Towards the end of the month, September 18-24, celebrate the bookish rebellion that is known as Banned Books Week. Launched in 1982 in response to the massive surge of reading material being challenged, this week historically brings the book community together to educate on the issue of censorship. This year’s theme, “Books Unite Us, Censorship Divides Us” will be the driving force in advocating for the right to read.
Writer and activist George M. Johnson, a critically acclaimed and frequently banned author for their memoirs All Boys Aren’t Blue, and We Are Not Broken, has been named Honorary Chair for 2022. Read more about them, their work here.
Participate in Banned Books Week by supporting various sponsors, and engaging with a book off this year’s Top 10 Challenged Books. Start a mini-book club with your student by reading the same book off the challenged list. Discuss why you think others might want to censor that work. You can also send a note of encouragement and appreciation to a banned author. The American Library Association has a letter writing campaign to put you in touch with some of them.
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