Thank you for this! Checking banned books out of libraries REALLY matters! I was ignorant of this fact before but my understanding is library systems take books out of circulation based on how many times they're checked out a given year. So if it's not in your budget to buy books right now, get to your local library 🙌🏼
I’ve been on a mission to build our banned books library and read them— reading Parable of the Sower right now and cannot get over how prescient it is!
Wonderful list! Purchase these books if you can, share them around if you have them already, and YES, please support your public and school libraries and the librarians who work there. Ask that more copies of these books be purchased or donate them yourself. Create little free libraries or add these titles to them.
Wow. What so many parents fear about some of these books on the kids list is that can stir some pretty dark emotions. But that’s a good thing. It allows them to learn empathy and how to process uncomfortable emotions. Especially when they are still in your home and have a soft place to cry and feel safe.
When DeSantis started banning books in Florida, these are the first two I bought: Maus: a survivor's tale, by Art Spiegelman-- a graphic novel about the Holocaust; and Everywhere Babies, a picture book by Susan Myers, illustrated adorably by Marla Frazee-- I guess the couple of illustrations showing gay couples blew little Ron's bigoted mind. Heavy sigh.
Thank you, Anne, I’d seen an alternative recently but couldn’t remember it — I’ve been researching so many alternatives to big tech, looking for open source and decentralized platforms and it’s slow going; feels good to be doing these small things though.
Thank you for this! Checking banned books out of libraries REALLY matters! I was ignorant of this fact before but my understanding is library systems take books out of circulation based on how many times they're checked out a given year. So if it's not in your budget to buy books right now, get to your local library 🙌🏼
SUCH a good thought! I just took out three from my library!
I’ve been on a mission to build our banned books library and read them— reading Parable of the Sower right now and cannot get over how prescient it is!
I love the part when the father talks about how teaching is a better way of reaching people than fear!
I'm doing the same. Buying everyone I can find and that list helped in getting some I don't already have.☺️
Wonderful list! Purchase these books if you can, share them around if you have them already, and YES, please support your public and school libraries and the librarians who work there. Ask that more copies of these books be purchased or donate them yourself. Create little free libraries or add these titles to them.
Wow. What so many parents fear about some of these books on the kids list is that can stir some pretty dark emotions. But that’s a good thing. It allows them to learn empathy and how to process uncomfortable emotions. Especially when they are still in your home and have a soft place to cry and feel safe.
Excellent book list! I've read most but will add the remainder to my list. Thanks for reminding us that "reading is resistance."
Also, I've been telling my own adult kids to re-read 1984, as it's coming to life right now.
I started my own banned book library. 📚 Shopping from a local used bookstore.
Don't forget Thrift Books online and any small locally owned bookstores.👏👏
Thank you for the inspiration - we already own several of these but I plan to add to our collection.
Thank you for the list! I been buying and building my little home library.
When DeSantis started banning books in Florida, these are the first two I bought: Maus: a survivor's tale, by Art Spiegelman-- a graphic novel about the Holocaust; and Everywhere Babies, a picture book by Susan Myers, illustrated adorably by Marla Frazee-- I guess the couple of illustrations showing gay couples blew little Ron's bigoted mind. Heavy sigh.
“When God Was a Woman” by Merlin Stone.
“Ejaculate Responsibly” by Gabrielle Stanley Blair.
Wow. So many of these books (for adults and teens) are ones my mother made me read when I was a kid. Grateful for her even more than I already was.
The Weeping Time by: Anne C. Bailey
It is about the largest slave trade auction in American history.
This is a great article. Amazing the books that are banned. Going to ensure I have them.
I love your article! Thank you for organizing all these thoughts in one place. I think ABE books is part of Amazon - might not be a great resource
Noted! Just removed it :)
Bookshop.org, Gutenberg also have a few.
I read recently that Abebooks is owned or at least affiliated with Amazon. Amazon also owns goodreads and a few other companies, too.
I've been using StoryGraph for awhile. You can download your information from Goodreads and upload it so you don't lose all your history.
oh thats awesome!
Do you have an alternative to good reads?
StoryGraph is a good alternative
I second Storygraph! It's phenomenal and an extra plus is it's female-owned!
Also, love your substack, Lynzy.
thank you!!
Thank you, Anne, I’d seen an alternative recently but couldn’t remember it — I’ve been researching so many alternatives to big tech, looking for open source and decentralized platforms and it’s slow going; feels good to be doing these small things though.