country. Check it out here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/books-unbanned

And report banned or challenged books to the American Library Association here: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks

3.      Combat Classroom Censorship

Here’s a link to the ACLU for a toolkit you can use to fight against censorship in your own schools and communities: ACLU Resources

Let’s get reading Banned Books!

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