Books we’re revisiting for Banned Books Week
This week, October 5 - 11, is Banned Books Week — an annual awareness campaign sponsored by the American Library Association to help educate and inspire readers to fight censorship. The theme this year is “Censorship is so 1984” — a sentiment our team wholeheartedly supports. We believe that the freedom to read should be available to everyone and as book challenges and bans are at unprecedented highs, it’s important to continue to make books that tell diverse stories accessible to everyone.
Keep reading for the Old Town Books’ team’s favorite banned books and resources for how to get involved in countering book challenges in your community.
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
With deeply meaningful rep for Muslim and immigrant communities, and writing that will put you through all the emotions, Sabaa Tahir is one of the best YA writers we have today, and this is no exception. Adults will love it too! - Su
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Bluest Eye is my favorite because of how this book has lived since 1970, and still any POC can feel the pain & the truth in her words. Wether black or brown, Asian, Muslim, Latino, we’ve all once felt when we were young, wow how much prettier I’d be if I were white. The book talks about the impact of racism and in turn internalized racism at a young age. It’s a great read and a deeply meaningful one at that. - Koda
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing follows the lineages of two Ghanaian sisters after their lives take vastly different routes: one married into British leadership and the other sold into slavery in America. It’s a powerful story about the generational impact of systemic injustices, particularly on people of color. - Robyn
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Following Charlie as he navigates the turbulent period that is adolescence and young adulthood instantly takes me back to being that age and trying to find my own place in the world. It can be devastating, heartbreaking, euphoric, hopeful and lonely all at the same time, but knowing that we’re never truly alone no matter what we’re navigating is a poignant message for anyone, regardless of age. - Robyn
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Beautifully written YA novel about the impact of a police shooting on the victim’s friends and broader community. An incredibly relevant book that handles important societal issues with great care and showcases why Angie Thomas is such an important voice in literature. - Anna
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
I still remember where I was when I reading Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak and thinking it was the first time I had seen trauma represented so powerfully on the page, like I as a reader was holding my breath alongside the protagonist. And I remember thinking how much I wish I’d read it years earlier when I was at boarding school, where so many of us stayed silent about the way our bodies were treated. - Melissa
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
It was the book that introduced me to the concept of ecofeminism. Black women and the Earth suffered together at the hands of powerful patriarchy, showcasing lessons that all should learn from today. I loved how Celie found spirituality in nature as opposed to a distant male-God figure and healed by reconnecting to it. - Sarah
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner is another favorite of mine. The scenes of brutality are hard to read, but this is one of those books that impacted me on such a profound emotional level, I will never forget it. I can still remember where I was when I finished this book, tears streaming down my face. One of the most poignant books about shame and redemption. - Sarah
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird has been challenged or banned for many reasons, but my favorite has been that it “makes people uncomfortable.” Challenging the status quo, unlearning harmful long-held beliefs and coming to terms with the fact that people aren’t who you thought they were is uncomfortable. But it’s a necessary lesson that Scout learns - and we should too. - Cate
If you’re looking for ways to counter book bans nationally and in your community locally, check out these organizations for resources and more guidance: